Modern Events Calendar vs WP Event Manager: In-Depth Comparison

Posted by Josh Blackburn, in Event Plugins

Choosing the right event management plugin for your WordPress website can be a critical decision. With numerous options available, it’s essential to find a plugin that meets your unique needs and requirements. Two popular choices among users are Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager. Both plugins offer a range of features aimed at improving event management, but it’s imperative to understand their differences and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.

Modern Events Calendar is known for its aesthetically pleasing design, extensive customizability, and support for recurring events, making it a top choice for many users. On the other hand, WP Event Manager offers practical features, a variety of add-ons, and exceptional support, making it a solid alternative for managing events with ease. Deciding on the right plugin ultimately depends on your specific requirements and preferences.

Key Takeaways

• Compare the features and functionality of Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager.
• Evaluate the differences between free and paid versions of both plugins.
• Consider user experience, technical aspects, and support when making a decision.

Overview of Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager

The landscape of event management plugins for WordPress features a variety of options to choose from. Two popular and powerful plugins are the Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager. Both plugins cater to the needs of individuals and businesses looking to organize, manage, and showcase events on their websites.

Modern Events Calendar is a versatile plugin that offers numerous features to create visually appealing event listings. It boasts an advanced booking system and a collection of display themes, making it suitable for small to medium-sized businesses, educators, and event planners who want to conduct their events online. From organizing conferences to promoting concerts, this plugin provides a wide range of customization options to help users tailor their events according to their specific needs.

On the other hand, WP Event Manager is also renowned for its rich feature set, which includes some unique offerings not found in Modern Events Calendar. With its strong focus on developer friendliness, SEO friendliness, and performance, this plugin is designed to cater to developers and website owners alike. It is a robust solution for creating and managing an event calendar within a WordPress site, ensuring seamless integration and hassle-free management.

Both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager aim to provide users with a comprehensive event management experience. These WordPress plugins offer an extensive array of functionalities, enabling users to craft engaging event listings while ensuring easy management and setup. To determine which plugin is the perfect fit for their needs, users should carefully consider the specific features and customization options offered by each plugin to find the right balance of usability, performance, and design.

Features Comparison

Calendar Views and Customization

Both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager offer a variety of calendar views and customization options. These views include list, grid, and calendar formats, allowing users to choose the one that best suits their needs. Both plugins also provide a high level of customization, giving users the ability to personalize their event listings, including colors, fonts, and event display settings.

Event Management Tools

Event organizers can easily manage events with both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager, as both offer a comprehensive set of event management tools. These include features like adding and editing events, setting event schedules, managing event locations, and defining event categories. The event management process is user-friendly in both plugins, making it easy for organizers to create events and manage their details.

Booking and Payment System

A vital aspect of any event management plugin is a robust booking and payment system. WP Event Manager stands out because of its advanced booking management, allowing users to manage ticket sales, pricing tiers, and attendee data more efficiently. It also supports popular payment gateways, making it easy to sell tickets and process payments. While Modern Events Calendar does provide event booking capabilities, it may not be as feature-rich as WP Event Manager’s offerings.

Integration with WordPress

Both plugins offer seamless integration with WordPress, providing compatibility with most WordPress themes, shortcodes, and hooks. Additionally, WP Event Manager is known for its developer-friendliness, providing extensive documentation and compatibility with popular page builders like Elementor. The integration with WordPress ensures a smooth user experience and allows event organizers to create fully functional event listings and calendars within their WordPress websites.

Differences: Free vs Paid Versions

Modern Events Calendar

Modern Events Calendar offers both free and paid versions, enabling users to choose the option that fits their needs. The free version provides essential features such as creating events, receiving RSVPs, and showcasing events through various layouts and designs. However, the premium version expands on this foundation, offering valuable additions like advanced filters, flexible time schedules, and the ability to create bookings.

The paid version of Modern Events Calendar comes with Pro version options, including multiple premium add-ons like the Ticket and Invoice add-on and Elementor Form Builder integration, taking the functionality of the plugin to new heights. With premium add-ons, users can effectively manage ticket sales, track invoices, and tailor event registration forms to their liking.

WP Event Manager

Similarly, WP Event Manager also offers a free and premium tier to accommodate varying user needs. The free version includes essential functionality such as creating, listing, and categorizing events, while the paid version—referred to as the Pro version—adds several advanced features like event location and user registration management.

To further enrich the user experience, WP Event Manager offers a variety of premium add-ons such as Bookings, Calendar, and Google Maps integrations. These paid add-ons augment the core functionality of the plugin, making it even more robust and user-friendly.

In summary, both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager provide free versions with essential event management features, while their paid counterparts offer advanced functionalities and premium add-ons that cater to more sophisticated needs.

Event Listings and Organizers

Event Categorization and Tags

Both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager provide users with the ability to categorize and tag their event listings. Event categorization allows users to group events based on their similarities, making it easier for website visitors to discover events of interest. Categories can be customized to fit the specific needs of a website, allowing for a more user-friendly browsing experience.

