wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “issue ticket”
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 “issue ticket”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 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
Helpdesk Support Ticket System for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #16 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 200+ 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
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall places #10 on merit, 4.7★ from 1720 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Event Tickets and Registration 90K+ · 3.5★ (236)
wp.org #1 2 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551)
wp.org #2 3 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #3 4 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Ticket Tailor — Event Ticketing & Registration 4K+ · 4.3★ (46)
wp.org #4 2 too high 7 
Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413)
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
SupportCandy – AI Customer Support Ticket System & Live Chatbot Agent 10K+ · 4.9★ (289)
wp.org #11 3 too low 9 
EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85)
wp.org #7 2 too high 10 All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #17 7 too low 11 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #13 2 too low 12 
Bus Ticket Booking with Seat Reservation 700+ · 4.9★ (41)
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 
Fluent Support – Helpdesk & Customer Support Ticket System 10K+ · 4.6★ (69)
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 
Event Tickets with Ticket Scanner 1K+ · 4.8★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #8 6 too high 15 
Tickera – Sell Tickets & Manage Events 2K+ · 4.5★ (292)
wp.org #19 4 too low 16 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
JS Help Desk – AI-Powered Support & Ticketing System 7K+ · 3.7★ (74)
wp.org #15 2 too high 18 
Customer Support Ticket System & Helpdesk 400+ · 4.3★ (27)
wp.org #14 4 too high 19 
Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #18 1 too high 20 
Event Tickets Manager for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.7★ (32)
wp.org #20 21 
Easy PayPal Events & Tickets 1K+ · 4.9★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #23 2 too low 22 
Raffle Ticket Generator – Woocommerce 100+ · 4.3★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #22 23 
WP Support Ticket 90+ · 3.7★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #21 2 too high 24 Helpdesk Support Ticket System for WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #16 8 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.