- What these eight download plugins were picked on
- Eight plugins for sharing and tracking files
- Counting downloads, gating them or selling them
- Which download setup for which job
- Four ratings behind a shop add-on
- Setting up downloads that people find
- Plain advice on choosing a download manager
- Frequently asked questions
A WordPress download manager plugin keeps your downloadable files in one place, adds download links to posts and pages, and counts how often each file is fetched. Some also lock files behind a password or an email sign-up, and a couple let you sell digital products. Eight plugins follow, in no particular order, with installs and ratings from the WordPress.org plugin directory, as of Oct 2026.
A download manager stores your files, puts download links where readers need them and tells you how often each file is downloaded. If you share PDFs, templates or software from your site, linking straight to the media library works fine until you want to know how many people downloaded something, or who.
The eight here range from simple download counters to plugins that gate a file behind an email form, and on to full digital shops. They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, with each description taken from the plugin's own WordPress.org listing. For the wider picture, my list of WordPress plugins worth installing covers the basics every site needs.
What these eight download plugins were picked on
Every plugin here is listed in the WordPress.org plugin directory, and that listing is where the active installs band, the rating out of 5, the number of ratings, the publisher and the last updated date come from, as of Oct 2026. The list runs from simple counters to plugins built for selling, because all of them describe themselves as ways to manage downloads. The free plan column says Yes only where the listing itself names a free version or free use. Not stated means it didn't, so read the listing before you install.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download After Email | Sign-up gated download | Swapping a download for an email address | Not stated |
| Download Attachments | Attachment downloads | Listing media library files under a post | Not stated |
| Download Manager | File and document manager | Access control with passwords and user roles | Not stated |
| Download Monitor | Download manager | Download links and tracking in posts and pages | Not stated |
| Easy Digital Downloads | Digital products store | Selling ebooks, software and other downloads | Not stated |
| Premium Packages | Digital store add-on | Turning a download library into a shop | Not stated |
| Simple Download Monitor | Download tracker | Managing files and counting downloads | Not stated |
| WP-DownloadManager | Download library | A downloads page, feed, widget and shortcode | Not stated |
Eight plugins for sharing and tracking files
Download After Email
Best for: Growing an email list by asking for an address before someone gets a download, through a subscribe and download form.
Download Attachments
Best for: Attaching media library files to a post with a drag and drop box and showing them as downloads automatically.
Download Manager
Best for: Controlling who can download which file with passwords and user roles, and tracking downloads across the site.
Download Monitor
Best for: Adding download links to posts and pages and tracking how often each file is downloaded.
Easy Digital Downloads
Best for: Selling digital products such as ebooks and software from your own site, with an ecommerce plugin built for downloads.
Premium Packages
Best for: Turning an existing download library into a shop for software, ebooks, music, themes or plugins, as an add-on from a download plugin publisher.
Simple Download Monitor
Best for: Managing digital downloads and monitoring how many times each file and document has been downloaded.
WP-DownloadManager
Best for: Keeping a library of downloadable files with a downloads page, feed, widget and shortcode, and a count for each file.
Counting downloads, gating them or selling them
These plugins do three different jobs. Some just list your files and count how often each one's fetched. Some control who gets a file, with passwords, user roles or an email form. And two are built for selling digital products rather than giving them away.
It's worth knowing which job you've got before you start, because moving a library of files from one plugin to another later is a chore nobody enjoys.
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Which download setup for which job
- A few PDFs and you want to see what's popular: a simple download counter.
- Files only members or staff should see: a plugin with password and user role controls.
- A lead magnet that grows your list: a plugin that asks for an email address before the download.
- Files attached to blog posts: an attachments plugin that lists media files under each post.
- Selling ebooks, templates or software: a digital products store.
Four ratings behind a shop add-on
Premium Packages shows 2,000+ active installs and a 3.8 rating, but that rating rests on just 4 ratings in the WordPress.org plugin directory, as of Oct 2026. Easy Digital Downloads, the other plugin here built for selling, shows 591 ratings on 40,000+ active installs.
The add-on comes from the same publisher as the most installed download plugin on this list and builds on it, so it isn't a standalone choice. With so few ratings, its score tells you very little either way, so read the support forum before you rely on it.
Setting up downloads that people find
- Give each file a clear name and a short description, so people know what they're getting before they click.
- Put the download link where the reader needs it, inside the post, not only on a separate downloads page.
- If you ask for an email, say what they'll receive and how often you'll write.
- Check your download counts after a month and rewrite or retire the files nobody wants.
Do you make a WordPress download manager plugin? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Plain advice on choosing a download manager
Work out whether you're sharing, gating or selling. A counter is enough for free resources, an email form suits lead magnets, and a store suits anything you charge for. Then check the last updated date and the number of ratings, not just the score, before you commit a library of files to one plugin.
Every extra plugin is one more thing to update, so weigh it up with my guide to the benefits and drawbacks of plugins.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What does a WordPress download manager plugin do?
It stores your downloadable files, adds download links to posts and pages, and counts downloads. Some also control access with passwords, user roles or an email form.
Can I make people enter an email before downloading a file?
Yes. One plugin here is built for exactly that: a subscribe and download form that hands over the file once someone signs up.
Can I sell digital downloads in WordPress?
Yes. Two plugins here are built for selling digital products such as ebooks and software, one as a full store and one as an add-on to a download library.
Which download manager has the most active installs?
On this list, Download Manager shows 100,000+ active installs in the WordPress.org plugin directory, as of Oct 2026, with a 4.1 rating on 1,006 ratings.
Are WordPress download manager plugins free?
The free plan column says Not stated for every plugin here, as of Oct 2026, so read each listing to see what's included before you install.
