CraftForms vs The Events Calendar
The Events Calendar (by StellarWP) is the most widely used WordPress event management plugin, with over 700,000 active installs. It’s purpose-built for publishing, promoting, and selling tickets to events. CraftForms approaches event use cases from a different angle — as a form builder with booking, inventory, and payment infrastructure built in. The overlap is real but narrow, and understanding where each tool starts and stops matters before choosing one.
| Feature | CraftForms ✦ | The Events Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Platform & Builder | ||
| Free version available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built natively on Gutenberg blocks | ✓ | partial |
| Elementor native widget | ✓ | via shortcode |
| Bricks native element | ✓ | — |
| Embed on external sites | ✓ | — |
| Event Management | ||
| Event listing / calendar views | — | ✓ |
| Recurring events | — | ✓ |
| Venue & organizer management | — | ✓ |
| Virtual event support | — | ✓ |
| Tickets & Registration | ||
| RSVP functionality | ✓ | ✓ |
| Event ticket sales | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ticket tiers / types | ✓ | ✓ |
| Per-event ticket inventory / capacity | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom form fields on registration | ✓ | limited |
| Conditional logic on form fields | ✓ | — |
| File uploads | ✓ | — |
| Booking & Scheduling | ||
| Booking datepicker (hotel-style range) | ✓ | — |
| Fixed time slot booking | ✓ | — |
| Per-slot inventory tracking | ✓ | — |
| iCal export (attendee calendar sync) | ✓ | ✓ |
| iCal inbound sync (Airbnb, Booking.com) | ✓ | — |
| Commerce & Payments | ||
| Stripe payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| PayPal payments | — | ✓ |
| Price calculations / formulas | ✓ | — |
| Server-side price validation | ✓ | — |
| Built-in orders system | ✓ | via WooCommerce |
| WooCommerce integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stock management | ✓ | via WooCommerce |
| Email & Delivery | ||
| Email template designer | ✓ | — |
| Email delivery log | ✓ | — |
| SMTP per-form configuration | ✓ | via plugin |
| Spam protection — no CAPTCHA | ✓ | — |
| Developer & Integrations | ||
| Submission database / admin panel | ✓ | via WooCommerce |
| Webhook submit action | ✓ | — |
| Register user submit action | ✓ | — |
| Create post submit action | ✓ | — |
| REST API / headless submissions | ✓ | partial |
| AI Features | ||
| AI: Integrated form generation (chat) | Soon | — |
| AI: Prompt guidance in docs | ✓ | — |
✦ Where CraftForms leads
-
• Full form builder — complete control over registration fields, conditional logic, file uploads, swatches, and calculated pricing
-
• Booking datepicker with real inventory — hotel-style date ranges, time slots, and per-date/slot inventory
-
• iCal inbound sync — imports Airbnb, Booking.com, Google Calendar feeds to block unavailable dates automatically
-
• Price calculations and server-side validation — formula engine with server-enforced totals; fixed ticket prices only in TEC
-
• Standalone orders system — full status lifecycle without WooCommerce; TEC routes orders through WooCommerce
-
• Full email infrastructure — template designer, delivery log, SMTP per form
-
• Invisible spam protection — behavioral scoring, no CAPTCHA
-
• Embed on external sites — self-sizing iframe with full form capabilities outside WordPress
-
• Lifetime deal available — $149.99 LTD; The Events Calendar Pro is annual-only at $99/yr
Where The Events Calendar has an edge
-
• Event listing and calendar views — month, day, list, and photo views for event discovery and browsing
-
• Recurring events — events that repeat daily, weekly, monthly, or on custom schedules
-
• Venue and organizer management — dedicated post types with Google Maps integration
-
• Virtual event support — Zoom and virtual event platform integration via add-on
-
• Community event submission — front-end user submission with moderation via Community Events add-on
-
• PayPal payments — via official add-on (CraftForms: Stripe only)
-
• Ecosystem — 700,000+ installs and a library of official event management add-ons
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Choose the plan that works best for you — or start free, no credit card needed.
INDIE
Up to 5 WordPress site activations
- 5 WordPress site activations
- All blocks & form starters
- Email Templates
- Ecommerce / booking functionality
- Online payments
- Annual updates & support
- Priority email support
STARTUP
Unlimited WordPress site activations. Forever.
- Unlimited WordPress site activations
- All blocks & form starters
- Email Templates
- Ecommerce / booking functionality
- Online payments
- Lifetime updates & support
- Priority email support
Community Version
Free, forever
- Visual form builder
- Email templates
- SMTP server manager