WordPress event booking and event registration plugins solve a very specific problem: letting you publish an event, accept registrations, collect attendee details, and optionally sell tickets, all from inside your WordPress site, without redirecting visitors to Eventbrite or a third-party platform.
This roundup covers seven actively maintained, genuinely event-focused plugins with strong install bases and current pricing. Every entry has been checked against live demos, official documentation, and current pricing pages. The plugin list, features, and prices reflect what is available in 2026.
If you need a quick answer, the comparison table below gives you the short version. The full ranked list follows it.
How I Evaluated These Plugins
Not every WordPress plugin that mentions "events" belongs in this list. I focused on plugins built around the event workflow: creating an event with a fixed date and capacity, letting attendees register or buy a ticket, and giving the organizer a way to manage that list. Appointment booking plugins (where a user picks a staff member and available time slot) are a different category and are not in scope here.
Each plugin was scored on:
Event registration and RSVP: Can attendees register with name, email, and custom fields? Does the plugin track who is coming?Ticket sales and payment gateways: Can you sell paid tickets directly from WordPress? Which gateways are supported and on which plan?Calendar display and views: Does the frontend show events in a clear monthly, list, or grid view that visitors can actually use?Recurring events: Can you create a weekly class, monthly meetup, or annual conference that repeats without manual re-entry?Event management admin: How easy is it to manage attendees, edit event details, and track capacity from the WordPress dashboard?Pricing and value: What do you actually get in the free version, and what is the lowest paid entry point for a real working setup?Install base and reputation: WordPress.org active installs and rating depth as signals of plugin stability and long-term viability.
Quick Comparison: Top 3 WordPress Event Booking Plugins
Criteria
#1 The Events Calendar
#2 Events Manager
#3 Sugar Calendar
Best for
Any event type: community, commercial, or multi-venue
Event organizers who need the most from a free plugin
Event organizers who want Stripe ticketing and a clean calendar without a paid plan
Starting paid price
Free core; paid Pro and Elite add-ons for recurring events, additional views, and advanced ticketing
From $99/year (1 site)
Free Lite; from $99.50/year (Starter) for recurring events and RSVP
WordPress.org rating
4.2/5 from 2,444 reviews
4.2/5 from 547 reviews
4.4/5 from 23 reviews
Active installs
700,000+
70,000+
10,000+
Recurring events
Events Calendar Pro add-on (paid)
Yes (free version)
Paid plans only (Pro add-on)
Ticket sales
Yes (free Event Tickets plugin; Stripe, PayPal, Paystack via Tickets Commerce)
Events Manager Pro (paid)
Yes (Stripe included in free Lite)
Main limitation
Paid add-on ecosystem for most booking features
Older admin UI; Pro needed for payments
Recurring events and RSVP require paid plans
The 7 Best WordPress Event Booking Plugins (Ranked)
1. The Events Calendar
Best for: any WordPress site that needs a professional event calendar as a starting point, with optional paid add-ons for ticketing and recurring events
The Events Calendar is the most widely installed WordPress event plugin by a significant margin: over 700,000 active installs on WordPress.org, with 4.2/5 from 2,444 reviews and a 4.8/5 Trustpilot profile. The free plugin provides a solid event calendar foundation with month, list, and day views, plus event creation with venue and organizer management and Google Maps. Recurring events, week view, and additional calendar views require Events Calendar Pro (paid). Ticket sales (Stripe, PayPal, Paystack) and RSVP are both handled by the companion Event Tickets plugin, which is free on WordPress.org and includes Tickets Commerce for basic paid ticketing. Event Tickets Plus (paid) adds advanced ecommerce integrations such as WooCommerce, custom registration fields, and the mobile ticketing app.
