wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “software registration”
wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →
For “software registration”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 2 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.
wp.org search ranks on
Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.
We add
A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Registration Email Blocker shows at wp.org #5 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 19 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection places #9 on merit, 4.6★ from 3992 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221)
wp.org #1 2 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #2 3 
WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387)
wp.org #3 4 
Fluent Forms – Customizable Contact Forms, Survey, Quiz, & Conversational Form Builder 800K+ · 4.8★ (807)
wp.org #4 5 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy 40K+ · 4.7★ (591)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Paid Membership Subscriptions – Effortless Memberships, Recurring Payments & Content Restriction 10K+ · 4.7★ (270)
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992)
wp.org #17 8 too low 10 
MultiVendorX – WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace AI Powered Solutions 2K+ · 4.8★ (432) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↑3 1 too low 11 
HTML Forms – Simple WordPress Forms Plugin 10K+ · 4.9★ (57)
wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too low 12 
Ticket Tailor — Event Ticketing & Registration 4K+ · 4.3★ (46)
wp.org #9 3 too high 13 
Event Espresso – Event Registration & Ticketing Sales 500+ · 4.4★ (136) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #12 ↓1 1 too high 14 
MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress 1M+ · 4.8★ (1497)
wp.org #24 10 too low 15 
HubSpot All-In-One Marketing – Forms, Popups, Live Chat 200K+ · 4.3★ (207)
wp.org #23 ↓4 8 too low 16 
Nelio Content – Editorial Calendar & Social Media Auto-Posting 3K+ · 4.4★ (104)
wp.org #20 4 too low 17 
MailOptin – Popup, Optin Forms & Email Newsletters for Mailchimp, HubSpot, AWeber Etc. 10K+ · 4.8★ (438) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
Yatra – Travel Booking & Tour Operator Software 600+ · 4.7★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 4 too high 19 
MetForm – Contact Form, Survey, Quiz, Conditional Forms, Form Templates & Custom Form Builder for Elementor 500K+ · 4.7★ (509) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 
LiveAgent – Omnichannel Help Desk & Live Chat Software 400+ · 4.2★ (32)
wp.org #15 5 too high 21 
VikBooking Hotel Booking Engine & PMS 8K+ · 4.8★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 2 too high 22 
WP Post Author – Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors & Custom Avatars 10K+ · 4.2★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #18 4 too high 23 
Project Management, Bug and Issue Tracking Plugin – Software Issue Manager 20+ · 4.2★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #16 7 too high 24 Registration Email Blocker 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #5 19 too high Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.