wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “vip program”

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 “vip program”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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

RewardsWP – Loyalty Points & Referral Program for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #2 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

B2BKing — Ultimate WooCommerce B2B and Wholesale Plugin — Wholesale Prices, Bulk Order Form & More places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 109 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 signals wp.org

Loyalty Points Rewards and Referral for WooCommerce – WPLoyalty 3K+ · 5.0★ (310) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #1 2

Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #3 1 too low 3

MailPoet – Newsletters, Email Marketing, and Automation 500K+ · 4.4★ (1435) heavy footprint wp.org #5 2 too low 4

User Switching 200K+ · 4.9★ (238) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5

Like Button Rating ♥ LikeBtn 3K+ · 4.4★ (273) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #4 1 too high 6

LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393) wp.org #11 ↓1 5 too low 7

New User Approve 20K+ · 4.3★ (131) wp.org #14 ↓1 7 too low 8

Timetics – Appointment Booking Calendar & Scheduling 2K+ · 4.6★ (36) wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too low 9

B2BKing — Ultimate WooCommerce B2B and Wholesale Plugin — Wholesale Prices, Bulk Order Form & More 10K+ · 4.9★ (109) wp.org #18 ↓1 9 too low 10

Alex Reservations – Restaurant Reservations, Tables & White-Label Booking System 200+ · 4.9★ (28) wp.org #12 ↓1 2 too low 11

Maximum Products per User for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.6★ (42) wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too low 12

RewardsWP – Loyalty Points & Referral Program for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #2 10 too high 13

Leaky Paywall 600+ · 4.2★ (35) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #7 6 too high 14

Live Chat by Formilla – Real-time Chat & Chatbots Plugin 2K+ · 4.8★ (116) wp.org #20 ↓1 6 too low 15

Siren Affiliates – Affiliate & Partner Program Manager for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↓3 6 too high 16

Generate PDF using Contact Form 7 4K+ · 4.7★ (40) wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too low 17

Membership For WooCommerce 800+ · 4.4★ (28) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #16 1 too high 18

Discount Rules for WooCommerce – Disco | Dynamic Pricing, Conditions, Bulk, Bundle, BOGO 5K+ · 4.2★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #8 10 too high 19

WebinarIgnition – AI & MCP Webinar Builder on Your WordPress: Live, Automated & Evergreen, WooCommerce Upsells Inside 60+ · 4.5★ (51) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #23 ↓3 4 too low 20

WinRocket Raffle and Giveaway Campaigns for WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↑1 1 too low 21

TrustLens – Fraud Prevention & Chargeback Defense for WooCommerce 20+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #24 3 too low 22

Lootly Loyalty & Rewards 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓2 5 too high 23

Loyalty Points and Rewards Plugin for WordPress – Pointics 40+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too high 24

Groups Discount for WooCommerce 60+ · 3.5★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓1 9 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.