wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “event based”
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 based”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20.
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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Event SEO: Event Schema / Structured Data: Google Rich Snippet Schema for Event shows at wp.org #13 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 700+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
LiteSpeed Cache places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 2778 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. 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 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413)
wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 
Event Genius – Event Calendar, Event Registration, and Attendee Management 600+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #5 ↑1 6 
Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793)
wp.org #9 3 too low 7 
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167)
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 
EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85)
wp.org #6 ↓2 3 too high 10 
Events Shortcodes For The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.9★ (214)
wp.org #14 ↓4 4 too low 11 
Event Espresso – Event Registration & Ticketing Sales 500+ · 4.4★ (136)
wp.org #12 ↑2 1 too low 12 LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #21 9 too low 13 
Tickera – Sell Tickets & Manage Events 2K+ · 4.5★ (292)
wp.org #19 6 too low 14 
The Events Calendar Shortcode & Block 10K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #18 4 too low 15 
Event Single Page Builder For The Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.8★ (81)
wp.org #15 ↑1 16 
Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.5★ (108)
wp.org #17 ↓5 1 too low 17 
EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44)
wp.org #10 ↑1 7 too high 18 
WP Event Aggregator: Import Eventbrite events, Meetup events, social events and any iCal Events into Event Calendar 1K+ · 4.6★ (54)
wp.org #16 ↑1 2 too high 19 
Event Calendar Newsletter 600+ · 4.8★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↑2 8 too high 20 
Event Tickets Manager for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.7★ (32)
wp.org #20 21 
Event Post 1K+ · 4.3★ (35)
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 
Event Tickets with Ticket Scanner 1K+ · 4.8★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 
Simple Event Planner 1K+ · 4.3★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Event SEO: Event Schema / Structured Data: Google Rich Snippet Schema for Event 700+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑2 11 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.