The Events Calendar Shortcode vs WP Events Manager (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: The Events Calendar Shortcode at #9 and WP Events Manager at #7. WP Events Manager leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
WP Events Manager
The all in one Events Manager for WordPress: create and manage events, sell event tickets online easily. No Coding Required.
Who leads on what
WP Events Manager leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
WP Events Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Event Plugins.
WP Events Manager has more users: 30,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: The Events Calendar Shortcode has 101, WP Events Manager has 13. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
The Events Calendar Shortcode has more reviews behind its score: 101 against 13.
WP Events Manager was updated more recently, on August 22, 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.
The Events Calendar Shortcode
Pick The Events Calendar Shortcode if you want the score backed by more reviews.
WP Events Manager
Pick WP Events Manager if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
The Events Calendar Shortcode vs WP Events Manager side by side
| The Events Calendar Shortcode | WP Events Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Event Plugins ranking | #9 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 2.7 |
| Reviews | 101 | 13 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 30,000+ |
| Total downloads | 791,531 | 732,867 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 18, 2026 | Aug 22, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 10, 2014 | Mar 21, 2017 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
The Events Calendar Shortcode ratings
WP 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 The Events Calendar Shortcode nor WP Events Manager can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Event Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
The Events Calendar Shortcode vs WP Events Manager: common questions
Is The Events Calendar Shortcode better than WP Events Manager?
WP Events Manager leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. WP Events Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Event Plugins.
Which has more users, The Events Calendar Shortcode or WP Events Manager?
WP Events Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in Event Plugins.
Which is rated higher, The Events Calendar Shortcode or WP Events Manager?
WP Events Manager has more users: 30,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are The Events Calendar Shortcode and WP Events Manager free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. The Events Calendar Shortcode may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP Events Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to The Events Calendar Shortcode and WP Events Manager
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Events Shortcodes For The Events Calendar
10,000+ installs · 4.9 from 212 reviews
-
WP Event Manager
20,000+ installs · 4.0 from 248 reviews
-
The Events Calendar
600,000+ installs · 4.2 from 2,453 reviews
-
Sugar Calendar
10,000+ installs · 4.5 from 24 reviews
-
Events Manager
60,000+ installs · 4.2 from 548 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.