wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “tutorlms”
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 “tutorlms”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 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
Manual Completions TutorLMS shows at wp.org #3 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
SureCart – Ecommerce Made Easy For Selling Physical Products, Digital Downloads, Subscriptions, Donations, & Payments places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 288 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. 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 #2 1 too low 2 
Variation Swatches for WooCommerce – Color, Image & Size Swatches 200K+ · 4.6★ (51)
wp.org #4 2 too low 3 
FluentCRM – Email Newsletter, Automation, Email Marketing, Email Campaigns, Optins, Leads, and CRM Solution 80K+ · 4.8★ (250)
wp.org #7 4 too low 4 
CartFlows – Funnel Builder & Checkout Plugin for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.8★ (517) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too low 5 
SureForms – Contact Form Builder, AI Forms, Payment Form, Survey & Quiz 500K+ · 4.8★ (102)
wp.org #10 5 too low 6 
Loggedin – Session Manager, Limit Concurrent Logins & Force Logout 8K+ · 4.9★ (112)
wp.org #13 7 too low 7 
Experience API for TutorLMS by GrassBlade 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #1 6 too high 8 
Document Embedder – let visitors read files without downloading 9K+ · 4.9★ (120) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 4 too low 9 SureCart – Ecommerce Made Easy For Selling Physical Products, Digital Downloads, Subscriptions, Donations, & Payments 80K+ · 4.8★ (288) heavy footprint
wp.org #21 ↑2 12 too low 10 
HollerBox — Fast & Effective Popups & Lead-Generation 2K+ · 4.8★ (32)
wp.org #14 4 too low 11 
LearnPress – Backup & Migration Tool 5K+ · 3.0★ (16) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 6 too high 12 
Modern Cart – WooCommerce Side Cart & Popup Cart 60K+ · 4.9★ (16) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #9 3 too high 13 
Paymattic – Secure, Simple Payment & Donation with Subscription Payments, Recurring Donations, Customer Management 3K+ · 4.8★ (44)
wp.org #19 ↑2 6 too low 14 
Coupon Affiliates – Affiliate Plugin for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (77) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↓3 4 too low 15 
OttoKit: All-in-One Automation Platform 90K+ · 4.9★ (124) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #24 9 too low 16 Manual Completions TutorLMS 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 13 too high 17 
FluentAffiliate – Affiliate Program Management Suite, Affiliates Manager 2K+ · 4.6★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑1 2 too high 18 
Better Badge – Custom Product Badges for WooCommerce 600+ · 5.0★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↑3 1 too high 19 
Sublium Subscriptions – Subscriptions for WooCommerce – Recurring Payments, Subscription Plans & Installments 700+ · 5.0★ (11) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↑1 4 too low 20 
SureMembers – Membership & Content Restriction Plugin 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓1 12 too high 21 C Course Layouts – Elementor Addon for TutorLMS 70+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #11 10 too high 22 
Experience API for LearnPress by GrassBlade 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑1 6 too high 23 
Experience API for LifterLMS by Grassblade 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too high 24 
Manual Completions for LearnDash 200+ · 2.5★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #20 4 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.