Real Media Library 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: Real Media Library at #6 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.
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 …
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 #6 in File Manager Plugins.
File Manager has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Real Media Library is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 290 reviews, against 4.6 from 1,488 reviews.
File Manager has more reviews behind its score: 1,488 against 290.
Real Media Library was updated more recently, on September 1, 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.
Real Media Library
Pick Real Media Library 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.
Real Media Library vs File Manager side by side
| Real Media Library | File Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| File Manager Plugins ranking | #6 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 290 | 1,488 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 4,098,287 | 35,349,765 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 1, 2026 | Apr 21, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 26, 2020 | Aug 9, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 6.9.7 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4.0 | 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.
Real Media Library 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 Real Media Library nor File Manager can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the File Manager Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Real Media Library vs File Manager: common questions
Is Real Media Library 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 #6 in File Manager Plugins.
Which has more users, Real Media Library or File Manager?
File Manager ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in File Manager Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Real Media Library or File Manager?
File Manager has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Real Media Library and File Manager free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Real Media Library may also sell a paid version or add-ons. File Manager may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Real Media Library 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.