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

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 “zipcode search”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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

Shipping Rate By Zipcodes shows at wp.org #2 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 60+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.7★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

TI WooCommerce Wishlist places #9 on merit, 4.7★ from 503 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Custom WP Store Locator 300+ · 4.6★ (14) wp.org #1 2 Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads 20K+ · 4.6★ (698) wp.org #4 ↑1 2 too low 3 Discount Rules for WooCommerce 100K+ · 4.9★ (1395) wp.org #8 ↑1 5 too low 4 WCFM Marketplace – Multivendor Marketplace for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.6★ (449) wp.org #14 ↑1 10 too low 5 WCFM – Frontend Manager for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.5★ (286) wp.org #13 ↑1 8 too low 6 Extra Fees for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.3★ (42) wp.org #7 ↑1 1 too low 7 Secure Gateway for Authorize.net and WooCommerce by Pledged Plugins 10K+ · 4.9★ (34) wp.org #11 ↑1 4 too low 8 Track Geolocation Of Users Using Contact Form 7 800+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #3 5 too high 9 TI WooCommerce Wishlist 100K+ · 4.7★ (503) wp.org #24 15 too low 10 Shipping Rate By Zipcodes 60+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #2 8 too high 11 Shipping Rate By Cities 600+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #6 ↑1 5 too high 12 IMPress for IDX Broker 7K+ · 3.1★ (34) wp.org #9 ↑1 3 too high 13 WSW – Shopify WooCommerce / WordPress Integration and Migration 500+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #5 ↑1 8 too high 14 Shortcode for MobilizeAmerica API 30+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #10 ↑1 4 too high 15 FFL Dealers 10+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #23 ↑1 8 too low 16 MageComp Pincode Checker 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 ↑1 4 too high 17 Flexible Extra Fees Manager for WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 ↑1 2 too high 18 IPGeolocation.io – Geo Redirects & Content Control 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 ↑3 2 too high 19 PCRecruiter Extensions 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 2 too high 20 Order Management for WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 2 too high 21 WKSS Japan Address Helper — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↑1 2 too high 22 Hera Japan Postcode Autofill for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too high 23 W WPSprintPlan Delivery Area Checker — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↑1 2 too high 24 ProSolution WP Client 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↑1 2 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.