When it comes to managing events and schedules, having a reliable calendar plugin for WordPress can make all the difference. For churches and ministries, a well-organized and functional church calendar for WordPress is essential to keep your community informed and engaged. In this guide, we’ll explore the top 7 calendar plugins for WordPress, highlighting their features, costs, and why they might be the perfect fit for your website. Whether you’re looking to manage recurring events, sell tickets, or integrate with Google Calendar, these plugins offer a range of functionalities to meet your needs.
1. The Events Calendar
Why It’s Great: Th
e Events Calendar by Modern Tribe is one of the most popular calendar plugins for WordPress. It offers a user-friendly interface and powerful features for event management. You can easily create and manage events through an intuitive dashboard, and the plugin supports multiple views, including month, week, and day. It integrates seamlessly with Google Maps, allowing attendees to find event locations easily. Additionally, it supports ticketing with Event Tickets, enabling you to sell tickets directly from your site.
Cost:
- Basic version: Free
- Premium version (Events Calendar Pro): $89/year
Top Features:
- User-friendly interface with multiple view options
- Integration with Google Maps
- Supports ticketing with Event Tickets add-on
Link: https://theeventscalendar.com/
2. EventOn
Why It’s Great: EventOn is known for its visually appealing and highly customizable event calendar designs. It allows you to create beautiful event cards, add event images, and set event colors to match your brand. EventOn supports recurring events, multiple event locations, and social sharing options. The shortcode generator makes it easy to place your calendar anywhere on your site. For more advanced functionalities, EventOn offers a range of add-ons like RSVP events, ticket sales, and event booking.
Cost:
- Core plugin: $25 (one-time fee)
- Additional add-ons: Available separately
Top Features:
- Visually appealing and customizable designs
- Supports recurring events and multiple locations
- Add-ons for RSVP, ticket sales, and booking
Link: https://codecanyon.net/item/eventon-wordpress-event-calendar-plugin/1211017
3. All-in-One Event Calendar
Why It’s Great: The All-in-One Event Calendar by Time.ly is known for its sleek and responsive design. It comes with features like recurring events, filtering options, and easy event sharing on social media. This plugin integrates with Google Maps, making it easy for users to find event locations. One of its standout features is the ability to import events from other calendars, including Google Calendar and iCal. It also supports event syndication, allowing you to share your events with other websites.
Cost:
- Basic version: Free
- Premium plans: Starting at $14.99/month
Top Features:
- Sleek and responsive design
- Import events from other calendars (Google Calendar, iCal)
- Event syndication and sharing
Link: https://time.ly/
4. My Calendar
Why It’s Great: My Calendar is a versatile plugin that supports multiple calendars, event categories, and locations. It
is highly customizable, allowing you to adjust its appearance to match your site’s theme. The plugin supports recurring events, event search, and email notifications for new or updated events. It includes robust accessibility options, ensuring that your events are accessible to all users. Additionally, it provides shortcode and widget support, making it easy to display calendars in different areas of your site.
Cost:
- Core plugin: Free
- My Calendar Pro: $49/year
Top Features:
- Supports multiple calendars and event categories
- Highly customizable design
- Robust accessibility options
Link: https://wordpress.org/plugins/my-calendar/
5. Modern Events Calendar
Why It’s Great: Modern Events Calendar (MEC) offers a contemporary design and extensive functionality for event management. It provides various view modes, including list, grid, and calendar view. MEC supports ticket sales, booking, and registration directly from the calendar. It integrates with popular payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe. The plugin offers advanced features like Google Calendar integration and custom event fields. MEC is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for both admins and users to manage and interact with events.
Cost:
- Free version: Available
- Premium version: Starting at $55 (one-time fee)
Top Features:
- Contemporary design with multiple view modes
- Supports ticket sales and registration
- Integration with payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe)
Link: https://webnus.net/modern-events-calendar/
6. Events Manager
Why It’s Great: Events Manager is a comprehensive event management plugin for WordPress that strikes a balance 
between ease of use and powerful features. It’s ideal for organizations that host a variety of events, offering support for both free and paid events. The free version is quite robust, providing features like recurring events, location management with Google Maps integration, and user-submitted events via frontend forms. The premium version unlocks additional capabilities, including advanced booking management, multiple payment gateways, and more customization options.
- Cost:
- Free version: Available
- Premium version: $75/year for a single site, $150/year for up to five sites
- Top Features:
- Recurring events and location management
- Frontend event submission
- Google Maps integration
- Advanced booking and payment management in the premium version
- Link: Events Manager
7. Simple Calendar – Google Calendar Plugin
Why It’s Great: Simple Calendar is perfect for those who rely on Google Calendar for managing their events. It allows you to display Google Calendar events on your WordPress site easily. The plugin provides a clean, responsive design and supports various calendar views. Simple Calendar integrates seamlessly with Google Calendar, ensuring that your events are always up-to-date. It is ideal for users who prefer managing their events through Google Calendar but want to display them on their WordPress site.
Cost:
- Core plugin: Free
- Premium add-ons: Starting at $49/year
Top Features:
- Seamless integration with Google Calendar
- Clean and responsive design
- Supports various calendar views
Link: https://simplecalendar.io/
Comparison Table
| Feature | The Events Calendar | EventOn | All-in-One Event Calendar | My Calendar | Modern Events Calendar | Events Manager | Simple Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free/Premium | $25+ | Free/Premium | Free/Pro | Free/Premium | Free/Premium | Free/Premium |
| Recurring Events | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ticket Sales | Yes (with add-on) | Yes (with add-on) | Yes | Yes (Pro) | Yes | Yes (Pro) | No |
| Google Calendar Sync | Yes (Pro) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (Pro) | Yes |
| Custom Event Attributes | Yes (Pro) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Event Location Map | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shortcode Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Frontend Submission | Yes (Pro) | Yes (with add-on) | Yes | Yes (Pro) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Design Customization | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Booking System | Yes (with add-on) | Yes (with add-on) | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ease of Use | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★☆ |
| Feature Richness | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ |
| Customization | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ |
| Support and Documentation | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ |
| Integration | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Value for Money | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Reliability and Performance | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★☆ |
Choosing the Right Plugin
To choose the best calendar plugin for your WordPress site, consider the following:
- Budget: Determine how much you are willing to spend. Some plugins offer free versions with essential features, while others require a purchase for advanced functionalities.
- Features: Identify the features that are most important for your site, such as recurring events, ticket sales, or Google Calendar integration.
- Ease of Use: Choose a plugin that is easy to set up and manage, especially if you are not very tech-savvy.
- Customization: Consider how much customization you need in terms of design and functionality.
- Support and Updates: Ensure that the plugin is regularly updated and comes with good customer support.
