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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “web monetization”

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 “web monetization”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20.

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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Interledger Web Monetization Integration shows at wp.org #7 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 10+ 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

Simple Link Directory – AI Powered places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 121 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Web Stories 60K+ · 4.2★ (87) wp.org #1 2 Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #2 ↑2 3 Ad Inserter – Ad Manager & AdSense Ads 300K+ · 4.9★ (2433) wp.org #5 2 too low 4 Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads 20K+ · 4.6★ (698) wp.org #6 2 too low 5 Kit (formerly ConvertKit) – Email Newsletter, Email Marketing, Membership, Subscribers and Landing Pages 40K+ · 4.8★ (90) wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too low 6 Actirise – Advertising & Monetization 200+ · 5.0★ (13) wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too high 7 Listdom: AI-powered Business Directory with Classifieds Ads Listings 1K+ · 4.9★ (60) wp.org #10 ↑2 3 too low 8 iZooto – Web Push Notifications 900+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #3 ↓1 5 too high 9 FluentCommunity – Ultra-Fast High-Performance Social Network, Community, LMS & Online Courses 8K+ · 4.8★ (96) wp.org #15 ↑1 6 too low 10 Simple Link Directory – AI Powered 2K+ · 4.8★ (121) wp.org #21 ↑1 11 too low 11 Publitio 400+ · 5.0★ (41) wp.org #17 6 too low 12 Disqus Comment System 30K+ · 2.7★ (219) wp.org #11 1 too high 13 Simple Page Access Restriction 6K+ · 4.9★ (32) wp.org #18 5 too low 14 BeyondWords – AI audio for publishers 800+ · 3.6★ (27) wp.org #13 ↑1 1 too high 15 Vuukle – Comments, Reactions, Quizzes, Share Bar & Ad Revenue 200+ · 4.1★ (35) wp.org #24 9 too low 16 SmartVideo – Video Player and CDN 1K+ · 4.1★ (19) wp.org #19 3 too low 17 Movie Engine – OTT Streaming Platform for Movies & TV Series 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #14 3 too high 18 GetResponse Official 4K+ · 4.3★ (4) wp.org #9 ↑1 9 too high 19 Interledger Web Monetization Integration 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 ↑1 12 too high 20 Monetag Official Plugin 5K+ · 2.5★ (13) wp.org #16 ↓1 4 too high 21 AdX Ad Inserter – Adsense and Ad Manager Ads 80+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22 Notifadz by Adrenalead – Web Push Notifications 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 ↑1 10 too high 23 Monetumo AD Monetization 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 3 too high 24 AdFusion – Ad Manager, Monetization & AdSense Tracking 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 1 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.