Event tags, on the other hand, enable users to further refine their event searches based on specific keywords. This feature allows visitors to focus on events that align with their interests, while also enabling event organizers to better target their audiences. Both plugins allow users to filter events by categories and tags.

Organizer Features

Organizer features are another significant aspect for event management plugins. WP Event Manager offers a comprehensive Organizer Dashboard where users can view and manage a list of all the organizers that have been created. The dashboard also allows users to add details of event organizers through a Submit Organizer form, which can be set up using a shortcode.

Modern Events Calendar, on the other hand, does not provide information on organizer features in the search results. However, both plugins offer a wide range of features to handle event listings, organizers, and other event management aspects, making them suitable choices for users with varying requirements.

Remember to ensure that the plugin you choose aligns with the specific needs of your website, as this will ultimately help you make the most out of your event management and organizer features.

Additional Functionalities

Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager both offer a variety of functionalities to enhance their event management capabilities. However, the difference lies in the range of features provided by each plugin.

Modern Events Calendar excels in managing recurring events. Users can easily create repeating events using a flexible scheduler. Additionally, this plugin offers smooth integration with popular calendar applications like iCal and Google Calendar. Virtual events are also supported, which is an essential feature in today’s online event management landscape.

One of the main highlights of WP Event Manager is its wide selection of addons available for purchase, allowing users to customize the plugin as per their requirements. For instance, addons like RSVP and Coupons provide additional functionality for managing event registration and promotional offers. To further enhance the location management of events, the plugin offers seamless Google Maps integration. Furthermore, WP Event Manager is compatible with Google Calendar and iCal.

WP Event Manager also excels in event presentation with options such as images, sliders, and widgets. These visual aids assist in making event pages more engaging and informative. For a comprehensive event website, both plugins support the creation of event pages as well as entire event-centric websites.

In terms of importing events, both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager allow users to import events from external sources, making the transition between event management platforms more convenient. The included schedule feature further simplifies the event management process by providing an organized display of upcoming events.

Neither plugin offers a dedicated mobile application; however, due to their responsive design, event pages and websites created using these plugins can be easily accessed on mobile devices.

In summary, Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager provide an array of additional functionalities, catering to the specific needs of users. From recurring events management to customizable addons, both plugins ensure a comprehensive and robust event management experience.

User Experience Evaluation

When comparing Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager, it’s essential to consider the user experience. Both plugins offer a range of features designed to make event management on a WordPress website efficient and seamless.

In terms of responsiveness, WP Event Manager is known for its fast-loading capabilities and optimized performance. This plugin prioritizes website speed, ensuring that users can navigate through the events calendar and interact with important details with ease. The loading time of Modern Events Calendar is also relatively fast, providing a satisfactory browsing experience for users.

The performance of both plugins can be evaluated based on their flexibility and feature sets. WP Event Manager offers a variety of functional features such as event registration, integration with popular e-commerce solutions, and compatibility with popular page builders. Meanwhile, Modern Events Calendar focuses on an appealing presentation, offering visually stunning calendar designs and multiple display options.

The user interface for both plugins is intuitive and straightforward. WP Event Manager allows users to effortlessly manage and customize events, with an array of settings and options at their disposal. Modern Events Calendar, on the other hand, prioritizes visual aspects, with a focus on clean layouts, customizable color schemes, and modern typography.

While each plugin caters to different user requirements and preferences, both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager are designed to provide a seamless, compelling, and user-friendly experience. The choice between the two ultimately depends on specific website needs and the desired balance between aesthetics and functionality.

Technical Aspects

Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager differ in various aspects from custom fields and coding structure, to developer and SEO friendliness, and API support.

In terms of custom fields, Modern Events Calendar enables users to create and manage additional fields for events, providing more personalized event details. Conversely, WP Event Manager also includes custom fields, allowing users to tailor the information displayed, meeting specific website requirements.

The coding structure of both plugins plays an essential role in their performance and efficiency. Modern Events Calendar boasts a clean and organized code, contributing to the plugin’s fluidity and smooth operation. Similarly, WP Event Manager embraces a lightweight and well-organized coding structure, ensuring fast load times and optimal website performance.

When it comes to developer friendliness, WP Event Manager stands out with its extensive documentation and community support. It offers hooks and filters to accommodate easy customization, catering to both beginner and experienced developers. Modern Events Calendar, while also providing documentation, may be less intuitive for new developers in comparison.

SEO friendliness is a crucial aspect to consider, as it influences the visibility and reach of the events displayed on a website. Both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager are designed to be SEO friendly. They follow the best practices, including the use of schema markup and microdata, which helps search engines better understand and index the events.

