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

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 “sumobi”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 3 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

Easy Digital Downloads Featured Downloads shows at wp.org #13 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 900+ 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

WPS Hide Login places #3 on merit, 4.8★ from 2111 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy 40K+ · 4.7★ (591) wp.org #3 ↓2 2 too low 2

Affiliate Area Shortcodes by AffiliateWP 2K+ · 4.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #2 ↑2 3

WPS Hide Login 2M+ · 4.8★ (2111) wp.org #18 15 too low 4

AffiliateWP – Affiliate Area Tabs 3K+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #1 ↑4 3 too high 5

EDD Auto Register 800+ · 5.0★ (11) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #20 15 too low 6

RewardsWP – Loyalty Points & Referral Program for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #6 ↓3 7 A AffiliateWP – Leaderboard 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #4 ↑3 3 too high 8

AffiliateWP – Store Credit 300+ · 3.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #19 20 A AffiliateWP – External Referral Links 700+ · 3.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #12 ↓2 8 too high 21 E EDD Favorites 80+ · 3.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #23 2 too low 22 A AffiliateWP Checkout Referrals 500+ · 3.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓2 8 too high 23

Easy Digital Downloads Featured Downloads 900+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓2 10 too high 24 E EDD Purchase Gravatars 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #21 3 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.