Download Monitor 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 Monitor at #9 and File Manager at #7. Download Monitor leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Download Monitor
Powerful Download Manager Plugin for WordPress
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
Download Monitor leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in File Manager Plugins.
Download Monitor has more users: 80,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Download Monitor is rated higher: 4.5 out of 5 from 524 reviews, against 4.3 from 202 reviews.
Download Monitor has more reviews behind its score: 524 against 202.
File Manager was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; Download Monitor on September 2, 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 Monitor
Pick Download Monitor if you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
File Manager
Pick File Manager if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Download Monitor vs File Manager side by side
| Download Monitor | File Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| File Manager Plugins ranking | #9 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 524 | 202 |
| Active installs | 80,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 7,160,061 | 1,628,238 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 2, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 12, 2008 | Feb 4, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Download Monitor 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 Monitor 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 Monitor vs File Manager: common questions
Is Download Monitor better than File Manager?
Download Monitor 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 #9 in File Manager Plugins.
Which has more users, Download Monitor or File Manager?
File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #9 in File Manager Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Download Monitor or File Manager?
Download Monitor has more users: 80,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Download Monitor and File Manager free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Download Monitor 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 Monitor and File Manager
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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