Finally, API support is vital for integrating the plugins with third-party services seamlessly. WP Event Manager provides a REST API, making it easier to connect and synchronize with other platforms for a cohesive event management experience. Modern Events Calendar, on the other hand, does not explicitly mention API support, which means integration with external systems might require extra effort or custom development.

Overall, both plugins excel in various technical aspects. While WP Event Manager may offer more comprehensive developer and API support, Modern Events Calendar delivers an advanced custom fields system to provide a personalized event experience. Ultimately, the choice between these plugins depends on the specific needs and technical requirements of the user.

Support and Documentation

Both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager pride themselves on providing comprehensive documentation and support for their users. Understanding the importance of these resources, they have dedicated sections on their respective websites to address common concerns and help users get the most out of their plugins.

Modern Events Calendar offers a Help Center containing an extensive knowledge base with numerous articles and video tutorials. This information covers everything from getting started to advanced customization options. Additionally, users can connect with others through the WPEM community on Facebook to share experiences, seek advice, and learn from one another.

WP Event Manager also provides thorough documentation to guide users through various aspects of the plugin. The detailed, step-by-step instructions cover initial setup, configuring settings, and utilizing features such as event submissions and registrations. Furthermore, WP Event Manager’s support team is available to assist users with any technical issues or queries they may face.

In summary, both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager ensure their users have access to ample support and documentation, making it easier to manage events on their WordPress sites. By offering knowledge bases, community forums, and dedicated support teams, they strive to facilitate a smooth experience for event organizers.

Compatibility and Migration

When comparing Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager, one of the key aspects to consider is their compatibility and ease of migration with other event management plugins in WordPress. As event organizers often depend on multiple tools for seamless event management, having compatibility and simple migration options can be a significant advantage.

Modern Events Calendar is known for its comprehensive feature set, offering a range of customization and styling options. It is primarily designed to work with various popular page builders, ensuring compatibility with diverse website templates and themes. Likewise, WP Event Manager is developed to be highly extensible and compatible with various themes and plugins, making it a handy event solution for any WordPress website.

In terms of migration, WP Event Manager stands out with its dedicated WP Event Manager Migration plugin. This tool allows users to conveniently migrate their event data from other popular event plugins such as The Events Calendar, Events Manager, Modern Event Calendar, Meetups, EventON, and Event Espresso. The plugin exports the event data in CSV format, which can then be easily imported into WP Event Manager. This hassle-free migration feature saves users time and effort while switching between different event management plugins.

Both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager continue to enhance their offerings by providing regular updates, addressing compatibility issues, and ensuring seamless integration with the constantly evolving WordPress ecosystem. This commitment to staying current ensures that users have a reliable and sustainable solution for their event management needs.

In conclusion, compatibility and migration play a crucial role in choosing the right event management plugin. While both Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager boast impressive compatibility with various themes and plugins, WP Event Manager’s dedicated migration tool gives it an edge, ensuring an effortless transition across different event plugins in the WordPress environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager?

Modern Events Calendar and WP Event Manager are both feature-rich event management plugins for WordPress websites. However, there are some notable differences between the two. Modern Events Calendar focuses on a visually appealing calendar design with options for customizing the style and layout. On the other hand, WP Event Manager is more developer-friendly, providing greater customization options for developers. It also offers some useful features that are not present in Modern Events Calendar.

How does the pricing of WP Event Manager compare to other event plugins?

WP Event Manager offers a free version with essential features for managing events on a WordPress website. For additional features and functionality, they provide numerous paid add-ons and extensions, allowing users to pick and choose the features they require. This a-la-carte approach can make it more affordable compared to some other event plugins, which may have fixed pricing for feature bundles.

Which addons are available for WP Event Manager?

WP Event Manager has different add-ons that can be useful for customizing your event management experience. Some of the key add-ons include:

• Registration: Allows users to register for events through your website
• Attendee Information: Collects information from attendees during registration
• Sell Tickets: Offers ticket selling functionality integrated with WooCommerce
• Email Notifications: Sends email notifications to event organizers and attendees

For a complete list of add-ons, you can visit the WP Event Manager website.

How is Modern Events Calendar’s compatibility with Divi and Elementor?

Modern Events Calendar is compatible with both Divi and Elementor, two of the most popular website builders for WordPress. It allows users to seamlessly create and customize event pages and calendars using either site builder. This helps in ensuring a consistent design and user experience across the website.

Are there free event calendar alternatives for WordPress?

Yes, there are several free event calendar alternatives for WordPress, including:

• The Events Calendar: A popular free plugin with basic event management features and a customizable calendar view
• Events Manager: Another free plugin with a comprehensive feature set for managing events

Keep in mind that free alternatives may not have the same level of customer support or advanced features as premium options.

Does WP Event Manager offer a mobile app?

As of now, WP Event Manager does not have a dedicated mobile app. However, the plugin is designed to be fully responsive and mobile-friendly, ensuring a smooth user experience when managing events on WordPress websites through a mobile device.