Download After Email – Subscribe & Download Form Plugin
by mkscripts · Forms
Download After Email is a free Subscribe & Download plugin that allows you to gain subscribers by offering free downloads.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
B 82/100
no flags
Active installs
7K+
≈7.5K estimated
Momentum
+33%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “mailchimp” and “downloads” for “after” and “free downloads”. “mailchimp” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “after” sits at #11 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “downloads” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #24. “free downloads” sits at #20 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
82 health vs 65 average across 2,512 Forms plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →5.1%
of downloads still active
At least 7K of 138.1K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Forms plugin keeps 1.3%, across 1,671 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Forms plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 1 release in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Recent review vibe
read from the latest 12 reviews to 2025-05-25Reviewers say it's quick to set up and the emails land right away, with a few asking for more styling control, and one flagging that the media library URL still lets people grab the file without subscribing.
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 227 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.9.11, the current branch or newer
4.4★ over 30 reviews, smoothed to 4.21★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
32
Momentum
Losing ground
-1.0
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
6%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.2
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| download after email | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| download form your tag | #7 | #13 | up 1 |
| download | #11 | #14 | down 1 |
| after | #11 | #11 | down 1 |
| subscribe your tag | #13 | #16 | down 3 |
| email before download | #5 | #8 | 0 |
| download pdf after submit form | #5 | #6 | down 1 |
| download plugin | #13 | #19 | down 4 |
| opt in your tag | #19 | #21 | down 6 |
| free downloads | #20 | #23 | down 7 |
| ajax mailchimp subscribe | #8 | #11 | down 1 |
| downloads your tag | #24 | #20 | down 2 |
| free download | #10 | #13 | 0 |
| subscribe email | #10 | #10 | 0 |
| subscribe form | #22 | #19 | down 9 |
| plugin download | #16 | #20 | down 4 |
| opt in email | #18 | #17 | down 5 |
| email opt in | #19 | #17 | down 3 |
| mailchimp subscribe | #20 | #17 | down 1 |
| download page | #20 | #20 | 0 |
| mailchimp your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
68 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 46 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 1 of its tags isn't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “mailchimp” and “downloads” for “after” and “free downloads”. “mailchimp” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “after” sits at #11 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “downloads” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #24. “free downloads” sits at #20 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- Slipping on “opt in”. Down 6 places since 2026-09-25, now #19. Check what shipped around then, and what moved above you.
- One page off on “subscribe”. #13 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 6K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
1
releases in the last 12 months
8mo ago
latest release · v2.1.10 · 19 Mar 2026
12
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 96% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “7K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 13 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 16 Nov 2019
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ alanparker731.4y ago
So, pretty straightforward install and configuration (unlike many of the similar products) – quick to create download links. Add the shortcode to your page – all done. Great.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ stephunique2.6y ago
This plugin works pretty well, the files are sent immediately, which is fantastic. You can also set the options so that if you have more than one file to offer as a download, you can allow the same email to be used (go to options and check the unlimited emails box). You can make more than one download link too. Yes, the URL has the file name in it eg yourwebsite dot com /?file=PDF.pdf (followed by the rest of the URL) but if you use that link directly, it takes you to the homepage, not the file, so you can’t access the PDF file directly. What’s great: You can customise the buttons and headings and text colours, heading content and a picture for your file eg a book cover for an ebook and you can change the size for it too. What could be improved: For some reason I could not change the “from” email address from the no-reply one to an actual email address in case I want to make it easy for customers to reply. I set a new email address but the file links are still sent from a no-reply email address. It would be great if we could have a form that can collect a name. Also you can only upload PDFs for download and not JPGs. Also, the edited download file heading and text does not update when I edit and update it – my workaround is to delete it and make a new one. Tedious but seems to be the only option. This topic was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by Yui. This topic was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by stephunique. Reason: Add more detail
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Hanu2.6y ago
Good features .. needs a bit of customization for frontend
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Maurizio2.7y ago
Helped me a lot, great support!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ srdjan7773.7y ago
Hi, First of all – this Plugin is awesome!!!I have one more question:I´m using your Plugin on Website with two diferent Languages translated with TranslatePress (English and German). Is there any way to translate the content of the email that will be sent to the subscriber?For example,if the user is on the German website and clicks on download there, that the content of the email is written in German.Otherwise, in English (when the user is on the English website).thanks in advance,Srdjan
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ jazperva3.9y ago
`Hello,I bought a “Download after email – Plug-in” a few months ago and started working with it.I hope you can help me with the problem.I created two different download links with email restriction and yet when downloading, the same pdf files come in. https://test.connymulder.nl/hormoonvragenlijst/ https://test.connymulder.nl/lyme-vragenlijst/ What is the problem do you think? Regards, Jazperva This topic was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by jazperva. This topic was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by jazperva. This topic was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by jazperva.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ebuege4.4y ago
I love that plugin.. works great but need more css options like flexbox properties and also need a shortcode like : not neeed to subscription. some files need email, some files are not need 🙂 thank you
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ a4.6y ago
a This topic was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by a.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 2.1.10 Improved security against arbitrary file download from (dae-)uploads folder. 2.1.10
- — Version 2.1.9 Fixed errors on activation (Undefined function…). 2.1.9
- — Version 2.1.8 Fixed download file could not be opened. 2.1.8
- — Version 2.1.7 Improved security against abuse of download forms (including SPAM/CSRF). Improved front-end nonce functionality (caching friendly). New rate limiting functionality against brute-force usage of download forms. Improved va 2.1.7
- — Version 2.1.6 Added alt attribute to download images for SEO improvement. Fixed a nonce-related issue that prevented forms from being submitted at specific times. Fixed alignment setting issue (right) for displaying download forms. Sm 2.1.6
- — Version 2.1.5 Fixed issue download file image aspect ratio. Fixed ajax nonce issue front-end due to caching plugins. 2.1.5
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 2 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (2.1.10). Sites still on an older version should update.
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 4 languages, 0 at 90% or more
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
8 of 8 pass · checked 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Download After Email is a free Subscribe & Download plugin that allows you to gain subscribers by offering..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 3 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 3 of 3 read like questions a user would type.
- ✓ Names who it is for Names its audience or use cases ("for developers", "use it").
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Mailchimp.
- ✓ Headings and lists 6 headings and 1 list.
- ✓ Enough to quote 2,414 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 5 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-10-12 8K+ → 7K+ down after 4 days in tier
- 2025-10-08 7K+ → 8K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2025-10-07 8K+ → 7K+ down after 4 days in tier
- 2025-10-03 7K+ → 8K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2025-10-02 8K+ → 7K+ down after 1342 days in tier
- 2022-01-29 7K+ → 8K+ up after 331 days in tier
- 2021-03-04 4K+ → 7K+ up after 211 days in tier
- 2020-08-05 900+ → 4K+ up after 207 days in tier
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress 1M+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A -
Genesis eNews Extended 40K+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags A -
Convertful – Your Ultimate On-Site Conversion Tool 3K+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags A - M MailChimp Subscribe Widget 20+ installs · 3.6★ · 2 shared tags
-
Redirection for Contact Form 7 200K+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A -
Mailchimp for WooCommerce 200K+ installs · 4.0★ · 1 shared tag B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Download After Email – Subscribe & Download Form Plugin into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/download-after-email" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Download After Email – Subscribe & Download Form Plugin — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Download After Email – Subscribe & Download Form Plugin: 7K+ active installs, 4.4★ (30 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/download-after-email
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