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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “visual regression testing”

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 “visual regression testing”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 2 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

Directorist – WPML Integration shows at wp.org #13 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 400+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

SVG Support places #8 on merit, 4.8★ from 356 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 VRTs – Visual Regression Tests 800+ · 4.6★ (9) wp.org #1 2 User Admin Simplifier 10K+ · 5.0★ (31) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder 600K+ · 4.9★ (4514) wp.org #8 ↓1 5 too low 4 WebChange Detector: Visual Regression Testing & Visual Checks After Updates 200+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #2 2 too high 5 CheckView – Form & Checkout Testing 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 Search, Filters & Merchandising for WooCommerce 200+ · 4.6★ (169) wp.org #14 8 too low 7 Shared Albums for Google Photos 500+ · 4.9★ (10) wp.org #7 ↑1 8 SVG Support 1M+ · 4.8★ (356) wp.org #22 ↓1 14 too low 9 WP Site Checker – Speed, Security & QA Monitoring 10+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 Pinterest for WooCommerce 200K+ · 2.3★ (68) wp.org #5 5 too high 11 WebChange Detector for MainWP 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #6 5 too high 12 Ultimate Form – Multi-Step Form Builder, Conversion Analytics & Lead Forms 60+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #19 ↑1 7 too low 13 Responsive Checker & Device Preview – Mobile Responsive Testing, Simulator & Developer Tools 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 4 too high 14 0 Day Analytics 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #16 ↑1 2 too low 15 MaxtDesign Cookie Consent – Google Consent Mode v2 70+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too low 16 WPMissionControl 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 6 too high 17 VizProof Timeline — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 ↑1 2 too high 18 PatchOn Agent 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 6 too high 19 WebCalendar 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↑2 1 too low 20 Preflight Update Sandbox — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↑2 1 too low 21 Volixta SSL & Security Headers 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↑1 4 too high 22 UpdateProof — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↑1 1 too low 23 SumeetSarna – Update Guardian — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Directorist – WPML Integration 400+ · 2.0★ (1) 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.