wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “responsive calendar”
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 “responsive calendar”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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
Hydrogen Calendar Embeds shows at wp.org #10 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce places #6 on merit, 4.7★ from 413 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 
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #2 3 
Simple Calendar – Google Calendar Plugin 50K+ · 3.8★ (397)
wp.org #3 4 
WP Simple Booking Calendar 10K+ · 4.8★ (227)
wp.org #4 5 
Booking Calendar 40K+ · 4.8★ (657)
wp.org #8 3 too low 6 Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413)
wp.org #14 ↑1 8 too low 7 
Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
Add to Calendar Button 3K+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
Online Scheduling and Appointment Booking System – Bookly 60K+ · 4.4★ (586)
wp.org #17 8 too low 10 
Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.5★ (108)
wp.org #13 ↓1 3 too low 11 
Spiffy Calendar 2K+ · 4.9★ (38)
wp.org #11 12 
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – Image Slider, Video Slider 500K+ · 4.6★ (743)
wp.org #19 ↑1 7 too low 13 
Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167)
wp.org #15 ↑1 2 too low 14 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #24 ↓1 10 too low 15 
Styled Calendar – Customizable, Mobile Responsive Google Calendar Embeds 1K+ · 4.4★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #7 8 too high 16 
Event Countdown for The Events Calendar 3K+ · 4.6★ (48)
wp.org #12 ↑1 4 too high 17 
EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44)
wp.org #9 8 too high 18 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #23 5 too low 19 
Event Single Page Builder For The Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.8★ (81)
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 
Event Genius – Event Calendar, Event Registration, and Attendee Management 600+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓2 4 too high 21 
CP Multi View Events Calendar 900+ · 4.3★ (46)
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 
Pie Calendar – Events Calendar Made Simple 1K+ · 4.7★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #18 4 too high 23 Hydrogen Calendar Embeds 1K+ · 4.5★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #10 13 too high 24 
Events Calendar Modules for Divi 2K+ · 5.0★ (7) 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.