wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “split profits”

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 “split profits”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

WooCommerce Shipping shows at wp.org #7 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 70K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.0★ average from 18 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution – Build Your Own Amazon, eBay, Etsy places #8 on merit, 4.6★ from 769 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Advanced Dynamic Pricing and Discount Rules for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.7★ (123) wp.org #1 2

Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) wp.org #2 3

Mailmunch Forms for Mailchimp 10K+ · 4.6★ (372) wp.org #3 4

Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – RexFeed – Sell on 200+ Shopping Channels 10K+ · 4.8★ (256) wp.org #5 1 too low 5

FluentCRM – Email Newsletter, Automation, Email Marketing, Email Campaigns, Optins, Leads, and CRM Solution 80K+ · 4.8★ (250) wp.org #6 1 too low 6

FunnelKit Automations – Email Marketing Automation and CRM for WordPress & WooCommerce 20K+ · 5.0★ (346) wp.org #10 4 too low 7

WPFunnels – Funnel Builder for WooCommerce with Checkout & One Click Upsell 5K+ · 4.9★ (175) wp.org #9 2 too low 8

Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution – Build Your Own Amazon, eBay, Etsy 30K+ · 4.6★ (769) wp.org #13 5 too low 9

WCFM – Frontend Manager for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.5★ (286) wp.org #11 2 too low 10

Greenshift – animation and page builder blocks 70K+ · 4.8★ (107) wp.org #15 5 too low 11

AliNext – AliExpress Dropshipping Plugin for WooCommerce 4K+ · 4.3★ (53) wp.org #16 5 too low 12

StoreEngine — Complete eCommerce Solution with Memberships, Licensing, Affiliates & More 700+ · 5.0★ (17) thin reviews wp.org #14 2 too low 13

EU/UK VAT Validation Manager for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.8★ (39) wp.org #19 6 too low 14

Importify – AI Dropshipping for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.5★ (27) wp.org #20 6 too low 15

Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #21 6 too low 16

CollabPay ‑ Split Profits 30+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #4 12 too high 17

Sublium Subscriptions – Subscriptions for WooCommerce – Recurring Payments, Subscription Plans & Installments 700+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews wp.org #18 1 too low 18

Multi Location Product & Inventory Management for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #12 6 too high 19

Shelf Planner Inventory Management for WooCommerce 100+ · 4.7★ (16) thin reviews wp.org #22 3 too low 20

Bot Traffic Shield – Block Bad Bots and Stop AI Bots Crawlers 900+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #17 3 too high 21

Alpha Insights – Advanced Analytics, Sales Reporting & COGS for WooCommerce 50+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #8 13 too high 22

WooCommerce Shipping 70K+ · 2.0★ (18) thin reviews wp.org #7 15 too high 23

DineKit – Restaurant Menu, Online Ordering, Table Reservations & POS 70+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #24 1 too low 24

Resetify – Advanced Reset & Database Cleaner 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #23 1 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.