Plugin Pulse Beta
← Rankings

wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “status order”

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 “status order”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20.

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

Additional Custom Order Status for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #6 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 800+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce places #6 on merit, 4.9★ from 538 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Custom Order Status Manager for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.7★ (117) wp.org #1 2 Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588) wp.org #2 3 Advanced Order Export For WooCommerce 100K+ · 5.0★ (350) wp.org #7 4 too low 4 Order Export & Order Import for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.7★ (337) wp.org #11 7 too low 5 Scheduled & Automatic Order Status Controller for WooCommerce 2K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.9★ (538) wp.org #16 10 too low 7 Order Tracking – WordPress Status Tracking Plugin 3K+ · 4.6★ (73) wp.org #10 3 too low 8 Archive Content with Archived Post Status 5K+ · 4.9★ (36) wp.org #9 1 too low 9 Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 10K+ · 3.3★ (32) wp.org #5 4 too high 10 Order Status Control for WooCommerce 4K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #3 7 too high 11 BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) wp.org #14 3 too low 12 N Ni WooCommerce Custom Order Status 2K+ · 4.1★ (16) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 WC Cancel Order 5K+ · 4.9★ (23) wp.org #15 2 too low 14 Custom Order Numbers for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.2★ (25) wp.org #12 2 too high 15 Art WooCommerce Order One Click 4K+ · 5.0★ (36) wp.org #21 6 too low 16 Order Status History for WooCommerce 900+ · 5.0★ (14) wp.org #18 2 too low 17 Additional Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 800+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #6 11 too high 18 Order Approval for Woocommerce 1K+ · 4.8★ (23) wp.org #23 5 too low 19 Order Tip for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.3★ (16) wp.org #17 2 too high 20 Repeat Order for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #20 21 Order on Mobile for WooCommerce 7K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #19 2 too high 22 EU Order Withdrawal Button for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.6★ (7) wp.org #24 2 too low 23 Advanced Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 500+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #13 10 too high 24 SDP Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 90+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 2 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.