Filester vs Real Media Library (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: Filester at #4 and Real Media Library 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.
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, …
Real Media Library
Real Media Library: Media Library Folder & File Manager
Organize uploaded media in folders, collections and galleries: A file manager for WordPress. Media management made easy with Real Media Library! (Alte …
Who leads on what
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Filester ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #6 in File Manager Plugins.
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Filester is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 152 reviews, against 4.8 from 290 reviews.
Real Media Library has more reviews behind its score: 290 against 152.
Real Media Library was updated more recently, on September 1, 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.
Filester
Pick Filester if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or the review score matters most to you.
Real Media Library
Pick Real Media Library if you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Filester vs Real Media Library side by side
| Filester | Real Media Library | |
|---|---|---|
| File Manager Plugins ranking | #4 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 152 | 290 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,653,893 | 4,098,287 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 23, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| First published | May 15, 2020 | Feb 26, 2020 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Filester ratings
Real Media Library 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 Filester nor Real Media Library can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the File Manager Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Filester vs Real Media Library: common questions
Is Filester better than Real Media Library?
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. Filester ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #6 in File Manager Plugins.
Which has more users, Filester or Real Media Library?
Filester ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #6 in File Manager Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Filester or Real Media Library?
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Filester and Real Media Library free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Filester may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Real Media Library may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Filester and Real Media Library
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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