Events Manager vs Simple Calendar (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Event Plugins top 10: Events Manager at #2 and Simple Calendar at #12. Events Manager leads on all 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
Simple Calendar
Simple Calendar – Google Calendar Plugin
Add Google Calendar events to your WordPress site in minutes. Beautiful calendar displays. Mobile responsive.
Who leads on what
Events Manager leads on all 6 measures we track.
Events Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Event Plugins.
Events Manager has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 50,000+.
Events Manager is rated higher: 4.2 out of 5 from 551 reviews, against 3.8 from 397 reviews.
Events Manager has more reviews behind its score: 551 against 397.
Events Manager was updated more recently, on October 21, 2026; Simple Calendar on October 7, 2026.
Events Manager was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 116,592 times against 76,262.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Events Manager
Pick Events Manager if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Simple Calendar
Simple Calendar does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Events Manager vs Simple Calendar side by side
| Events Manager | Simple Calendar | |
|---|---|---|
| Event Plugins ranking | #2 | #12 |
| Rating | 4.2 | 3.8 |
| Reviews | 551 | 397 |
| Active installs | 60,000+ | 50,000+ |
| Total downloads | 6,575,447 | 3,876,370 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 116,592 | 76,262 |
| Last updated | Oct 21, 2026 | Oct 7, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 6, 2008 | Jul 5, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.0.7 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 8.1 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Events Manager ratings
Simple Calendar 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 Events Manager nor Simple Calendar can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Event Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Events Manager vs Simple Calendar: common questions
Is Events Manager better than Simple Calendar?
Events Manager leads on all 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: #2 against #12 in Event Plugins.
Which has more users, Events Manager or Simple Calendar?
Events Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Event Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Events Manager or Simple Calendar?
Events Manager has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 50,000+.
Are Events Manager and Simple Calendar free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Events Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Simple Calendar may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Events Manager and Simple Calendar
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.