wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “event”
wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →
For “event”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 8 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.
wp.org search ranks on
Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.
We add
A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
EventON – Events Calendar shows at wp.org #14 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.1★ average from 44 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia places #7 on merit, 4.6★ from 793 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #1 2 
Event Tickets and Registration 90K+ · 3.5★ (236) heavy footprint
wp.org #2 3 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5038) heavy footprint
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
Event Genius – Event Calendar, Event Registration, and Attendee Management 600+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #3 ↑6 2 too high 6 
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #8 ↓4 2 too low 7 Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793)
wp.org #11 ↑13 4 too low 8 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 
Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↓1 10 
EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 4 too high 11 
Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #7 4 too high 12 
VS Event List 8K+ · 4.9★ (82)
wp.org #13 ↓2 1 too low 13 
Event Organiser 20K+ · 4.6★ (140) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↑1 1 too high 14 
Registrations for the Events Calendar – Event Registration Plugin 7K+ · 5.0★ (103)
wp.org #20 ↑2 6 too low 15 
WP Event Aggregator: Import Eventbrite events, Meetup events, social events and any iCal Events into Event Calendar 1K+ · 4.6★ (54)
wp.org #19 ↑4 4 too low 16 
Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.5★ (108) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 ↑5 17 
Quick Event Manager 1K+ · 4.9★ (67) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 18 
Events Shortcodes For The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.9★ (214) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #24 ↓9 6 too low 19 
Event Single Page Builder For The Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.8★ (81) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↑2 1 too high 20 
Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓3 5 too high 21 EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↑2 7 too high 22 
Event Monster – Event Manager, Event Booking, Event Ticket & Registration 600+ · 4.8★ (18) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #21 1 too high 23 
Event SEO: Event Schema / Structured Data: Google Rich Snippet Schema for Event 700+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 T Themify Event Post 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓4 1 too high Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.