Download Attachments
by dFactory · Uncategorized
Also makes 10 other plugins · 255.3K+ installs across the portfolio →
Download Attachments is a new approach to managing downloads in WordPress. It allows you to easily add and display download links in any post or page.
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
A 85/100
no flags
Active installs
8K+
≈8.5K estimated
Momentum
+13%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “file” and “files” for “downloads” and “metabox”. “file” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “downloads” sits at #9 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “files” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “metabox” sits at #9 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
85 health vs 58 average across 25,734 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →3.5%
of downloads still active
At least 8K of 230.2K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,766 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized 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 3 releases 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 2024-10-06Most reviewers call it simple and effective for putting downloads on a page, though a few hit PHP warnings from the list shortcode, wanted CDN support, and one got no reply after asking for help.
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.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 158 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.0.8, the current branch or newer
4.5★ over 46 reviews, smoothed to 4.29★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
1 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
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.
35
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.3
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
10%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| attachments your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| attachment your tag | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| download your tag | #6 | #6 | 0 |
| attachment download | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| download links | #5 | #8 | 0 |
| downloads | #9 | #12 | 0 |
| download button | #7 | #6 | 0 |
| plugin download | #9 | #14 | down 1 |
| download plugin | #9 | #14 | down 1 |
| metabox | #9 | #9 | down 2 |
| free download | #6 | #7 | 0 |
| file download | #10 | #12 | down 1 |
| attachment page | #6 | #7 | down 1 |
| download page | #6 | #9 | 0 |
| file attachment | #6 | #7 | down 4 |
| encrypt | #11 | #11 | down 2 |
| download files | #7 | #11 | 0 |
| download file | #7 | #11 | 0 |
| wordpress download | #8 | #12 | down 2 |
| sortable | #19 | #19 | down 1 |
| file your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| files your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
58 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 35 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “file” and “files” for “downloads” and “metabox”. “file” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “downloads” sits at #9 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “files” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “metabox” sits at #9 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 4.6K · 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.
3
releases in the last 12 months
5mo ago
latest release · v1.4.1 · 26 May 2026
44
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 44% 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 “8K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 6 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 15 Nov 2018
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Shwepps2.1y ago
100000% working!! exactly what i was looking for!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ christian19795.8y ago
Works good. No probelm
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Marco6.0y ago
i asked several time for support to fix their bug but no answers since weeks…
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ George M6.3y ago
Good attachment management solution for WordPress. CDN support would make it perfect.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ sjiamnocna7.2y ago
Hello, the plugin produces these warnings, when used shortcode for the list. Warning: Illegal string offset 'echo' in wp-content/plugins/download-attachments/includes/shortcodes.php on line 66 Warning: Illegal string offset 'title' in wp-content/plugins/download-attachments/includes/shortcodes.php on line 69 Warning: Cannot assign an empty string to a string offset in wp-content/plugins/download-attachments/includes/shortcodes.php on line 69 Warning: Illegal string offset 'title' in wp-content/plugins/download-attachments/includes/shortcodes.php on line 72 And I have front page made of one most recent post. The list doesn’t show there and I couldn’t find any option that would enable it. Please fix. Great idea and plugin. I will change the review, when improved. Thanks
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ user3094027.8y ago
Thank you, super easy and it did the job perfectly This topic was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by user309402. This topic was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by user309402.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ alfredospirow7.8y ago
Excellent, muy bueno!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Jimako7.8y ago
I can’t believe that this functionality is available for free and with github repository. It works like miracle, I have only problem with correct settings (who reads documentation at first, doesn’t?) Tested with WP 5.0 and latest version with Visual Composer. Awesome, great work, thank you very much.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.4.1 Security: Block direct downloads for attachments whose parent post is password protected unless the post password has been validated. 1.4.1
- — Version 1.4.0 New: Modernize the admin settings UI and refined settings screen structure. Tweak: Upgrade bundled DataTables assets to 2.3.7 with compatibility fixes. Tweak: Improve inline documentation in JavaScript source files. Twea 1.4.0
- — Version 1.3.2 Security: Serve downloads only for files attached and not marked as excluded. Security: Encrypted download URLs are enabled by default to reduce enumeration risks. 1.3.2
- — Version 1.3.1 Fix: Potential security issue 1.3.1
- — Version 1.3 New: DataTables implementation New: PHP 7.x and 8.x compatibility New: WordPress 6.x compatibility Fix: Improved data sanitization and validation Fix: Downloading files with pretty urls 1.3
- — Version 1.2.24 New: Link target option for “Redirect to file” method Fix: Invalid attachments link attributes Fix: Shortcode positioning broken Tweak: Improved protected posts support Tweak: Elementor compatibility improvement 1.2.24
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 4 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (1.4.1). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 6.5 Download Attachments <= 1.4.0 - Unauthenticated Insecure Direct Object Reference ↗2026-02-10 CVE-2026-39616 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key Affects <= 1.4.0 Patched in 1.4.1
- Patched Medium · 5.3 Download Attachments <= 1.3.1 - Unauthenticated Insecure Direct Object Reference ↗2025-06-19 CVE-2025-49995 Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key Affects <= 1.3.1 Patched in 1.3.2
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Download Attachments <= 1.3 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-06-03 CVE-2024-3230 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.3 Patched in 1.3.1
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Download Attachments <= 1.2.24 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Shortcode ↗2023-02-13 CVE-2023-0076 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.2.24 Patched in 1.3
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.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 132 languages, 0 at 90% or more
Plus 108 more locales with partial translations.
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
5 of 8 pass · checked 26 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Download Attachments is a new approach to managing downloads in WordPress. It allows you to easily add and..."
- ! Has a FAQ No FAQ section.
- ! FAQ asks real questions No FAQ to judge.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("for developers"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WPML, Polylang.
- ✓ Headings and lists 2 headings and 1 list.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,315 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
- 2026-04-20 9K+ → 8K+ down after 325 days in tier
- 2025-05-30 10K+ → 9K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2025-05-29 9K+ → 10K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2025-05-28 10K+ → 9K+ down after 2884 days in tier
- 2017-07-05 8K+ → 10K+ up after 273 days in tier
- 2016-10-05 5K+ → 8K+ up after 230 days in tier
- 2016-02-18 4K+ → 5K+ up after 190 days in tier
- 2015-08-12 3K+ → 4K+ up
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).
-
WP-DownloadManager 3K+ installs · 4.0★ · 3 shared tags A -
Custom Post Type Attachment 700+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags C -
m1.DownloadList 400+ installs · 4.4★ · 3 shared tags B -
File Upload Types by WPForms 40K+ installs · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags A -
Media Library Downloader 5K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags A - A Attachment Importer 3K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags D
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Download Attachments into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/download-attachments" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Download Attachments — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Download Attachments: 8K+ active installs, 4.5★ (46 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/download-attachments
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Report a data issue and we'll check it against the source.