wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “phpbb”
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 “phpbb”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Display phpBB Forums shows at wp.org #7 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WP-United : phpBB WordPress Integration places #4 on merit, 3.3★ from 52 reviews, but shows at wp.org #9. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
wpForo Forum 20K+ · 4.7★ (390)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
WP w3all phpBB 200+ · 4.7★ (31)
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
BridgeDD 10+ · 4.2★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 W WP-United : phpBB WordPress Integration 100+ · 3.3★ (52) closure risk stale but ranked
wp.org #9 ↓1 5 too low 5 V Vanilla Forums 100+ · 2.8★ (17) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
New Posts from phpBB 30+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 3 too high 7 B Better WordPress External Links 400+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #11 4 too low 8 P PHPBB Single Sign On 10+ · 4.4★ (5) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 4 too low 9 W WP phpBB Bridge 10+ · 2.6★ (11) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 6 too low 10 L Link Maggu Monetization Tool — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too high 11 
SimpleSocial 100+ · 3.0★ (2) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 6 too high 12 P phpBB to WP connector (plugin version) — · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 W WTG Portal Manager Beta — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 14 D Display Xenforo Node 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 15 P phpBB Topics Portal 20+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 2 too low 16 P phpbb_recent_topics 40+ · 4.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 17 W WP Unread Comments 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 2 too low 18 D Display CPG Thumbnails 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 2 too low 19 S Sk Latest Post Widget 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 B bbSigPress 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #22 2 too low 21 W WP-Phpbb Last Topics 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #23 2 too low 22 D Display phpBB Forums 10+ · 1.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #7 15 too high 23 F ForumConverter 10+ · 1.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑1 5 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.