Advanced File Manager vs File Manager (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org File Manager Plugins top 10: Advanced File Manager at #2 and File Manager at #1. File Manager leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Advanced File Manager
Advanced File Manager – Ultimate File Manager for WordPress And Document Library Solution
Use Advanced File Manager to manage WordPress files, create archives, monitor storage limits, and build document libraries all directly from your Word …
File Manager
file manager provides you ability to edit, delete, upload, download, copy and paste files and folders.
Who leads on what
File Manager leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in File Manager Plugins.
File Manager has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Advanced File Manager is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 440 reviews, against 4.6 from 1,492 reviews.
File Manager has more reviews behind its score: 1,492 against 440.
Advanced File Manager was updated more recently, on October 14, 2026; File Manager on September 24, 2026.
File Manager was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 877,344 times against 117,872.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Advanced File Manager
Pick Advanced File Manager if the review score matters most to you or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
File Manager
Pick File Manager if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Advanced File Manager vs File Manager side by side
| Advanced File Manager | File Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| File Manager Plugins ranking | #2 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 440 | 1,492 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 6,407,890 | 36,408,149 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 117,872 | 877,344 |
| Last updated | Oct 14, 2026 | Sep 24, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 19, 2017 | Aug 9, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 5.2.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Advanced File Manager ratings
File Manager 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 Advanced File Manager nor File Manager can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the File Manager Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Advanced File Manager vs File Manager: common questions
Is Advanced File Manager better than File Manager?
File Manager leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in File Manager Plugins.
Which has more users, Advanced File Manager or File Manager?
File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #2 in File Manager Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Advanced File Manager or File Manager?
File Manager has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Advanced File Manager and File Manager free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Advanced File Manager is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. File Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Advanced File Manager and File Manager
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.