Easy Digital Downloads vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 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. Easy Digital Downloads leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. 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
Easy Digital Downloads leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
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 590 reviews, against 2.8 from 577 reviews.
Easy Digital Downloads has more reviews behind its score: 590 against 577.
Easy Digital Downloads was updated more recently, on August 14, 2026; WooCommerce PayPal Payments on August 4, 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.
Easy Digital Downloads
Pick Easy Digital Downloads if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WooCommerce PayPal Payments
Pick WooCommerce PayPal Payments if you want the plugin more sites already run.
Easy Digital Downloads vs WooCommerce PayPal Payments side by side
| Easy Digital Downloads | WooCommerce PayPal Payments | |
|---|---|---|
| Ecommerce Plugins ranking | #2 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 2.8 |
| Reviews | 590 | 577 |
| Active installs | 40,000+ | 800,000+ |
| Total downloads | 6,088,927 | 27,310,228 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 14, 2026 | Aug 4, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 10, 2012 | Oct 15, 2020 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 8.0 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
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?
Easy Digital Downloads leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. 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.
-
SureCart
80,000+ installs · 4.8 from 282 reviews
-
WooCommerce
7 million+ installs · 4.5 from 4,821 reviews
-
Mercado Pago payments for WooCommerce
100,000+ installs · 3.9 from 693 reviews
-
ProfilePress
100,000+ installs · 3.1 from 938 reviews
-
Mailchimp for WooCommerce
200,000+ installs · 4.0 from 725 reviews
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