wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wakeup”
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 “wakeup”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 of the top 15. 1 plugin is 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
Maya Business Plugin shows at wp.org #8 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 500+ 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.
Inactive Logout 10K+ · 4.8★ (106)
wp.org #1 2 
Ninja Forms – Contact Form Builder with Calculators, Quizzes, Signatures & AI Form Builder 500K+ · 4.4★ (1397)
wp.org #2 3 
NS Cloner – Site Cloner and Multisite Duplicator 6K+ · 4.7★ (279)
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
Packlink PRO for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.4★ (263) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 5 
Yuga AntiMalware — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
WC Moneris Payment Gateway 900+ · 4.2★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 7 W Wake Up! — · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #7 8 
Post Meta Editor and Cleaner by RotiStudio 10+ · 4.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #11 3 too low 9 
Optcatch – Lead Capture, Email Campaigns & Newsletter for Any Form — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 
Credit Key Payment Gateway 10+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #10 11 
WooRule 100+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 2 too low 12 
FV Feedburner Replacement 10+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 2 too low 13 
Push Notifications Lite 10+ · 2.3★ (3) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 2 too low 14 Maya Business Plugin 500+ · 2.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #8 6 too high 15 
Rapyd Payment Extension for WooCommerce 500+ · 1.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #9 6 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.