File Manager vs Filester (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org File Manager Plugins top 10: File Manager at #7 and Filester at #4. Filester leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
File Manager
Manage WordPress files and folders from your dashboard with a built-in code editor: upload, edit, delete, move, rename, and archive, no FTP needed.
Filester
File Manager Pro – Filester
Best WordPress file manager without FTP access. Edit code with built-in editor, upload files, download plugins, download themes, manage wp directory, …
Who leads on what
Filester leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Filester ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #7 in File Manager Plugins.
Filester has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Filester is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 152 reviews, against 4.3 from 202 reviews.
File Manager has more reviews behind its score: 202 against 152.
File Manager was updated more recently, on September 2, 2026; Filester on August 23, 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.
File Manager
Pick File Manager if you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Filester
Pick Filester if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or the review score matters most to you.
File Manager vs Filester side by side
| File Manager | Filester | |
|---|---|---|
| File Manager Plugins ranking | #7 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 202 | 152 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,628,238 | 1,653,893 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 2, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 4, 2016 | May 15, 2020 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
File Manager ratings
Filester 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 File Manager nor Filester can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the File Manager Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
File Manager vs Filester: common questions
Is File Manager better than Filester?
Filester leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Filester ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #7 in File Manager Plugins.
Which has more users, File Manager or Filester?
Filester ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #7 in File Manager Plugins.
Which is rated higher, File Manager or Filester?
Filester has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are File Manager and Filester free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. File Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Filester may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to File Manager and Filester
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.