wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “xmas”
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 “xmas”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 19. 4 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
WpXmas Snow shows at wp.org #4 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Product Badge, Label, Countdown Timer for WooCommerce – Sale Booster 5K+ · 4.8★ (30) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
Darklup – Enhanced WordPress Dark Mode, Dark Theme, Night Mode & Accessibility Plugin 1K+ · 4.5★ (44) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #2 3 
Christmas Panda 400+ · 4.9★ (15) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #3 4 
Admin Management Xtended 5K+ · 4.6★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓3 4 too low 5 
Xmas Decoration 100+ · 5.0★ (9) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 ↓2 4 too low 6 
Snow 100+ · 4.5★ (13) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓2 9 too low 7 
Spin Wheel Pop Up 100+ · 5.0★ (6) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓2 4 too low 8 
Xmas Snow 30+ · 4.9★ (7) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓2 6 too low 9 
Xmas Lights 30+ · 4.8★ (8) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓2 4 too low 10 WpXmas Snow 10+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #4 6 too high 11 
ViDesigner Christmas Calendar — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 6 too high 12 
Demfilz Gift Cards and Store Credit for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 6 too high 13 
1001Web Maintenance & Launch Pages — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 6 too high 14 
Content Manager | Xpose Content 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓2 4 too high 15 I Improved Let It Snow! 10+ · 5.0★ (3) not PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓2 4 too low 16 C Capture URL Variables for Ontraport 10+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓2 2 too low 17 
Christmas Countdown Clock 40+ · 3.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓2 5 too high 18 
Show Full Date for a Day’s Name — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓2 1 too high 19 
Xmas Widget Little Elf 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓2 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.