Pros:
Largest install base of any WordPress event plugin, meaning the widest theme compatibility, the most documentation, and the largest developer community
Free core plugin covers event publishing, venue and organizer pages, Google Maps, and a public calendar with month, list, and day views
Companion Event Tickets plugin (free) adds RSVP and basic paid ticket sales via Tickets Commerce (Stripe, PayPal, Paystack) alongside the free calendar
Paid Pro and Elite plans scale into full ticketing, recurring events, reserved seating, and email marketing
4.8/5 Trustpilot rating reflects sustained user satisfaction across a very large install base
Event booking features:
Month, list, and day calendar views in the free plugin
Week, photo, map, and summary views in Events Calendar Pro (paid)
Recurring events: requires Events Calendar Pro
RSVP collection and basic attendee tracking via free Event Tickets companion plugin
Paid ticket sales with Stripe, PayPal, and Paystack via Tickets Commerce (included free in Event Tickets companion plugin)
Advanced ecommerce ticketing (WooCommerce, EDD, custom registration fields, mobile app) via Event Tickets Plus (paid)
Venue and organizer pages with Google Maps integration (free)
Event search and category/tag filtering (free)
Community event submissions and Event Aggregator imports (paid add-ons)
Reserved seating and email marketing automation (Elite plan)
Pricing: The Events Calendar core plugin is free. The companion Event Tickets plugin is also free on WordPress.org and includes both RSVP and basic paid ticket sales (Stripe, PayPal, Paystack) via Tickets Commerce at no cost. Paid add-ons (Events Calendar Pro for recurring events and extended views; Event Tickets Plus for WooCommerce and advanced ecommerce) unlock additional capabilities when your setup needs them. Visit theeventscalendar.com for current Pro and Elite pricing.
Limitations: The free TEC core plugin does not include recurring events or week view; these require the paid Events Calendar Pro add-on. Advanced ecommerce ticketing (WooCommerce integration, custom registration fields, mobile ticketing app) requires the paid Event Tickets Plus add-on. A setup that includes recurring events and WooCommerce checkout involves multiple plugin licenses, which can add up faster than competitors who bundle these capabilities in a single plan.
2. Events Manager
Best for: event organizers who want as many event booking features as possible without paying for a plugin
Events Manager offers the most generous free version of any event plugin in this list. The core plugin (70,000+ active installs, 4.2/5 from 547 reviews on WordPress.org) includes booking management, Google Maps integration, Google Calendar export, unlimited recurring events, attendee limit controls, custom confirmation emails, and basic waitlist support, all without spending a cent. The paid Pro license unlocks payment processing (Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net), QR code ticket generation, PDF ticket delivery, WooCommerce cart checkout for events, and full CSV export of attendee data.
Pros:
Free version covers the complete registration and attendee management workflow, including recurring events and booking forms
Pro is priced competitively: from $99/year for a single-site license, or from $129/year (Pro Plus) with all add-ons and locked-in renewal pricing
Webhook and Zapier automation is included in the free version, enabling CRM and email tool integrations without a paid upgrade
Google Calendar export and waitlist management are available free
Event booking features:
Unlimited events and attendee bookings in the free version
Recurring events with full scheduling patterns (daily, weekly, monthly) included free
Booking forms with custom fields, capacity limits, and attendee-level data
Google Maps venue integration and multiple location support
Google Calendar export and CSV import from Google Sheets, iCal, Zoom, and Meetup
Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.net payment gateways (Pro)
QR code tickets and PDF delivery (Pro)
Webhooks and Zapier automation for syncing attendee data to external tools (free)
Pricing: Free core plugin on WordPress.org. Events Manager Pro from $99/year (1 site, no add-ons) or $129/year (1 site, all add-ons included). Multi-site licenses available at higher tiers. Promotional discounts may be active on the official pricing page.
Limitations: The admin interface looks noticeably older than newer competitors like Sugar Calendar or Eventin, which can affect day-to-day usability for non-technical staff managing a busy event calendar. Payment gateway support requires a Pro license.
