wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “woocommerce debug”
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 “woocommerce debug”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 10 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
WooCommerce Shipping shows at wp.org #5 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 18 places. Its 70K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.0★ average from 18 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 399 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce 300K+ · 5.0★ (1865) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 3 too low 2 
Google for WooCommerce 800K+ · 2.7★ (268) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Germanized for WooCommerce 70K+ · 4.8★ (496)
wp.org #7 4 too low 4 
Product Feed PRO for WooCommerce by AdTribes – Product Feeds for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.7★ (1071)
wp.org #10 6 too low 5 
Payment Plugins for PayPal WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.8★ (127) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – CTX Feed – Support 220+ Shopping, AI & Social Channels 90K+ · 4.6★ (838) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 3 too low 7 
Checkout Field Manager (Checkout Manager) for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.5★ (784)
wp.org #17 10 too low 8 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #16 8 too low 9 
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile 200K+ · 4.7★ (262) not PHP-current
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing 40K+ · 4.9★ (399)
wp.org #23 13 too low 11 
Advanced Free Shipping for WooCommerce 40K+ · 4.8★ (122)
wp.org #18 7 too low 12 
WooCommerce Tax (formerly WooCommerce Shipping & Tax) 500K+ · 2.0★ (105) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement
wp.org #2 10 too high 13 
Back In Stock Notifier for WooCommerce | WooCommerce Waitlist Pro 20K+ · 4.7★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 
Pinterest for WooCommerce 200K+ · 2.3★ (68) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement
wp.org #3 11 too high 15 
Print Invoice & Delivery Notes for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.4★ (140) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 2 too high 16 
YITH WooCommerce Wishlist 400K+ · 3.9★ (262) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 2 too high 17 
Conditional Payments for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.6★ (28)
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
Conditional Shipping for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.6★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
WooCommerce Square 80K+ · 2.1★ (121) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 11 too high 20 
Mollie Payments for WooCommerce 100K+ · 3.6★ (69) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 1 too high 21 
YITH WooCommerce Compare 100K+ · 4.1★ (38) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 1 too high 22 
Amazon Pay for WooCommerce 10K+ · 2.5★ (27)
wp.org #15 7 too high 23 WooCommerce Shipping 70K+ · 2.0★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 18 too high 24 
Payment Gateway for Authorize.net for WooCommerce 800+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 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.