The best replacement for past perfect is present perfect.

The best alternatives to past perfect are rated as following:
★★★★★  present perfect
★★★★  past perfect continuous
★★★  simple past
★★★  past tense
★★★  past simple
★★  past
★  past progressive
★  past perfect progressive
★  present perfect spanish
★  preterite perfect
★  past participle
  past continuous
  pluscuamperfecto
  pluperfect
  simple past tense

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Speaking about past perfect, one probably shouldn't forget about until.

Other search terms related to past perfect and their ratings are:
★★★★★ until
★★★★ after
★★★ by the time
★★ since
★★ when
★★ ago
★ past simple
★ time clauses
would
time expression
simple past
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past perfect
present perfect
past perfect continuous