Sugar Calendar vs The Events Calendar Shortcode (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: Sugar Calendar at #13 and The Events Calendar Shortcode at #9. 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.
Sugar Calendar
Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform
Easily manage events and sell tickets on your WordPress site. Sugar Calendar is easy-to-use, reliable, and exceptionally powerful. See for yourself.
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
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
The Events Calendar Shortcode ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #13 in Event Plugins.
Both report 10,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Sugar Calendar has 24, The Events Calendar Shortcode has 101. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
The Events Calendar Shortcode has more reviews behind its score: 101 against 24.
Sugar Calendar was updated more recently, on October 15, 2026; The Events Calendar Shortcode on August 18, 2026.
Sugar Calendar was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 23,463 times against 2,305.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Sugar Calendar
Pick Sugar Calendar if you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
The Events Calendar Shortcode
Pick The Events Calendar Shortcode if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Sugar Calendar vs The Events Calendar Shortcode side by side
| Sugar Calendar | The Events Calendar Shortcode | |
|---|---|---|
| Event Plugins ranking | #13 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 24 | 101 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 268,750 | 794,945 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 23,463 | 2,305 |
| Last updated | Oct 15, 2026 | Aug 18, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 5, 2012 | Oct 10, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Sugar Calendar 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 Sugar Calendar 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.
Sugar Calendar vs The Events Calendar Shortcode: common questions
Is Sugar Calendar better than The Events Calendar Shortcode?
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. The Events Calendar Shortcode ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #13 in Event Plugins.
Which has more users, Sugar Calendar or The Events Calendar Shortcode?
The Events Calendar Shortcode ranks higher on WordPress.org: #9 against #13 in Event Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Sugar Calendar or The Events Calendar Shortcode?
Both report 10,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Sugar Calendar and The Events Calendar Shortcode free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Sugar Calendar may also sell a paid version or add-ons. The Events Calendar Shortcode may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Sugar Calendar and The Events Calendar Shortcode
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
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
-
EventPrime
7,000+ installs · 4.4 from 85 reviews
-
Events Shortcodes For The Events Calendar
10,000+ installs · 4.9 from 214 reviews
-
WP Event Manager
20,000+ installs · 4.0 from 249 reviews
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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.