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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “polling system”

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 “polling system”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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

Init Chat Engine – Real-Time, Community, Extensible shows at wp.org #5 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 50+ 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

Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates places #5 on merit, 4.9★ from 405 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (398) wp.org #2 1 too low 2 Disqus Comment System 30K+ · 2.7★ (219) wp.org #1 1 too high 3 Poll Maker by AYS – Versus Polls, Anonymous Polls, Image Polls 6K+ · 4.4★ (91) wp.org #3 4 Podlove Podcast Publisher 3K+ · 4.3★ (45) wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too low 5 Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates 8K+ · 4.9★ (405) wp.org #18 ↑2 13 too low 6 WS Action Scheduler Cleaner 3K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #4 2 too high 7 WP Webhooks – Automate repetitive tasks by creating powerful automation workflows directly within WordPress 20K+ · 4.7★ (55) wp.org #14 ↑1 7 too low 8 BjornTech Swish for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.6★ (20) wp.org #13 5 too low 9 تقویم فارسی – Persian Calendar 3K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #12 ↓1 3 too low 10 Ultimate Multisite – WordPress Multisite SaaS & WaaS Platform 100+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #17 ↑1 7 too low 11 AnWP Sports Leagues – Basketball, Ice Hockey, Handball, Rugby & More 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #8 3 too high 12 ImgSEO – AI Image Alt Text Generator & Image SEO Tools 400+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #22 10 too low 13 Init Chat Engine – Real-Time, Community, Extensible 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #5 8 too high 14 KafiChat Lite 60+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 ↑1 7 too high 15 Commandify – Command Palette, Content Search, Themes Control, Product Edits, Context Actions, Dynamic content, Page builders navigation and actions 40+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #16 1 too low 16 Polanger Ticket System for WooCommerce — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 7 too high 17 Abilities Bridge 80+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 7 too high 18 Castio.live – WordPress Streaming Plugin with Chat (HLS) 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #21 ↓2 3 too low 19 OrderPulse: Auto Refresh Orders for WooCommerce 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 ↑1 8 too high 20 B2Brouter for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↓1 5 too high 21 Jalpi Booking – CRM Appointment System — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↑3 1 too high 22 NativeDesk – Lightweight Help Desk & Support Ticket System — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↑1 1 too low 23 AHT Poll Master — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Admin Toolbar Live Clock 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↑3 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.