Events Manager vs The Events Calendar Shortcode (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 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 The Events Calendar Shortcode at #9. Events Manager leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Events Manager
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, and more!
Events calendar with bookings, scheduling, appointments, event registration, tickets, recurring events, and venue management.
The Events Calendar Shortcode
The Events Calendar Shortcode & Block
Add shortcode, block and Elementor widget functionality to The Events Calendar Plugin, so you can easily list and promote your events anywhere.
Who leads on what
Events Manager leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Events Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Event Plugins.
Events Manager has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
The Events Calendar Shortcode is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 101 reviews, against 4.2 from 548 reviews.
Events Manager has more reviews behind its score: 548 against 101.
Events Manager was updated more recently, on August 27, 2026; The Events Calendar Shortcode on August 18, 2026.
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, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
The Events Calendar Shortcode
Pick The Events Calendar Shortcode if the review score matters most to you.
Events Manager vs The Events Calendar Shortcode side by side
| Events Manager | The Events Calendar Shortcode | |
|---|---|---|
| Event Plugins ranking | #2 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 548 | 101 |
| Active installs | 60,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 6,409,034 | 791,531 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 27, 2026 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 6, 2008 | Oct 10, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Events Manager ratings
The Events Calendar Shortcode 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 The Events Calendar Shortcode can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Event Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Events Manager vs The Events Calendar Shortcode: common questions
Is Events Manager better than The Events Calendar Shortcode?
Events Manager leads on 4 of the 5 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 #9 in Event Plugins.
Which has more users, Events Manager or The Events Calendar Shortcode?
Events Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Event Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Events Manager or The Events Calendar Shortcode?
Events Manager has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Events Manager and The Events Calendar Shortcode free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Events Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons. The Events Calendar Shortcode may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Events Manager and The Events Calendar Shortcode
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.