wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “upcoming”
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 “upcoming”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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
Upcoming for Calendly shows at wp.org #6 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 100+ 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
Presto Player places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 346 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.
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #1 2 
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #2 3 
VS Event List 8K+ · 4.9★ (82)
wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 
Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793)
wp.org #10 ↑2 6 too low 5 
Display Eventbrite Events 2K+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #5 6 
Side Cart Woocommerce | Woocommerce Cart 70K+ · 4.9★ (453)
wp.org #13 ↓4 7 too low 7 
Upcoming Events Lists 900+ · 4.8★ (6) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #3 4 too high 8 
Timetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress 30K+ · 4.3★ (69)
wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too low 9 
Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.5★ (108) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↑8 2 too high 10 
Smart Post – Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider Gutenberg Blocks for Blog & News 20K+ · 4.7★ (210) heavy footprint
wp.org #17 7 too low 11 Presto Player 100K+ · 4.8★ (346) heavy footprint
wp.org #21 10 too low 12 W WP Meta and Date Remover 80K+ · 4.2★ (71)
wp.org #15 3 too low 13 
Event Countdown for The Events Calendar 3K+ · 4.6★ (48) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↑1 1 too high 14 
Countix Sales Countdown Timer 5K+ · 4.4★ (26)
wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too low 15 
WP GoToWebinar 600+ · 4.9★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 
Countdown Block 4K+ · 4.1★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓2 5 too high 17 
Bookit — Booking & Appointment Calendar 4K+ · 3.8★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
Contact Form to Chat Apps | Click to Chat to Order – FormyChat 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #24 6 too low 19 
Bandsintown Events 4K+ · 3.3★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓4 11 too high 20 Upcoming for Calendly 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 14 too high 21 
Coming Soon Products for WooCommerce 600+ · 4.2★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑1 2 too high 22 
Hunk Companion 5K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too high 23 T Themify Event Post 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 24 X Xllentech Upcoming Events 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 10 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.