Simple Calendar vs The Events 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: Simple Calendar at #12 and The Events Calendar at #1. The Events Calendar leads on all 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Simple Calendar
Simple Calendar – Google Calendar Plugin
Add Google Calendar events to your WordPress site in minutes. Beautiful calendar displays. Mobile responsive.
The Events Calendar
The Events Calendar: #1 calendar plugin for WordPress. Create/manage events (virtual too!) on your site with the free plugin.
Who leads on what
The Events Calendar leads on all 6 measures we track.
The Events Calendar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #12 in Event Plugins.
The Events Calendar has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 50,000+.
The Events Calendar is rated higher: 4.2 out of 5 from 2,459 reviews, against 3.8 from 397 reviews.
The Events Calendar has more reviews behind its score: 2,459 against 397.
The Events Calendar was updated more recently, on October 15, 2026; Simple Calendar on October 7, 2026.
The Events Calendar was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 1,289,080 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.
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.
The Events Calendar
Pick The Events Calendar 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 vs The Events Calendar side by side
| Simple Calendar | The Events Calendar | |
|---|---|---|
| Event Plugins ranking | #12 | #1 |
| Rating | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 397 | 2,459 |
| Active installs | 50,000+ | 600,000+ |
| Total downloads | 3,876,370 | 88,287,743 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 76,262 | 1,289,080 |
| Last updated | Oct 7, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 5, 2010 | Jan 19, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.7 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 8.1 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Simple Calendar ratings
The Events 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 Simple Calendar nor The Events Calendar can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Event Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Simple Calendar vs The Events Calendar: common questions
Is Simple Calendar better than The Events Calendar?
The Events Calendar leads on all 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. The Events Calendar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #12 in Event Plugins.
Which has more users, Simple Calendar or The Events Calendar?
The Events Calendar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #12 in Event Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Simple Calendar or The Events Calendar?
The Events Calendar has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 50,000+.
Are Simple Calendar and The Events Calendar free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Simple Calendar may also sell a paid version or add-ons. The Events Calendar may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Simple Calendar and The Events Calendar
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Events Manager
60,000+ installs · 4.2 from 551 reviews
-
WP Event Manager
20,000+ installs · 4.0 from 249 reviews
-
The Events Calendar Shortcode
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 101 reviews
-
Eventin
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 409 reviews
-
Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar
10,000+ installs · 4.5 from 108 reviews
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Weekly · free
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.