3. Sugar Calendar
Best for: event organizers who want Stripe ticket sales, Google Maps, and a clean block editor calendar without paying for a plugin, plus recurring events and RSVP available on paid plans
Sugar Calendar stands out as the only plugin in this list whose free version (Sugar Calendar Lite, 10,000+ active installs on WordPress.org, 4.4/5 from 23 reviews) includes both Stripe ticket selling and Google Maps integration. You can create events, sell paid tickets via Stripe, display a Google Map on the event page, show a month/week/day calendar view, manage a basic attendee list, and export to CSV, all without a paid license. Recurring events and RSVP management are premium features available in paid plans. The WPBeginner team backs Sugar Calendar, and a one-click migration from The Events Calendar makes switching straightforward.
Pros:
Free Lite version includes Stripe ticket selling and Google Maps: the only plugin in this list that offers both at no cost
Month, week, and day calendar views available in the free Lite version via Gutenberg blocks, Elementor widgets, or shortcodes
Native block editor integration: no shortcode-only or manual HTML setup required
iCal/Google Calendar feeds and "Add to Calendar" buttons included free
One-click migration from The Events Calendar for sites switching over
Event booking features:
Stripe ticket selling with attendee management and CSV export (free Lite)
Month, week, and day calendar views via blocks, widgets, and shortcodes (free Lite)
Google Maps venue display on event pages (free Lite, requires Google Maps API key)
iCal/ICS feeds and Add to Calendar buttons for Google, Outlook, and Apple Calendar (free Lite)
Event tags and category calendars for visitor filtering (free Lite)
Recurring events with daily, weekly, monthly, and custom patterns (paid plans only)
RSVP management with a dedicated RSVP dashboard (paid plans only, via RSVP add-on)
Venue management with reusable venue profiles (paid plans only)
Speaker and performer profiles with bios and photos (paid plans only)
Frontend event submissions via WPForms, Gravity Forms, or Formidable Forms (paid plans only)
Zapier integration and WooCommerce ticketing (paid plans only)
Pricing: Sugar Calendar Lite is free on WordPress.org and includes Stripe ticket selling, Google Maps, and full calendar display. Paid plans add recurring events, RSVP management, venue pages, speaker profiles, and advanced integrations. Starter from $99.50/year (10 sites); Pro from $199.50/year; Elite from $299.50/year. Promotional pricing at 50% off is currently active on their website. 14-day money-back guarantee.
Limitations: Recurring events and RSVP management are premium features and are not available in Sugar Calendar Lite. The install base is smaller than The Events Calendar or Events Manager, which means fewer third-party integrations and community resources. The Google Maps integration in the free version requires a Google Maps API key.
4. Eventin
Best for: conferences, workshops, and structured professional events that need speaker schedules, ticket tiers, and event landing pages
Eventin by Arraytics is the strongest plugin on this list for structured events that need more than a calendar and a ticket form. Based on the official feature set, product documentation, and the WordPress.org listing (10,000+ active installs, 4.5/5 from 388 reviews), Eventin handles the kind of detail that conference organizers actually need: speaker profiles and schedule blocks, multiple event tracks, QR code attendee check-in, seat maps for assigned seating, RSVP forms, multi-tiered ticket pricing, and a visual event calendar with multiple display layouts. It also ships with an AI-powered event description generator, which reduces the manual writing burden for organizations running many events per year.
Pros:
Best speaker management and event schedule tooling in this list: full agenda with speaker profiles, session time blocks, and track filtering inside a single plugin
Multi-tiered ticket types (Early Bird, VIP, General Admission, Group) with per-tier capacity controls, which is rare in free and low-cost WordPress event plugins
Strong community ratings: 4.5/5 from 388 reviews on WordPress.org, 4.6/5 on G2, 4.8/5 on Trustpilot
Free version available on WordPress.org for basic event calendars
Event booking features:
Conference-style event schedule with sessions, time blocks, speakers, and track filtering
Speaker profiles with photos, bios, and session assignments
Multi-tiered ticket types with custom pricing, capacity, and availability windows
QR code ticket generation and mobile check-in app for on-site attendee scanning
Visual seat plan for assigned-seat events
RSVP forms with attendee detail collection
Recurring events and multi-day event support
Frontend event submission forms for community event calendars
AI-assisted event description writing
Pricing: Free version available on WordPress.org. Pro plans: Standard from $89/year (2 domains); Small Business from $165/year (100 domains); Agency from $179/year (unlimited domains). Promotional discounts of up to 70% off are currently active. 15-day money-back guarantee.
