wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “event system”
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 system”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 7 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
EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI shows at wp.org #7 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 7K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.4★ average from 85 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
LiteSpeed Cache places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 2778 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. 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) heavy footprint
wp.org #5 ↑1 3 too low 3 
Event Genius – Event Calendar, Event Registration, and Attendee Management 600+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too high 4 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #4 5 
Event Tickets and Registration 90K+ · 3.5★ (236) heavy footprint
wp.org #3 ↓1 2 too high 6 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #6 ↑1 7 
Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793)
wp.org #9 ↑1 2 too low 8 
Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 9 LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #14 ↑2 5 too low 10 
Tickera – Sell Tickets & Manage Events 2K+ · 4.5★ (292)
wp.org #12 2 too low 11 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #13 ↑1 2 too low 12 
WP Booking System – Booking Calendar 10K+ · 4.9★ (344) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↓2 6 too high 14 
Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #10 ↓1 4 too high 15 
Pinpoint Booking System – Legacy version 2K+ · 3.6★ (185)
wp.org #15 16 
Event Espresso – Event Registration & Ticketing Sales 500+ · 4.4★ (136) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too low 17 
WP Event Aggregator: Import Eventbrite events, Meetup events, social events and any iCal Events into Event Calendar 1K+ · 4.6★ (54)
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
Disqus Comment System 30K+ · 2.7★ (219)
wp.org #16 ↑1 2 too high 19 
Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.5★ (108) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 ↑3 2 too low 20 
Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑1 2 too high 21 
Event Monster – Event Manager, Event Booking, Event Ticket & Registration 600+ · 4.8★ (18) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑1 2 too high 22 
Event Tickets with Ticket Scanner 1K+ · 4.8★ (24) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
Event Tickets Manager for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.7★ (32) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 24 
System Dashboard 900+ · 4.9★ (16) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑1 4 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.