A Self-Hosted Google Calendar Alternative for WordPress
You already own your website. Why rent your calendar? WebCalendar for WordPress puts a full-featured, self-hosted calendar right on your WordPress site — your data, your domain, no third-party servers, no ads, no lock-in.
Embedding Google Calendar Means Renting Someone Else’s
The usual way to put a calendar on a WordPress site is to paste in a Google Calendar iframe. It works — but every event, every visitor, and every bit of styling then lives on Google’s terms, not yours.
Your data leaves your site
Events are stored on Google’s servers. You’re trusting a third party with your organization’s schedule — and their retention, privacy, and API rules can change at any time.
Locked to a Google account
Managing the calendar requires a Google account, and Google’s policies govern what you can and can’t do. Your calendar is only ever a guest on your own website.
Barely any customization
You get Google’s iframe look. No matching your theme, no custom categories or colors that fit your brand, no control over layout or behavior.
Ads, tracking, and no ownership
Embeds come with Google’s tracking, and you don’t own the presentation or the pipeline. If Google changes or sunsets something, your calendar changes with it.
WebCalendar for WordPress vs. Embedded Google Calendar
A direct comparison of a self-hosted WordPress calendar against a Google Calendar embed — the two most common ways to show events on a WordPress site.
| WebCalendar for WordPress | Google Calendar (embedded) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where event data lives | Your WordPress database, on your server | Google’s servers |
| Who owns the data | You | |
| Works without a Google account | Yes — anyone can view | Managing requires a Google account |
| Ads & third-party tracking | None | Google tracking |
| Custom design & branding | Full — your theme, your CSS, your colors | Minimal — Google’s iframe styling |
| Recurring events (RFC 5545) | Yes, in the free tier | Yes |
| Multiuser roles & permissions | 36 WordPress capabilities | Tied to Google account sharing |
| iCal / .ics import & export | Yes, free — both directions | Export only |
| REST API | 29 endpoints, free | Limited, Google-controlled |
| Runs on your own domain | Yes | Iframe served from google.com |
| Cost | Free | Free — your data is the price |
Self-Hosted, Without the Server Headache
Let’s be clear: WebCalendar for WordPress is a plugin, not a standalone calendar server like Nextcloud or Radicale. That’s the advantage. If you already run WordPress, you already have everything a self-hosted calendar needs — a database, a domain, and a login system. The plugin turns that into a calendar server in minutes, with none of the sysadmin work.
No new server to run
Nothing to provision, patch, or babysit. No Docker, no CalDAV daemon, no separate host. It installs like any other WordPress plugin.
Uses the WordPress you have
Your existing database stores the events. Your existing domain serves them. Your existing users and roles control who can do what.
Minutes, not an afternoon
Install from WordPress.org, drop in the [webcalendar] shortcode or Gutenberg block, and you have a working calendar on your own site.
Built to scale
Custom database tables handle 100K+ events without the Custom Post Type bloat that slows other plugins down. Your self-hosted calendar stays fast.
Own Your Data — Without Giving Up Sync
Self-hosting doesn’t mean cutting yourself off. WebCalendar for WordPress speaks standard RFC 5545 iCal, so you can bring your existing events over and still see them on your phone.
Import your Google Calendar
Export your Google Calendar as an .ics file and import it in a single upload, with smart duplicate detection. Your history comes with you.
Keep it on your phone
Publish an iCal feed and subscribe to it from Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook. Your self-hosted calendar shows up everywhere you already look.
No proprietary lock-in
Every event exports as standard iCal. Your data is never trapped — move it in, move it out, integrate it with the 29-endpoint REST API.
Self-Hosted Calendar FAQ
Is WebCalendar for WordPress really self-hosted?
Yes. It runs entirely inside your own WordPress install. Events are stored in your site’s database, on your server. Nothing is kept on Google’s servers or ours.
Do my visitors need a Google account to see the calendar?
No. The calendar renders as part of your page like any other content. Anyone can view it — no Google account and no sign-in required.
Can I bring my existing Google Calendar events over?
Yes. Export your Google Calendar as an .ics file and import it in one upload. You can also publish an iCal feed so your calendar stays synced to Google, Apple, or Outlook on your devices.
Do I need a separate server like Nextcloud or Radicale?
No — that’s the point. If you already run WordPress, you don’t need to set up or maintain a separate calendar server. The plugin uses the WordPress you already have.
How much does it cost?
The core plugin is free on WordPress.org, including recurring events, iCal import/export, 100+ country holidays, and the full REST API. Paid tiers add advanced workflow and integration features.
Put a Calendar You Own on Your WordPress Site
WebCalendar for WordPress is free on WordPress.org — recurring events, iCal import and export, multiuser permissions, and a 29-endpoint REST API, all running on your own domain.
Prefer to look first? See the live demo →