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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “streamline”

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 “streamline”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 7 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

Hostinger Tools shows at wp.org #2 but places #7 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 3M+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.5★ average from 40 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 4228 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 WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) wp.org #1 2 Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More 1M+ · 4.9★ (4940) wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too low 3 CartBounty – Save and recover abandoned carts for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (84) wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 SupportCandy – AI Customer Support Ticket System & Live Chatbot Agent 10K+ · 4.9★ (289) wp.org #9 ↑2 5 too low 5 GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform 100K+ · 4.6★ (708) wp.org #6 ↓2 1 too low 6 Side Cart Woocommerce | Woocommerce Cart 70K+ · 4.9★ (453) wp.org #11 ↓3 5 too low 7 Hostinger Tools 3M+ · 3.5★ (40) wp.org #2 ↑1 5 too high 8 Packlink PRO for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.4★ (263) wp.org #7 1 too high 9 WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228) wp.org #16 ↓3 7 too low 10 Disable Comments 100K+ · 3.8★ (25) wp.org #5 ↑1 5 too high 11 Magic Login – Magic Link & Passwordless Authentication for WordPress – Login Without Password 3K+ · 4.8★ (26) wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too high 12 MultiVendorX – WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace AI Powered Solutions 2K+ · 4.8★ (432) wp.org #13 ↑2 1 too low 13 WP Crontrol 300K+ · 4.4★ (167) wp.org #19 6 too low 14 WP Bottom Menu 20K+ · 4.5★ (23) wp.org #12 2 too high 15 M Menu Duplicator 10K+ · 4.7★ (13) wp.org #10 5 too high 16 Wallet for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.7★ (188) wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too low 17 Print Invoice & Delivery Notes for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.4★ (140) wp.org #24 ↓6 7 too low 18 Auto Coupons for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.9★ (16) wp.org #14 ↑2 4 too high 19 Microsoft Clarity 200K+ · 4.5★ (14) wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too high 20 Payment Methods by Product & Country for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.2★ (18) wp.org #17 ↑3 3 too high 21 WP Client Reports 6K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #21 ↑2 22 ShipStation for WooCommerce 40K+ · 3.3★ (13) wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too high 23 Conekta Payment Gateway 2K+ · 3.5★ (6) wp.org #23 24 LIQUID BLOCKS – Slider, Carousel, Accordion 4K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↑2 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.