Bookly vs Events Manager (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: Bookly at #5 and Events Manager at #1. Bookly leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Bookly
Online Scheduling and Appointment Booking System – Bookly
Appointment booking system for WordPress — schedule appointments, manage calendars, send reminders, take payments. Start booking today!
Events Manager
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more!
Events calendar and booking system: bookings, reservations, appointments, scheduling, event registration, tickets and recurring events.
Who leads on what
Bookly leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track.
Events Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in Booking Plugins.
Both report 60,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Bookly is rated higher: 4.4 out of 5 from 585 reviews, against 4.2 from 551 reviews.
Bookly has more reviews behind its score: 585 against 551.
Events Manager was updated more recently, on October 21, 2026; Bookly on October 13, 2026.
Bookly was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 118,818 times against 116,592.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Bookly
Pick Bookly if the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Events Manager
Pick Events Manager if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Bookly vs Events Manager side by side
| Bookly | Events Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Booking Plugins ranking | #5 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 585 | 551 |
| Active installs | 60,000+ | 60,000+ |
| Total downloads | 4,090,824 | 6,575,447 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 118,818 | 116,592 |
| Last updated | Oct 13, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 10, 2014 | Aug 6, 2008 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 5.3.7 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Bookly ratings
Events Manager 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 Bookly nor Events Manager can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Booking Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Bookly vs Events Manager: common questions
Is Bookly better than Events Manager?
Bookly leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Events Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in Booking Plugins.
Which has more users, Bookly or Events Manager?
Events Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in Booking Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Bookly or Events Manager?
Both report 60,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Bookly and Events Manager free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Bookly may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Events Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Bookly and Events Manager
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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- Booking Calendar vs Events Manager
- Bookly vs Availability Datepicker
- Bookly vs Easy Appointments
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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.