Plugins are an important key feature of a successful WordPress website. There are all kinds of plugins out there that you can install onto your WordPress site to further aid you, including security, SEO, and ranking plugins, among many others. There are even ones to help enhance the overall look of your websites. Among these are the WordPress calendar plugins, which every e-commerce website needs.

Depending on your website’s niche, you may need a plugin to help you organise all of your events, bookings, schedules, and more. Luckily, WordPress is a mine of plugins, both paid and free. You don’t have to clutter your Google calendar with any kind of business appointment anymore. With a WordPress calendar plugin, your administrators and users can interact with events’ dates and times in a visually pleasing and organised manner. 

Why You Need a WordPress Calendar Plugin

If you are running an e-commerce website (using WooCommerce, for example), you will definitely need some sort of a tool aid to help you, your administrators, and your users have a sense of organisation instead of hand-written bookings or calendars. Installing calendar plugins is a means to get rid of this old-fashioned way of cluttering your physical calendar and having a disorganised set of booking lying around. It will definitely make things easier for you and your website, and your users (and yourself) will surely thank you for it.

Here are some of the benefits of using a WordPress calendar plugin:

• Easy to use: Most WordPress calendar plugins are easy to set up and use, even for beginners. You can create, edit, and even delete events however and as many times as you like, all in one place.
• Versatile: There are WordPress calendar plugins for all types of businesses and organisations.
• Feature-rich: WordPress calendar plugins offer a variety of features, such as event management, appointment scheduling, and Google Calendar integration.
• Customisable: You can customise the look and feel of your calendar to match your website’s design, giving your website-themed calendar an aesthetically pleasing look.
• Scalable: WordPress calendar plugins can be scaled to meet the needs of your growing business.

How to Choose a WordPress Calendar Plugin

There are many calendar plugins on WordPress that cater to different users. What you need to look for first is a plugin that fits all your needs. Are you planning on having the plugin for booking, scheduling, displaying events, or ticketing?

Once you have got this out of the way, the second most important thing to look for is a plugin that’s updated regularly because you don’t want to have a plugin that no developer is working on—this will compromise your website’s security, hence the third most important feature: a secure plugin. Look for plugins that are secure and don’t compromise your site’s security or contribute to any data breaches. So, always use the most trusted plugins and check the reviews on them. 

Your site’s security is non-negotiable, so make sure that you have your security plugins activated. If you notice any performance issues after installing a calendar plugin (or any plugin), use Lighthouse or Google PageSpeed Insights to help you figure out the exact problem with your site’s performance.

Best WordPress Calendar Plugins

Because there are hundreds of calendar plugins on WordPress, we are here to help you by narrowing it down to the best choices. Here are our top picks for WordPress calendar plugins:

Booking Calendar 

Active Installations: 60,000+

Average Rating: 4.7/5

This is the OG booking calendar plugin for WordPress. Its easy-to-use interface allows your users to enter their details easily and make a booking or check the available times in the calendar. The calendar plugin can help you with resource scheduling (if you are running a B&B, renting a house, etc.), client scheduling, patient scheduling, and more. 

The Events Calendar 

Active Installations: 800,000+

Average Rating: 4.2/5

This is a free calendar plugin for WordPress that will take care of displaying all your events in an organised manner. The Events Calendar is very easy to use, even for beginners, to help you arrange all your events, whether in-person or virtually. It’s also very customisable and extensible. 

With a simple way of installation, just search for the plugin on your WordPress backend and click on “install.” Within a few seconds, you can go back to check your installed plugins and activate the calendar. The free version gives you month, list, and day views, while the Pro plan exclusively gives you week, map, photo, and summary views and premium support.  

My Calendar

Active Installations: 20,000+

Average Rating: 4.7/5 

If you are looking for an easy-to-use calendar plugin with a simple interface that can display all your events in a customisable way, look no further than My Calendar. It’s a pretty straightforward plugin, giving you the opportunity to display your created calendars by categories, locations, or authors. Because a great user experience should be guaranteed, My Calendar provides custom templates and several widgets. 

If you are looking to do more with your calendar, My Calendar Pro offers several more features, including user-submitted events, which you can approve or reject, integration between posting and event creation, and importing events from outside sources like Google Calendar. 

Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia

Active Installations: 50,000+

Average Rating: 4.6/5 

Amelia is a WordPress plugin that allows you to easily create and manage bookings for appointments and events. This flexible plugin can be used by businesses of all sizes, from salons, yogis, and coaching sessions to personal and professional services (photographers, wedding planners, etc.), consultants, and healthcare providers (dentists, doctors, and nutritionists). It has all that you will ever need for event bookings in an organised and easy-to-navigate manner. 

Comparison of Free vs. Paid WordPress Calendar Plugins

Many WordPress calendar plugins offer both free and premium versions. While the free versions provide essential functionality, paid upgrades often include advanced features and enhanced capabilities. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:

Free Versions

• Basic features: Core functionalities like creating, editing, and displaying events.
• Limited customization: Basic options for customizing the appearance of the calendar.
• Ad support: Some free plugins may display ads within the calendar widget.

