Download Plugin vs Simple Download Counter (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 Simple Download Counter at #10. Download Plugin leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. 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 …
Simple Download Counter
Simply counts the number of times your files are downloaded. Display download links and counts using shortcodes.
Who leads on what
Download Plugin leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Download Plugin ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Download Manager Plugins.
Download Plugin has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Download Plugin has 25, Simple Download Counter has 19. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Download Plugin has more reviews behind its score: 25 against 19.
Simple Download Counter was updated more recently, on August 9, 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, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Simple Download Counter
Pick Simple Download Counter if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Download Plugin vs Simple Download Counter side by side
| Download Plugin | Simple Download Counter | |
|---|---|---|
| Download Manager Plugins ranking | #3 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 25 | 19 |
| Active installs | 60,000+ | 2,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,129,455 | 34,244 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 27, 2026 | Aug 9, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 1, 2016 | Sep 19, 2022 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 | 5.6.20 |
| 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
Simple Download Counter 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 Simple Download Counter can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Download Manager Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Download Plugin vs Simple Download Counter: common questions
Is Download Plugin better than Simple Download Counter?
Download Plugin leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Download Plugin ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Download Manager Plugins.
Which has more users, Download Plugin or Simple Download Counter?
Download Plugin ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #10 in Download Manager Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Download Plugin or Simple Download Counter?
Download Plugin has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Download Plugin and Simple Download Counter free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Download Plugin may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Simple Download Counter may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Download Plugin and Simple Download Counter
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Lana Downloads Manager
3,000+ installs · 5.0 from 16 reviews
-
Download Manager
100,000+ installs · 4.1 from 1,007 reviews
-
Download Monitor
80,000+ installs · 4.5 from 524 reviews
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Shared Files
4,000+ installs · 4.4 from 34 reviews
-
Download Manager Addons for Elementor
6,000+ installs · 2.2 from 5 reviews
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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.