wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “widget schedule”
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 “widget schedule”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 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
Missed Schedule Post Publisher shows at wp.org #3 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
ShopEngine – All-in-One Elementor WooCommerce Builder with eCommerce Templates & Woo Widgets places #12 on merit, 4.6★ from 212 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Simply Schedule Appointments 50K+ · 5.0★ (155)
wp.org #1 2 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #2 3 
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #4 ↑3 1 too low 4 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #6 ↑4 1 too low 6 
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #7 ↓2 1 too low 7 
Timeline Widget For Elementor (Elementor Timeline, Vertical & Horizontal Timeline) 70K+ · 4.8★ (248)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
SchedulePress – Auto Post & Publish, Auto Social Share, Schedule Posts with Editorial Calendar & Missed Schedule Post Publisher 10K+ · 4.6★ (201)
wp.org #11 ↓2 3 too low 9 
Timetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress 30K+ · 4.3★ (69)
wp.org #10 ↓4 1 too low 10 
Sticky Chat Widget – Floating Chat Icons, Contact Form, Call, Click to Chat, Email & Message Buttons 10K+ · 5.0★ (39)
wp.org #12 ↑1 2 too low 11 
Social Media Auto Poster – Schedule & Publish to Buffer 7K+ · 4.5★ (125)
wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too low 12 ShopEngine – All-in-One Elementor WooCommerce Builder with eCommerce Templates & Woo Widgets 100K+ · 4.6★ (212)
wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too low 13 
Content Aware Sidebars – Fastest Widget Area Plugin 30K+ · 4.9★ (724) not PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↑5 6 too low 14 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #22 ↓1 8 too low 15 
Hustle – Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Optins, Popups 80K+ · 4.4★ (859)
wp.org #23 8 too low 16 Missed Schedule Post Publisher 6K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #3 13 too high 17 
Buttonizer – Social Media Share Buttons, Social Icons, & Social Feeds 40K+ · 4.8★ (396) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too low 18 
Widget Visibility Time Scheduler 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↑2 9 too high 19 
RSS Feed Widget 2K+ · 3.9★ (26)
wp.org #14 5 too high 20 
Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.5★ (108) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too low 21 
Radio Station by netmix® – Manage and play your Show Schedule in WordPress! 1K+ · 4.6★ (30) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↓2 1 too high 22 
Widget Visibility Control 200+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑3 6 too high 23 
Yoga Schedule Momoyoga 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #15 8 too high 24 
WPChat – Live Chat & Messaging Widget for Customer Support 6K+ · 4.5★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 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.