Limitations: The conference-specific features that set Eventin apart (speaker management, seat plans, advanced ticket tiers, and the check-in app) require the Pro version. The free version provides a solid basic event calendar but does not include Eventin's main differentiators.
5. Event Organiser
Best for: multi-language WordPress sites and European event organizers who want a reliable free-to-start booking plugin
Event Organiser is one of the most highly rated event plugins on WordPress.org: 4.6/5 from 139 reviews and 20,000+ active installs. The free version handles recurring events with granular scheduling rules, venue management, a frontend calendar, event listing pages, and CSV import and export out of the box. The Pro version adds payment processing (Stripe), customizable booking forms, discount codes, venue markers on maps, and iCal sync for attendees. The plugin natively supports over 40 languages, which makes it one of the strongest choices for European event organizers running multilingual WordPress sites.
Pros:
4.6/5 rating on WordPress.org from 139 reviews, reflecting a satisfied user base relative to install count
40+ language support out of the box, without requiring WPML or Polylang: a real differentiator for European and international event organizers
Simple pricing: pay once and the plugin continues to work after the license expires; renewal restores updates and support at a discount
Free version includes recurring events, venue management, and CSV import/export
Event booking features:
Recurring events with granular scheduling (weekly, monthly, specific day patterns) in the free version
Multi-venue support with dedicated venue pages
Frontend calendar with agenda and list views via shortcode or widget
Custom booking forms with per-event field configuration (Pro)
Stripe payment processing for paid events (Pro)
Discount codes for promotional pricing (Pro)
iCal sync and venue map markers (Pro, Business and Developer licenses)
CSV import and export for attendee data management
Pricing: Free core plugin on WordPress.org. Pro licenses: Personal from £50/year (1 site, no extensions); Business from £90/year (5 sites, selected extensions including iCal sync, venue markers, and discount codes); Developer from £120/year (10 sites, all extensions). The plugin continues to function after license expiry; renewal at a discount restores updates and support.
Limitations: The frontend calendar and admin design look older than Sugar Calendar or Eventin, which can be a concern in design-conscious markets. Payment gateway options in the Pro tier are more limited compared to Events Manager Pro or Tickera.
6. Tickera
Best for: event organizers who primarily need to sell tickets online with zero platform commission and direct gateway payouts
Tickera is built around one core promise: sell tickets from your WordPress site with zero commission to the platform. Your payment gateway (Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, Braintree, and 15 or more others are built in) processes the payment directly into your account. Tickera itself takes nothing. With 2,000+ active installs and a 4.5/5 rating from 286 reviews on WordPress.org, it has a smaller footprint than the top two plugins but a focused and satisfied user base. Every Tickera plan includes unlimited sites, unlimited events, unlimited attendees, PDF tickets with email receipts, and free iOS and Android check-in apps (Checkinera).
Pros:
Zero commission on every plan: the only fee going to Tickera is the annual license; standard gateway processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 with Stripe) go to the gateway, not to Tickera
Checkinera iOS and Android check-in apps are included free on all plans, with QR code scanning for on-site attendee check-in
Lifetime license available at $399 one-time for unlimited sites and events, forever
19 built-in payment gateways with no WooCommerce requirement for basic ticket sales
Event booking features:
Unlimited events and ticket types per event
19 built-in payment gateways; Bridge for WooCommerce (Bundle) adds Square, Klarna, and hundreds more
PDF tickets with email receipts on all plans
QR code ticket generation with Checkinera iOS and Android scanning apps (free)
Seating Charts add-on for assigned-seat events (Bundle and Lifetime)
Custom attendee forms with field builder (Bundle)
Bulk discount codes for group sales and promotional pricing (Bundle)
CSV export of attendee and sales data
Pricing: Standard $149/year first year (includes a $50 one-time activation fee; renews at $99/year). Bundle $199/year first year (includes all 25 add-ons; renews at $149/year). Lifetime $399 one-time for everything Tickera makes. 7-day money-back guarantee.
