wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “student directory”
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 “student directory”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20. 4 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
Campus Directory – Faculty, Staff & Student Directory Plugin for WordPress shows at wp.org #5 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 80+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Import and export users and customers places #10 on merit, 4.7★ from 259 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.
Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #1 2 
UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP 20K+ · 4.7★ (183)
wp.org #2 3 
Listdom: AI-powered Business Directory with Classifieds Ads Listings 1K+ · 4.9★ (60)
wp.org #3 4 
Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142)
wp.org #7 3 too low 5 
Formidable Forms – Contact Form, Survey, Quiz, Payment, Calculator Form & Custom Form Builder 300K+ · 4.8★ (1388)
wp.org #10 ↓1 5 too low 6 
Educare – Students & Result Management System 600+ · 4.6★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #4 2 too high 7 
LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393)
wp.org #13 ↓1 6 too low 8 
MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin – for Online Courses and Education 10K+ · 4.5★ (487) heavy footprint
wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too low 9 
WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490)
wp.org #14 ↓1 5 too low 10 Import and export users and customers 70K+ · 4.7★ (259)
wp.org #17 ↓2 7 too low 11 
FluentCommunity – Ultra-Fast High-Performance Social Network, Community, LMS & Online Courses 8K+ · 4.8★ (96) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↓1 2 too high 12 
WP Map Block – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store & Shop Locator, Directory, Listings & Filters 20K+ · 4.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #6 6 too high 13 
Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files 10K+ · 4.6★ (297)
wp.org #18 5 too low 14 
ProfilePress – Paid Membership, Online Courses (LMS), Ecommerce, User Registration & Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content 100K+ · 3.1★ (938) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 ↑8 6 too high 15 
Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash 20K+ · 4.8★ (105)
wp.org #22 ↓1 7 too low 16 
Staff/Employee Business Directory for Active Directory 10+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too high 17 
WPComplete 1K+ · 4.1★ (43)
wp.org #23 ↓1 6 too low 18 
Sensei LMS – Online Courses, Quizzes, & Learning 9K+ · 3.5★ (40) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too high 19 
The School Management – Education & Learning ERP 700+ · 4.5★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #20 1 too low 20 Campus Directory – Faculty, Staff & Student Directory Plugin for WordPress 80+ · 3.0★ (2) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 15 too high 21 
Student Result or Employee Database 1K+ · 3.9★ (10) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓2 22 
BlockStrap Page Builder – Bootstrap Blocks 2K+ · 4.5★ (4) heavy footprint thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑1 6 too high 23 
Custom Template for LearnDash 1K+ · 4.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 1 too low 24 
Employee Directory – Staff Directory and Listing 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #19 5 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.