Secure Downloads — WordPress Download Manager Plugin
by wpdevelop · WordPress.org page · Website
Secure Downloads has 600+ active installs on WordPress.org and 31,997 downloads all time. We have tracked it since September 4, 2026; download trends appear after 30 days of data. The last update was on December 3, 2025, tested up to WordPress 6.9.7.
Secure Downloads at a glance
Is Secure Downloads well maintained?
Features
The feature list from the plugin's own readme on WordPress.org, trimmed to the essentials.
- Securely distribute your files and track every download
- Upload your files via familiar WP interface
- Define Title, Description and Version Number at “Attachment details” for your protected files
- Plugin upload files into secure, protected folder. Website visitors will not have direct access to such files
- Generate secure links to your protected files, which does not show real location of file
- Links can expire after specific time
- Links can be locked to specific IP or IP mask (network)
- Configure email template with different parameters
- Send emails to your customers with secure links for download your protected files
- Monitor downloading of each file, by receiving email notification about file download with detailed info about download
- Fast configure your protected files via CSV form. Useful for saving or editing list of files in one form
- Easy reorder list of files via drag and drop interface
Secure Downloads reviews and ratings
10 reviews on WordPress.org, with the most recent ones as their authors posted them.
10 reviews
- 5★
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7
- 4★
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0
- 3★
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1
- 2★
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1
- 1★
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1
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Fantastic Secure Way To Deliver Huge Digital Downloads On Marketplaces
Selling big digital downloads that exceed Etsy, eBay or other marketplace file size limitation can be solved by using this plugin on your WP/woo site to quickly generate secure link for customers. I create a PDF info file for the marketplace product download that states for the customer to email me their order number along with email address to receive the file download link.Nice if option to limit number of times that download link can be used such as 1, 3, etc… Time limit of 24 hours by default is used which is good. There are many choices from a drop down menu. Great that you can edit your email template. THIS IS NOT A SUPPORT REQUEST, just stating a fact that may help other users evaluate using this plugin!Works as should, however my tested emails ended up in spam. It would cause problems if customers notification emails all went to spam. It would waste my time to tell them to check junk/spam. Settings says my email address. Otherwise, I highly recommend this plugin for creating on the fly links that email to customers who purchased from marketplaces where your file is too large. This wil lbe fantastic plugin if customers receive the email to their inbox! **You can generate a secure link without entering an email. Then you can use the marketplace communication or direct email of your choice to send the copied link.
richimagenet -
Does not seem to work for filetypes I attempted.
Perhaps this plugin is only for text and HTML but I decided to try it as no specific filetypes were specified. I performed a test using the default text file and it worked fine.Later I attempted to send .fbx, .mp3, .wav, and .zip files. None of these filetypes seemed to work. Each email showed the file was 0 bytes in size upon receiving, and the download links redirected to the 404 error page. I gave 3 stars as this likely works for some users use cases, just didn't work out for what I tried.
sheamkennedy -
Doesn't work for files over 100M
I spent an afternoon setting it all up with multiple emails and working with my hosting company trying to get it to work with some 300M zip files, only to find out it is not working with files of more "than about 100M". A big waste of my time for a specification that should be stated in the plugin description and documentation.
jcngang -
Poor/non-existent documentation, confusing GUI, grammatical errors on website
Poor/non-existent documentation, no annotations on settings that explain anything, grammatical errors on website. The developers show complete contempt for even basic English on their website, "All uploaded files stored inside protected, secure folder, which does not accessible for website visitors." [sic] And they want to take your money, but you're not worth their time to write up some documentation, annotate the settings, or even get basic English grammar right on their website. No visible ticketing system. Also complete lack of contact details barring a generic contact form and a generic-looking website. Respectable plugin publishers don't hide behind a veil of anonymity and genericness. Also unclear if it is possible to generate a download link without sending an email. I review thousands of plugins a year and it's been a while since I've seen such a mess of a plugin, where the seemingly-autistic developer lacks the empathy to assume the shoes of an average WP user.
agg2 -
Totaly messed with my site
When trying to activate, I got fatal error, I was not able to login, had to manually rename plugin directory to continue. Never ever happened with any other plugin. Fatal error: Uncaught ArgumentCountError: Too few arguments to function opsd_recheck_plugin_locale()....
stikai -
Great plugin!
Does exactly what it says and perfectly!
benbois
Where Secure Downloads ranks on WordPress.org
The rankings we track that Secure Downloads appears in, and how its position changed over 30 days.
| Ranking | WordPress.org placement | Position | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Download Manager Plugins | #35 by tag, not in search | #59 | – |
Details
Easy generate and distribute secure links for file downloads, that can expire, and track every download.
The full description, screenshots and every review live on the WordPress.org page.
Rankings Secure Downloads competes in
Tags
- digital downloads
- downloads
- file downloads
- links
- protected links
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- Version
- 1.2.5
- Last updated
- Dec 3, 2025
- First published
- Jun 22, 2017
- Requires WordPress
- 4.0
- Tested up to
- 6.9.7
- Requires PHP
- 5.2.4
- Pricing
- Free on WordPress.org
Secure Downloads FAQ
What does Secure Downloads do?
According to its WordPress.org readme, Secure Downloads offers Securely distribute your files and track every download, Upload your files via familiar WP interface, Define Title, Description and Version Number at “Attachment details” for your protected files, Plugin upload files into secure, protected folder. Website visitors will not have direct access to such files and Generate secure links to your protected files, which does not show real location of file.
How many active installs does Secure Downloads have?
WordPress.org reports 600+ active installs for Secure Downloads as of September 7, 2026.
Is Secure Downloads still maintained?
Yes. The last release was on December 3, 2025 and it is tested up to WordPress 6.9.7.
Is Secure Downloads free?
Secure Downloads is free to install from WordPress.org. Many plugins also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Where does Secure Downloads rank among Download Manager Plugins?
Secure Downloads is #59 in the WordPress.org Download Manager Plugins ranking.