Limitations: Tickera is specifically a ticketing plugin. It does not ship a calendar view for browsing upcoming events the way The Events Calendar or Events Manager does. If you need a public-facing event calendar alongside the ticketing, you will need to pair Tickera with a separate calendar plugin or use its event listing shortcode, which is more basic than what dedicated calendar plugins offer.
7. WP Event Manager
Best for: lightweight event listings with location filtering, Google Maps, and optional WooCommerce ticket sales
WP Event Manager takes a job-board-style approach to events: the free plugin gives you event listing submission and display with Ajax-based filtering by location, category, and type. The result is fast and responsive. Frontend event listing pages work without page reloads. With 20,000+ active installs and a 4.0/5 rating from 246 reviews on WordPress.org, it has a solid user base and a clear niche. Add-on packs extend the plugin into ticket sales via WooCommerce, Zoom virtual events, Google Maps venue display, QR code check-in, and a mobile app for organizers.
Pros:
Most lightweight event listing setup in this comparison: the free plugin loads fast, avoids bloat, and handles a high volume of event listings
Ajax-powered listing search with location and category filters that work without a page reload, improving the browsing experience for visitors navigating a busy event directory
Developer-friendly: a public API, shortcode system, and hook architecture make it practical for agencies and developers building custom event directory sites
Event booking features:
Ajax-based event listing with location, category, and keyword filtering
Google Maps venue display (add-on)
WooCommerce ticket sales with per-event ticket types (add-on)
QR code ticket generation and scanning (add-on)
Recurring events and multi-day events
Zoom integration for virtual and hybrid events (add-on)
Mobile app for organizers to manage events on the go
Frontend event submission by registered users or guests
Pricing: Free core plugin on WordPress.org. Add-on plans: Plus $99 (core add-ons), Pro $199 (includes WooCommerce Tickets and most add-ons), Virtual Pro $299 (adds Zoom and virtual event tools), All Pro $399 (all add-ons). Pricing is for annual licenses; check the official website for current pricing and promotional offers.
Limitations: The event registration and ticketing workflow requires WooCommerce and a paid add-on, which adds setup complexity compared to plugins where ticketing is integrated from the start. WP Event Manager works best as an event directory or listing engine rather than a dedicated ticket sales tool.
Running Events and Appointments on the Same WordPress Site
The plugins above handle event registration: a fixed date, a set capacity, and attendees who register for the same session. That covers concerts, classes, workshops, conferences, and community meetups well.
But many businesses need both. A training center runs group workshops (events) and also books one-to-one coaching sessions (appointments). A wellness venue hosts yoga classes (events) and also takes individual therapy bookings (appointments). A hotel conference wing manages multi-day events and also books private tours and consultations.
These are two distinct workflows. Event plugins are not designed to route an individual customer to a specific staff member at an available time slot. Appointment plugins are not designed to sell a fixed number of seats to the same session at a fixed date and time.
The practical answer is to run both side by side. Booknetic handles the appointment side: individual and group bookings with staff availability, calendar sync, automated reminders, and payment collection. It integrates naturally into a WordPress site that already runs an event plugin for the group-booking workflow. The two plugin types do not conflict, and each handles the use case it was built for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best WordPress event booking plugin overall?
The Events Calendar is the best default choice for most WordPress sites. It has the largest install base (700,000+), the widest theme and builder compatibility, and a free core plugin that covers event publishing, basic calendar views, and venue management. Recurring events require the paid Events Calendar Pro add-on. Basic paid ticket sales (Stripe, PayPal, Paystack) are available for free via the companion Event Tickets plugin and Tickets Commerce. If you want Stripe ticket selling in the free version with recurring events also handled without add-on complexity, Sugar Calendar Lite includes Stripe ticketing and Google Maps at no cost, with recurring events available from the $99.50/year paid plan.
