Download Plugin vs Shared Files (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Download Manager Plugins top 10: Download Plugin at #3 and Shared Files at #6. They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Download Plugin
Download any plugin from your WordPress admin panel's Plugins page by just one click! Now, download themes, users, blog posts, pages, custom post …
Shared Files
Shared Files – File Upload & Download Manager
File management plugin featuring file upload, download manager, statistics and download log.
Who leads on what
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Download Plugin ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Download Manager Plugins.
Download Plugin has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 4,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Download Plugin has 25, Shared Files has 34. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Shared Files has more reviews behind its score: 34 against 25.
Shared Files was updated more recently, on August 20, 2026; Download Plugin on July 27, 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 Plugin
Pick Download Plugin if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the plugin more sites already run.
Shared Files
Pick Shared Files if you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Download Plugin vs Shared Files side by side
| Download Plugin | Shared Files | |
|---|---|---|
| Download Manager Plugins ranking | #3 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 25 | 34 |
| Active installs | 60,000+ | 4,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,129,455 | 277,951 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 27, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 1, 2016 | Jul 13, 2018 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Download Plugin ratings
Shared Files 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 Plugin nor Shared Files can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Download Manager Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Download Plugin vs Shared Files: common questions
Is Download Plugin better than Shared Files?
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Download Plugin ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Download Manager Plugins.
Which has more users, Download Plugin or Shared Files?
Download Plugin ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Download Manager Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Download Plugin or Shared Files?
Download Plugin has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 4,000+.
Are Download Plugin and Shared Files free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Download Plugin may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Shared Files may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Download Plugin and Shared Files
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.