wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “events 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 “events widget”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 9 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 #10 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 9 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 #24. 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 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #2 3 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #5 ↑4 1 too low 5 
Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.5★ (108) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #12 5 too low 8 
Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too high 9 
Event Tickets and Registration 90K+ · 3.5★ (236) heavy footprint
wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too high 10 
Events Shortcodes For The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.9★ (214) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↓4 1 too high 11 
Events Made Easy 1K+ · 4.6★ (111)
wp.org #11 12 Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets 100K+ · 4.9★ (1516)
wp.org #24 12 too low 13 
Registrations for the Events Calendar – Event Registration Plugin 7K+ · 5.0★ (103)
wp.org #16 ↑1 3 too low 14 
Import Social Events 3K+ · 4.8★ (116)
wp.org #17 ↑1 3 too low 15 
The Events Calendar Shortcode & Block 10K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #20 ↑1 5 too low 16 
Import Eventbrite Events 3K+ · 4.5★ (52)
wp.org #14 2 too high 17 
Event Countdown for The Events Calendar 3K+ · 4.6★ (48) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 4 too high 18 
Event Single Page Builder For The Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.8★ (81) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↑1 1 too low 19 Simple Google Calendar Outlook Events Widget 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #10 9 too high 20 
EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 ↓6 1 too low 21 
Events Search & Filter Bar for The Events Calendar 3K+ · 4.8★ (29) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too high 22 
XT Event Widget for Social Events 800+ · 4.5★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑1 7 too high 23 
EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too high 24 
Events Block For The Events Calendar 2K+ · 3.6★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↑1 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.