Easy Digital Downloads vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments (October 2026)
Updated October 23, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Ecommerce Plugins top 10: Easy Digital Downloads at #2 and WooCommerce PayPal Payments at #3. They split the 6 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.
Easy Digital Downloads
Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy
The #1 eCommerce plugin to sell digital products & subscriptions. Accept payments with Stripe & PayPal. Sell ebooks, software & more.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments
PayPal's latest payment processing solution. Accept PayPal, Pay Later, credit/debit cards, alternative digital wallets and bank accounts.
Who leads on what
They split the 6 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Easy Digital Downloads ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #3 in Ecommerce Plugins.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments has more users: 800,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Easy Digital Downloads is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 591 reviews, against 2.9 from 582 reviews.
Easy Digital Downloads has more reviews behind its score: 591 against 582.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments was updated more recently, on October 21, 2026; Easy Digital Downloads on October 14, 2026.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 198,761 times against 71,985.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Easy Digital Downloads
Pick Easy Digital Downloads if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you or you want the score backed by more reviews.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments
Pick WooCommerce PayPal Payments if you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Easy Digital Downloads vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments side by side
| Easy Digital Downloads | WooCommerce PayPal Payments | |
|---|---|---|
| Ecommerce Plugins ranking | #2 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 2.9 |
| Reviews | 591 | 582 |
| Active installs | 40,000+ | 800,000+ |
| Total downloads | 6,168,589 | 27,909,077 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 71,985 | 198,761 |
| Last updated | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 21, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 10, 2012 | Oct 15, 2020 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.7 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 8.0 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Easy Digital Downloads ratings
WooCommerce PayPal Payments 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 Easy Digital Downloads nor WooCommerce PayPal Payments can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Ecommerce Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Easy Digital Downloads vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments: common questions
Is Easy Digital Downloads better than WooCommerce PayPal Payments?
They split the 6 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. Easy Digital Downloads ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #3 in Ecommerce Plugins.
Which has more users, Easy Digital Downloads or WooCommerce PayPal Payments?
Easy Digital Downloads ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #3 in Ecommerce Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Easy Digital Downloads or WooCommerce PayPal Payments?
WooCommerce PayPal Payments has more users: 800,000+ active installs against 40,000+.
Are Easy Digital Downloads and WooCommerce PayPal Payments free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Easy Digital Downloads may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WooCommerce PayPal Payments may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Easy Digital Downloads and WooCommerce PayPal Payments
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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WooCommerce
7 million+ installs · 4.5 from 4,826 reviews
-
ProfilePress
100,000+ installs · 3.1 from 938 reviews
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Mercado Pago payments for WooCommerce
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 693 reviews
-
SureCart
80,000+ installs · 4.8 from 288 reviews
-
Mailchimp for WooCommerce
200,000+ installs · 4.0 from 726 reviews
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