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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “bbpress poll”

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 “bbpress poll”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 17 of the top 20. 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

powerSearch for bbPress shows at wp.org #4 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 100+ 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.

Buried gem

Bit Flows: AI Agent Automation & Integrations for Forms, CRM, eCommerce, Google Sheets, and More places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 64 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 forumAttachments for bbPress 6K+ · 4.3★ (26) wp.org #1 2 GD bbPress Tools 1K+ · 3.8★ (24) wp.org #2 3 wpForo Forum 20K+ · 4.7★ (390) wp.org #9 6 too low 4 Noptin – Newsletter, New Post Notifications & Email Automation 10K+ · 4.5★ (120) wp.org #6 ↑2 2 too low 5 AutomatorWP – No-Code Workflow Automation, Integration & Webhooks Plugin, now with AI 6K+ · 4.8★ (202) wp.org #11 6 too low 6 Invisible Anti-Spam & CAPTCHA — reCAPTCHA Alternative for All Forms 4K+ · 4.8★ (50) wp.org #10 ↑3 4 too low 7 Youzify – BuddyPress Community, User Profile, Social Network & Membership Plugin for WordPress 5K+ · 4.8★ (194) wp.org #15 8 too low 8 GamiPress – Gamification plugin to reward points, badges & ranks in WordPress, now with AI 10K+ · 4.9★ (493) wp.org #14 6 too low 9 Advanced Form Integration — Connect Forms to 300+ Apps 9K+ · 4.8★ (91) wp.org #16 7 too low 10 Uncanny Automator – AI + Automation for WordPress | AI Agent, AI Page Builder, Free AI Usage Included 40K+ · 4.9★ (157) wp.org #17 7 too low 11 Bit Flows: AI Agent Automation & Integrations for Forms, CRM, eCommerce, Google Sheets, and More 1K+ · 4.9★ (64) wp.org #21 10 too low 12 Wbcom Designs – Private Community for BuddyPress 300+ · 4.9★ (25) wp.org #19 7 too low 13 mosparo Integration 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #8 ↓1 5 too high 14 Simple:Press Forum 300+ · 4.2★ (24) wp.org #18 4 too low 15 topicPolls Pro for bbPress 200+ · 3.8★ (5) wp.org #3 12 too high 16 RumbleTalk Group Chat for Communities & Live Events 600+ · 3.4★ (21) wp.org #13 ↓1 3 too high 17 Wbcom Designs – BuddyPress Activity Social Share 400+ · 4.2★ (19) wp.org #20 3 too low 18 CBX Poll 50+ · 4.7★ (3) wp.org #7 ↓1 11 too high 19 GD Mail Queue 700+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #22 3 too low 20 powerSearch for bbPress 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #4 16 too high 21 forumManager for bbPress 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #5 16 too high 22 membersDirectory for bbPress 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 ↓2 10 too high 23 Wbcom Designs – BuddyPress Job Manager 100+ · 3.8★ (5) wp.org #23 24 GameEngine – Gamification, Points, Badges & Leaderboards 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24

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.