wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wpsc”
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 “wpsc”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 8 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
WishCraft – Multiple & Shareable Wishlists shows at wp.org #6 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Structured Content (JSON-LD) #wpsc 30K+ · 4.6★ (25)
wp.org #1 2 
Dynamic Widgets 10K+ · 4.7★ (109)
wp.org #2 3 
WPSmartContracts 100+ · 3.9★ (29) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 4 too low 4 
WPSC Ultimate Testimonials — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 C Category Country Aware WordPress 100+ · 5.0★ (3) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #10 5 too low 6 
Structured Listing Business Directory — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placementstale but ranked
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
FraudLabs Pro for WP e-Commerce — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 W WP e-Commerce Related Products 60+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 6 too low 9 C Country Caching For WP Super Cache 200+ · 4.3★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 1 too high 10 WishCraft – Multiple & Shareable Wishlists 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #6 4 too high 11 
Cache file management for wp super cache — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 2 too high 12 W WPEC Targetpay for WP E-Commerce — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 
WPeCommerce Paytm Payment — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 W WPsc MijnPress — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 W WP E-Commerce currency helper 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 2 too high 16 A Amazing WP e-Commerce 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 1 too high 17 L LDB WP e-Commerce iDeal 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 3 too low 18 W WP e-Commerce Recommendations — · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 1 too low 19 E e-Commerce Multi Currency Support 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 1 too high 20 W WP e-Commerce Call for Price 10+ · 3.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 3 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.