wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “event widget”

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 widget”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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

Simple Google Calendar Outlook Events Widget shows at wp.org #13 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 1516 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

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

WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249) wp.org #4 1 too low 4

Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current wp.org #6 2 too low 5

Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.5★ (108) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #3 ↑5 2 too high 6

ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051) wp.org #9 ↑2 3 too low 7

Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #7 8

Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current wp.org #8 ↓3 9

Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680) wp.org #14 5 too low 10

EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #5 ↓2 5 too high 11

My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159) wp.org #11 ↓2 12

Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets 100K+ · 4.9★ (1516) wp.org #23 ↓1 11 too low 13

VS Event List 8K+ · 4.9★ (82) wp.org #15 ↑1 2 too low 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 4 too high 15

Event Organiser 20K+ · 4.6★ (140) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #12 3 too high 16

Events Shortcodes For The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.9★ (214) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #18 ↓3 2 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 #19 2 too low 18

Event Single Page Builder For The Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.8★ (81) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too high 19

Event Espresso – Event Registration & Ticketing Sales 500+ · 4.4★ (136) not PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #24 ↓1 5 too low 20

Quick Event Manager 1K+ · 4.9★ (67) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #21 1 too low 21

Simple Google Calendar Outlook Events Widget 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #13 8 too high 22

Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓1 23

XT Event Widget for Social Events 800+ · 4.5★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #16 ↑1 7 too high 24

EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #20 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.