Filester vs File Manager (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 File Manager at #1. File Manager leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. 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, …
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 3 of the 5 measures we track.
File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #4 in File Manager Plugins.
File Manager has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Filester is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 152 reviews, against 4.6 from 1,488 reviews.
File Manager has more reviews behind its score: 1,488 against 152.
Filester was updated more recently, on August 23, 2026; File Manager on April 21, 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 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 or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Filester vs File Manager side by side
| Filester | File Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| File Manager Plugins ranking | #4 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 152 | 1,488 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 1,653,893 | 35,349,765 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 23, 2026 | Apr 21, 2026 |
| First published | May 15, 2020 | Aug 9, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 6.9.7 |
| Requires PHP | – | 5.2.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Filester 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 Filester nor File Manager can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the File Manager Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Filester vs File Manager: common questions
Is Filester better than File Manager?
File Manager leads on 3 of the 5 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 #4 in File Manager Plugins.
Which has more users, Filester or File Manager?
File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #4 in File Manager Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Filester or File Manager?
File Manager has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Filester and File Manager free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Filester may also sell a paid version or add-ons. File Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Filester and File Manager
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More File Manager Plugins comparisons
- Download Manager vs Filester
- Download Manager vs File Manager
- Download Monitor vs Filester
- Download Monitor vs File Manager
- Advanced File Manager vs Filester
- Advanced File Manager vs File Manager
- File Manager vs Filester
- File Manager vs File Manager
- FileBird vs Filester
- FileBird vs File Manager
- FileOrganizer vs Filester
- FileOrganizer vs File Manager
Weekly · free
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.