wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “transaction”
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 “transaction”, 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
Up2pay e-Transactions WooCommerce Payment Gateway shows at wp.org #3 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 4K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.3★ average from 13 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing & Member Directories for WordPress places #12 on merit, 4.6★ from 504 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.
WooPayments: Integrated WooCommerce Payments 800K+ · 3.4★ (177) low rating, top placement
wp.org #1 2 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #5 3 too low 3 
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway 700K+ · 3.1★ (237) low rating, top placement
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy 40K+ · 4.7★ (591)
wp.org #8 4 too low 5 
Jetpack CRM – Clients, Leads, Invoices, Billing, Email Marketing, & Automation 30K+ · 4.3★ (152)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
Payment Gateway for PayPal on WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.4★ (73)
wp.org #6 7 
WooCommerce PayPal Payments 800K+ · 2.9★ (583) low rating, top placement
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 
Wallet for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.7★ (188)
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
Paid Membership Subscriptions – Effortless Memberships, Recurring Payments & Content Restriction 10K+ · 4.7★ (270)
wp.org #10 1 too low 10 
CartFlows – Funnel Builder & Checkout Plugin for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.8★ (517)
wp.org #12 2 too low 11 
UPI QR Code Payment Gateway for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (256)
wp.org #15 4 too low 12 Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing & Member Directories for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (504)
wp.org #18 6 too low 13 
PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links 200K+ · 4.8★ (1322)
wp.org #24 11 too low 14 
Accept Stripe Payments 20K+ · 4.1★ (114)
wp.org #19 5 too low 15 
MyCryptoCheckout – Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 100+ altcoins for WooCommerce 8K+ · 4.3★ (49)
wp.org #14 1 too high 16 
FunnelKit Payment Gateway for Stripe WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.9★ (53)
wp.org #23 7 too low 17 
FluentCart A New Era of eCommerce – Faster, Lighter, and Simpler 9K+ · 4.5★ (46)
wp.org #16 1 too high 18 
Invoice Payment Gateway for WooCommerce 2K+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #11 7 too high 19 
Payment Gateway of Stripe for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.4★ (66)
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 Up2pay e-Transactions WooCommerce Payment Gateway 4K+ · 2.3★ (13) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 17 too high 21 
Payment Button for PayPal 4K+ · 4.5★ (40)
wp.org #20 1 too high 22 
Google Analytics for WooCommerce 100K+ · 2.8★ (119)
wp.org #17 5 too high 23 
افزونه پرداخت امن زرینپال برای ووکامرس (ZarinPal for WooCommerce) 60K+ · 3.5★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #13 10 too high 24 
Payment Gateway for Authorize.net for WooCommerce 800+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
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.