wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “workshops”
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 “workshops”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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
Conference Scheduler shows at wp.org #4 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 300+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.2★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Happyforms – Form Builder for WordPress: Drag & Drop Contact Forms, Surveys, Payments & Multipurpose Forms places #11 on merit, 4.4★ from 433 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.
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551)
wp.org #1 2 
Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413)
wp.org #2 3 
Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167)
wp.org #3 4 
Appointment Booking Plugin – LatePoint | Calendar & Scheduling for WordPress 100K+ · 4.9★ (107)
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5 
Simply Schedule Appointments 50K+ · 5.0★ (155)
wp.org #6 ↑6 1 too low 6 
EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85)
wp.org #8 ↓2 2 too low 7 
Events Shortcodes For The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.9★ (214)
wp.org #13 ↓2 6 too low 8 
SeatReg 300+ · 5.0★ (30)
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 
Event Countdown for The Events Calendar 3K+ · 4.6★ (48)
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 
Easy Appointment Booking & Scheduling Plugin – Webba Booking Calendar 2K+ · 4.9★ (159)
wp.org #19 9 too low 11 Happyforms – Form Builder for WordPress: Drag & Drop Contact Forms, Surveys, Payments & Multipurpose Forms 20K+ · 4.4★ (433)
wp.org #23 ↓1 12 too low 12 
LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin for Create and Sell Online Courses 70K+ · 4.3★ (597)
wp.org #24 ↓5 12 too low 13 
GF Mollie by Indigo 900+ · 4.9★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #11 2 too high 14 
Registrations for the Events Calendar – Event Registration Plugin 7K+ · 5.0★ (103)
wp.org #22 ↓2 8 too low 15 Conference Scheduler 300+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #4 11 too high 16 
Timetics – Appointment Booking Calendar & Scheduling 2K+ · 4.6★ (36)
wp.org #16 ↑1 17 
EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44)
wp.org #14 ↑1 3 too high 18 
Japanized for WooCommerce 10K+ · 3.3★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓2 9 too high 19 
Tockify Events Calendar 2K+ · 4.5★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑1 4 too high 20 
Event Monster – Event Manager, Event Booking, Event Ticket & Registration 600+ · 4.8★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #18 2 too high 21 
Events Calendar Modules for Divi 2K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #12 9 too high 22 
Rox Appointment Booking – Event, Calendar & Appointment Scheduling 2K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑3 1 too high 23 
Monthly Events Calendar 60+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #20 3 too high 24 
Zita Site Library for Elementor 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓3 7 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.