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

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 “system status”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 6 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

Auto Delete System Status Logs for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #5 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 70+ 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

LiteSpeed Cache places #6 on merit, 4.8★ from 2778 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 wp.org
1 Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #1 2 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) wp.org #2 3 Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821) wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 Salon Booking System – Appointment Booking for Salons, Barbershops & Spas 2K+ · 4.4★ (187) wp.org #3 ↓2 1 too high 5 Pinpoint Booking System – Legacy version 2K+ · 3.6★ (185) wp.org #6 1 too low 6 LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778) wp.org #18 12 too low 7 Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – CTX Feed – Support 220+ Shopping, AI & Social Channels 90K+ · 4.6★ (838) wp.org #12 ↓1 5 too low 8 Disqus Comment System 30K+ · 2.7★ (219) wp.org #7 ↑3 1 too high 9 SupportCandy – AI Customer Support Ticket System & Live Chatbot Agent 10K+ · 4.9★ (289) wp.org #20 11 too low 10 GD Rating System 1K+ · 4.3★ (24) wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too high 11 Fluent Support – Helpdesk & Customer Support Ticket System 10K+ · 4.6★ (69) wp.org #16 ↑4 5 too low 12 Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) wp.org #21 ↓4 9 too low 13 MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin – for Online Courses and Education 10K+ · 4.5★ (487) wp.org #23 ↓1 10 too low 14 System Dashboard 900+ · 4.9★ (16) wp.org #8 ↓1 6 too high 15 Wallet System for WooCommerce – Digital Wallet, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), Instant Cashback, Referral program, Partial & Subscription Payments 1K+ · 4.9★ (65) wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too low 16 Extended Post Status 1K+ · 4.5★ (11) wp.org #10 ↓1 6 too high 17 N Ni WooCommerce Custom Order Status 2K+ · 4.1★ (16) wp.org #11 ↑1 6 too high 18 Auto Delete System Status Logs for WooCommerce 70+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #5 ↓1 13 too high 19 WP-CRM System – Manage Clients and Projects 700+ · 3.9★ (15) wp.org #15 4 too high 20 KiviCare – Clinic & Patient Management System (EHR) 1K+ · 3.6★ (23) wp.org #22 ↑1 2 too low 21 Library Management System 200+ · 4.4★ (14) wp.org #19 2 too high 22 atec System Info 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #13 ↑1 9 too high 23 Advanced Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 500+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 ↓1 9 too high 24 Helpdesk Support Ticket System for WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24

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.