The Events Calendar 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 at #1 and WP Events Manager at #7. The Events Calendar leads on 4 of the 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 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
The Events Calendar leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
The Events Calendar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Event Plugins.
The Events Calendar has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: The Events Calendar has 2,453, WP Events Manager has 13. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
The Events Calendar has more reviews behind its score: 2,453 against 13.
The Events Calendar was updated more recently, on September 3, 2026; WP Events Manager on August 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, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WP Events Manager
WP Events 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 Events Manager side by side
| The Events Calendar | WP Events Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Event Plugins ranking | #1 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.2 | 2.7 |
| Reviews | 2,453 | 13 |
| Active installs | 600,000+ | 30,000+ |
| Total downloads | 86,297,200 | 732,867 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 3, 2026 | Aug 22, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 19, 2010 | 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 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 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 vs WP Events Manager: common questions
Is The Events Calendar better than WP Events Manager?
The Events Calendar leads on 4 of the 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 #7 in Event Plugins.
Which has more users, The Events Calendar or WP Events Manager?
The Events Calendar ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Event Plugins.
Which is rated higher, The Events Calendar or WP Events Manager?
The Events Calendar has more users: 600,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Are The Events Calendar and WP Events Manager free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. The Events Calendar 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 and WP Events Manager
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.