Easy Media Download 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: Easy Media Download at #8 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.
Easy Media Download
Easy Media Download allows you to embed download buttons on your WordPress site. Add file download functionality with this WordPress download plugin.
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.
Shared Files ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Download Manager Plugins.
Easy Media Download has more users: 9,000+ active installs against 4,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Easy Media Download has 28, Shared Files has 34. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Shared Files has more reviews behind its score: 34 against 28.
Easy Media Download was updated more recently, on August 23, 2026; Shared Files on August 20, 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 Media Download
Pick Easy Media Download if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Shared Files
Pick Shared Files if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Easy Media Download vs Shared Files side by side
| Easy Media Download | Shared Files | |
|---|---|---|
| Download Manager Plugins ranking | #8 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.0 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 28 | 34 |
| Active installs | 9,000+ | 4,000+ |
| Total downloads | 415,682 | 277,951 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 23, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 4, 2013 | Jul 13, 2018 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Easy Media Download 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 Easy Media Download nor Shared Files can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Download Manager Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Easy Media Download vs Shared Files: common questions
Is Easy Media Download 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. Shared Files ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Download Manager Plugins.
Which has more users, Easy Media Download or Shared Files?
Shared Files ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Download Manager Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Easy Media Download or Shared Files?
Easy Media Download has more users: 9,000+ active installs against 4,000+.
Are Easy Media Download and Shared Files free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Easy Media Download may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Shared Files may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Easy Media Download and Shared Files
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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6,000+ installs · 2.2 from 5 reviews
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