Which WordPress event plugin is best for free events and free ticket distribution?
Events Manager gives the most booking capability without a paid license: the free version includes booking management, recurring events, attendee limits, confirmation emails, Google Calendar export, and Zapier/webhook integration. Both Sugar Calendar Lite and the free Event Tickets companion plugin for The Events Calendar include Stripe ticket selling at no cost. Event Tickets (free) adds RSVP and basic paid ticketing with Stripe, PayPal, and Paystack to The Events Calendar via Tickets Commerce. Sugar Calendar Lite also includes Stripe ticketing and Google Maps free, but without recurring events.
Which plugin is best for selling event tickets with no commission?
Tickera. It charges a flat annual license fee and takes zero commission on ticket sales. Your payment gateway processes each transaction directly. Standard gateway processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 with Stripe) still apply, but those go to the gateway, not to Tickera. Sugar Calendar Lite also includes Stripe ticket selling in the free version with no platform commission. Events Manager Pro and The Events Calendar with the free Event Tickets plugin (Tickets Commerce) similarly support direct gateway payouts with no per-ticket cut to the plugin developer.
Can I manage conferences and multi-day events with these plugins?
Yes. Eventin is the strongest choice specifically for conferences. It supports speaker profiles, session schedules, event tracks, multiple ticket tiers, and QR code check-in. The Events Calendar with the Pro add-on handles multi-day events and recurring events well but does not have native speaker management. Sugar Calendar paid plans handle multi-day events and, with the Pro add-on, recurring events. Events Manager also supports multi-day events and recurring schedules in the free version.
Is there a WordPress event plugin that also handles appointment booking?
Event plugins and appointment booking plugins are designed for different workflows. Event plugins manage fixed-date sessions where multiple people register for the same event. Appointment plugins route individual customers to an available staff member at a specific time slot. If your site needs both, the cleanest approach is to run a dedicated event plugin alongside a dedicated appointment booking plugin like Booknetic . See the full comparison of the best WordPress booking plugins for the appointment side of that decision.
What is the difference between an event booking plugin and an appointment booking plugin?
An event booking plugin manages fixed-date events where multiple people register for the same session: a concert, a class, a conference, or a community meetup. Attendees sign up for the event as a whole, not for a specific staff member or time slot. An appointment booking plugin handles individual bookings where a customer selects a service, an available staff member, and an open time slot. A hair salon, a therapy practice, or a consulting firm uses an appointment plugin. An event venue, a class organizer, or a festival promoter uses an event plugin. Some businesses need both, and running both plugin types on the same WordPress site is the practical solution.
Final Verdict
For most WordPress sites, The Events Calendar is the right starting point. It is free, widely supported, and scales from a simple community calendar to a complex multi-venue event operation, though recurring events require the paid Events Calendar Pro add-on (basic paid ticket sales are free via the companion Event Tickets plugin). If you want Stripe ticket selling in the free version without a paid plan, Sugar Calendar Lite provides that alongside Google Maps and full calendar views, with recurring events and RSVP available from the $99.50/year paid plan. Events Manager is the most practical pick when you need the most from a free plugin: it includes recurring events, booking management, and Zapier integration without any paid license. Eventin is purpose-built for conference organizers who need speakers, session schedules, and multi-tier ticketing. Event Organiser is the strongest pick for multilingual event sites, especially in European markets. Tickera is the cleanest choice for selling tickets without commission. And WP Event Manager is the right engine for a lightweight event directory rather than a single-event ticketing workflow.
Choose the plugin that fits your specific event type rather than the one with the longest feature list. A simple recurring class does not need a conference schedule module. A festival ticket sale does not need a job-board-style event directory. Match the tool to the workflow, and you will get a setup that is easier to manage and faster to load.
Senior Content Writer
Head of Marketing
