The Events Calendar vs WP Event 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 at #1 and WP Event Manager at #8. The Events Calendar leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
The Events Calendar
The Events Calendar: #1 calendar plugin for WordPress. Create/manage events (virtual too!) on your site with the free plugin.
WP Event Manager
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce
Lightweight, scalable and full-featured event listings & management plugin for managing events & tickets from the Frontend and Backend.
Who leads on what
The Events Calendar leads on all 5 measures we track.
The Events Calendar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in Event Plugins.
The Events Calendar has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
The Events Calendar is rated higher: 4.2 out of 5 from 2,453 reviews, against 4.0 from 248 reviews.
The Events Calendar has more reviews behind its score: 2,453 against 248.
The Events Calendar was updated more recently, on September 3, 2026; WP Event Manager on July 22, 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
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 or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WP Event Manager
WP Event Manager 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 vs WP Event Manager side by side
| The Events Calendar | WP Event Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Event Plugins ranking | #1 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.2 | 4.0 |
| Reviews | 2,453 | 248 |
| Active installs | 600,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 86,297,200 | 1,020,689 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 3, 2026 | Jul 22, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 19, 2010 | Mar 4, 2017 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.6 |
| 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 ratings
WP Event 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 nor WP Event Manager can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Event Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
The Events Calendar vs WP Event Manager: common questions
Is The Events Calendar better than WP Event Manager?
The Events Calendar leads on all 5 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 #8 in Event Plugins.
Which has more users, The Events Calendar or WP Event Manager?
The Events Calendar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in Event Plugins.
Which is rated higher, The Events Calendar or WP Event Manager?
The Events Calendar has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are The Events Calendar and WP Event Manager free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. The Events Calendar may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP Event Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to The Events Calendar and WP Event Manager
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Events Manager
60,000+ installs · 4.2 from 548 reviews
-
WP Events Manager
30,000+ installs · 2.7 from 13 reviews
-
The Events Calendar Shortcode
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 101 reviews
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EventPrime
7,000+ installs · 4.5 from 84 reviews
-
Events Shortcodes For The Events Calendar
10,000+ installs · 4.9 from 212 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.