Booking Calendar vs Bookly (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Booking Plugins top 10: Booking Calendar at #3 and Bookly at #5. They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Booking Calendar
WP Booking Calendar plugin for full-day bookings, time-slot appointments, rentals & events. Accept bookings and inquiries with flexible contact forms
Bookly
Online Scheduling and Appointment Booking System – Bookly
Appointment booking system for WordPress — schedule appointments, manage calendars, send reminders, take payments. Start booking today!
Who leads on what
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Booking Calendar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Booking Plugins.
Bookly has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Booking Calendar is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 657 reviews, against 4.4 from 585 reviews.
Booking Calendar has more reviews behind its score: 657 against 585.
Bookly was updated more recently, on October 13, 2026; Booking Calendar on October 11, 2026.
Bookly was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 118,818 times against 65,358.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Booking Calendar
Pick Booking Calendar if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Bookly
Pick Bookly if you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Booking Calendar vs Bookly side by side
| Booking Calendar | Bookly | |
|---|---|---|
| Booking Plugins ranking | #3 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 657 | 585 |
| Active installs | 40,000+ | 60,000+ |
| Total downloads | 5,440,508 | 4,090,824 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 65,358 | 118,818 |
| Last updated | Oct 11, 2026 | Oct 13, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 15, 2009 | Oct 10, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 | 5.3.7 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Booking Calendar ratings
Bookly ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Booking Calendar nor Bookly can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Booking Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Booking Calendar vs Bookly: common questions
Is Booking Calendar better than Bookly?
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Booking Calendar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Booking Plugins.
Which has more users, Booking Calendar or Bookly?
Booking Calendar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Booking Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Booking Calendar or Bookly?
Bookly has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Are Booking Calendar and Bookly free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Booking Calendar may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Bookly may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Booking Calendar and Bookly
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.