wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “xmlreader”
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 “xmlreader”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 17.
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
AdParity Lite for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #5 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its — installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WP All Import – Drag & Drop Import for CSV, XML, Excel & Google Sheets places #1 on merit, 4.7★ from 1966 reviews, but shows at wp.org #7. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP All Import – Drag & Drop Import for CSV, XML, Excel & Google Sheets 100K+ · 4.7★ (1966)
wp.org #7 6 too low 2 
emerchantpay Gateway Module for WooCommerce 50+ · 4.8★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Etchenet Reviews for Google Business 10+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
Panama Product Import for WooCommerce (XML, CSV, YML, Excel) 10+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Import from YML 400+ · 4.8★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #8 3 too low 6 
Import WP – CSV & XML Import Export for WordPress 4K+ · 4.4★ (25)
wp.org #12 6 too low 7 
GPX Route Map 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
BazarraNET Export for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 4 too high 9 
WPSSO Commerce Manager Catalog Feed XML 90+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #10 1 too low 10 
WPSSO Google Merchant Feed XML 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #11 1 too low 11 AdParity Lite for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 6 too high 12 
Bulk COGS Editor for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 6 too high 13 
Platinium EPG for XMLTV and M3U 50+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #13 14 
Smartling Connector 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #14 15 
Web Studio Šime – Sidrena cijena HR for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #15 16 
SR All Import, Export & Bulk Deletion — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #16 17 G Get My Tweets 10+ · 2.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 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.