Paid Upgrades

• Advanced features: Additional features such as recurring events, appointment scheduling, Google Calendar integration, and custom event types.
• Enhanced customization: More extensive customization options for the calendar’s appearance and functionality.
• Premium support: Priority customer support for resolving issues and receiving assistance.
• Additional integrations: Integration with other tools like payment gateways, email marketing platforms, or CRM systems.
• No ads: Paid versions typically remove ads from the calendar widget.

Example: The Events Calendar

• Free version: Basic event creation, display, and customization.
• Paid version: Advanced features like recurring events, Google Calendar integration, map views, and premium support.

Example: Booking Calendar

• Free version: Basic booking functionality, limited customization options.
• Paid version: Advanced features like resource scheduling, automated email notifications, and integration with payment gateways.

By understanding the differences between free and paid versions, you can determine which features are essential for your website and whether the investment in a premium plugin is worthwhile.

Integration with Other Tools

WordPress calendar plugins often offer integration capabilities with various third-party tools, making them valuable assets for businesses that require seamless data flow between different applications. Here are some common integrations:

Payment Gateways

• Direct integration: Many calendar plugins offer direct integration with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.Net. This allows users to accept online payments directly through the calendar, streamlining the booking process.
• Third-party integrations: Even if a plugin doesn’t have native integration with a specific payment gateway, it might support integration through third-party plugins or APIs.

Email Marketing Platforms

• Automated notifications: Calendar plugins can automatically send email notifications to customers or clients about upcoming appointments, confirmations, or reminders.
• Integration with popular platforms: Many plugins integrate with popular email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and ActiveCampaign.

CRM Systems

• Sync data: Calendar plugins can sync data with CRM systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zoho CRM. This helps businesses manage customer information, track appointments, and analyze booking trends.

Other Tools

• Google Calendar: Many calendar plugins offer seamless integration with Google Calendar, allowing users to synchronize their events across both platforms.
• Social media: Some plugins enable sharing events directly to social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
• Website builders: Calendar plugins can be easily integrated into popular website builders like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace.

For e-commerce websites, integration with payment gateways is particularly important for handling online bookings and payments. Additionally, integration with CRM systems can help businesses manage customer information, track sales, and analyze booking trends.

By leveraging these integrations, businesses can streamline their operations, enhance customer experience, and improve overall efficiency.

Mobile Responsiveness in WordPress Calendar Plugins

Mobile-friendly calendar plugins are essential for ensuring a positive user experience, especially considering the increasing number of people who access websites on their smartphones and tablets. A responsive calendar plugin adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes, providing a consistent and easy-to-use interface across devices.

Key benefits of mobile-friendly calendar plugins:

• Enhanced user experience: Mobile users can easily view, add, and manage events without struggling with a cluttered or difficult-to-navigate interface.
• Increased engagement: A mobile-friendly calendar encourages users to interact with your website more frequently, leading to higher engagement and conversions.
• Improved SEO: Search engines prioritize mobile-friendly websites, so having a responsive calendar plugin can boost your website’s search rankings.
• Better accessibility: A mobile-friendly calendar makes it easier for users with disabilities to access and use your website.

When choosing a WordPress calendar plugin, be sure to check if it is responsive and optimized for mobile devices. This will help you provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for your website visitors, regardless of the device they are using.

FAQ

Q: Can I use a WordPress calendar plugin on a free WordPress plan? A: Most free WordPress calendar plugins are compatible with free WordPress plans. However, some advanced features or premium support might be limited or unavailable.

Q: How do I choose the right calendar plugin for my specific needs? A: Consider your website’s purpose, the types of events you want to display, and the features you require. Research different plugins, read reviews, and try out demos to find the best fit.

Q: Can I customize the appearance of my calendar plugin? A: Yes, most calendar plugins offer customization options to match your website’s design and branding. You can adjust colors, fonts, and layouts to create a cohesive look.

Q: Can I integrate my calendar with other tools like Google Calendar or email marketing platforms? A: Many calendar plugins offer integration capabilities with popular tools, allowing you to synchronize events and automate tasks.

Q: Are there any security concerns with using calendar plugins? A: While most reputable calendar plugins are secure, it’s essential to choose plugins from trusted developers and keep them updated to address potential vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

A WordPress calendar plugin can be a valuable asset for your website, providing a convenient way to manage events, appointments, and bookings. By carefully considering your specific needs and choosing a plugin that integrates well with your other website tools, you can enhance your website’s functionality and improve the user experience.

Overall, using a WordPress calendar plugin will significantly enhance your site’s functionality by making it easier to schedule, manage, and display various types of time-based activities. Your website visitors can increase by simply having a visually organised way in front of their eyes. Not only that, but your administrators can save a lot of time and manual labour by automating these booking and scheduling tasks by just entering a few details about the event or available times for booking.