wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wpec”

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 “wpec”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 7 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

WPEC Bulk Category Pricing shows at wp.org #9 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Dynamic Widgets 10K+ · 4.7★ (109) wp.org #1 2

FraudLabs Pro for WP e-Commerce — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #2 3 W WP e-Commerce Related Products 60+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #7 4 too low 4

Bot Protection with Turnstile 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Q qTranslate loves WPEC 10+ · 4.5★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #5 6 W WPEC Targetpay for WP E-Commerce — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewslow rating, top placementstale but ranked wp.org #4 2 too high 7 S Shopper Rewards for WP-eCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #10 3 too low 8 A Amazing WP e-Commerce 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #8 9 W WP e-Commerce – Status Board — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #11 2 too low 10

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.