Download Manager vs File Manager (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org File Manager Plugins top 10: Download Manager at #8 and File Manager at #7. File Manager leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Download Manager
This File Management & Digital Store plugin will help you to control file downloads & sell digital products from your WP site.
File Manager
Manage WordPress files and folders from your dashboard with a built-in code editor: upload, edit, delete, move, rename, and archive, no FTP needed.
Who leads on what
File Manager leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #8 in File Manager Plugins.
Download Manager has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
File Manager is rated higher: 4.3 out of 5 from 202 reviews, against 4.1 from 1,007 reviews.
Download Manager has more reviews behind its score: 1,007 against 202.
File Manager was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; Download Manager on August 21, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Download Manager
Pick Download Manager if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
File Manager
Pick File Manager if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Download Manager vs File Manager side by side
| Download Manager | File Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| File Manager Plugins ranking | #8 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 1,007 | 202 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 11,403,797 | 1,628,238 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 21, 2026 | Sep 2, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 10, 2010 | Feb 4, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Download Manager ratings
File Manager ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Download Manager nor File Manager can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the File Manager Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Download Manager vs File Manager: common questions
Is Download Manager better than File Manager?
File Manager leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #8 in File Manager Plugins.
Which has more users, Download Manager or File Manager?
File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #8 in File Manager Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Download Manager or File Manager?
Download Manager has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Download Manager and File Manager free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Download Manager is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. File Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Download Manager and File Manager
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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