wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “user assignment”
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 “user assignment”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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
PressPrimer Assignment – Homework Submission, Document Viewer & LMS Grading Workflows shows at wp.org #11 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 60+ 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
WP Activity Log places #9 on merit, 4.7★ from 490 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor 40K+ · 4.7★ (738)
wp.org #1 2 
User Registration & Membership – Free & Paid Memberships, Subscriptions, Content Restriction, User Profile, Custom User Registration & Login Builder 50K+ · 4.8★ (832)
wp.org #2 3 
User Frontend – Membership, User Registration, User Profile, User Directory & Content Restriction with Frontend Post Submission 20K+ · 4.1★ (537) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 ↑2 4 
WP User Manager – Registration Form, Login Form, User Profile Builder & Member Directory 10K+ · 4.7★ (350) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
Import and export users and customers 70K+ · 4.7★ (259)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
User Access Manager 10K+ · 4.4★ (112)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too high 7 
PublishPress Capabilities: User Role Access Control, Admin Area Permissions 90K+ · 4.7★ (143)
wp.org #10 ↓1 3 too low 8 
WPFront User Role Editor 30K+ · 4.5★ (65)
wp.org #8 ↓1 9 WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490)
wp.org #16 ↓2 7 too low 10 
Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) heavy footprint
wp.org #14 ↓2 4 too low 11 
Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #9 ↓1 2 too high 12 
ProfilePress – Paid Membership, Online Courses (LMS), Ecommerce, User Registration & Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content 100K+ · 3.1★ (938) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 5 too high 13 
Site Reviews 60K+ · 4.9★ (376)
wp.org #22 ↓4 9 too low 14 
Pie Register – User Registration, Profiles & Content Restriction 1K+ · 4.2★ (222)
wp.org #20 6 too low 15 
Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #23 ↑1 8 too low 16 
Maximum Products per User for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.6★ (42)
wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too low 17 
PublishPress Permissions: Access Control, Content Permissions, User Access 10K+ · 4.3★ (66)
wp.org #21 4 too low 18 
WP User Profiles 200+ · 4.3★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19 
Admin Bar Editor – Toolbar Customization with User Role based access & Custom menus 3K+ · 4.4★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓2 5 too low 20 
Simple Client Dashboard 2K+ · 4.5★ (26) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 1 too high 21 
Premmerce User Roles 600+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 9 too high 22 
User Approval Manager 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #15 7 too high 23 PressPrimer Assignment – Homework Submission, Document Viewer & LMS Grading Workflows 60+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓1 12 too high 24 
User Registration for Elementor Forms 300+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #13 11 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.