PayPal Digital Downloads

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

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.

Not enough tracked days yet to call a direction. Momentum needs at least three keywords measured a week or more apart.

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.

1 search this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 0 listed. 1 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 5 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.

Directory rank

Ranked about #16,800 to #17,400, alongside the other plugins at 90+ installs. Plugins with the same install count swap places between wp.org requests, so this is where most of them sit. Checked monthly, last on 1 Nov 2026.

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 100% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Crossed into this band 4 months ago and the previous band took 2.9 years to cross, so the real count is still just under 100.

1. ★★★★★ audiospandrel

   7.9y ago

   great plugin. great support.

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ webmooster

   9.8y ago

   We tried several plugins to do a simple Pay Now Paypal option to sell individualized digital media to our customers. This was by far the easiest to set up. The single settings page is bones simple and the shortcode made life for this WP beginner so much better. Thank you Scott! We’ll be looking forward to the Pro version when we grow a bit more.

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ Lorelle

   9.8y ago

   First, let me say that the personal support for this WordPress Plugin is first rate. I’ve used PayPal Digital Downloads for two clients on self-hosted WordPress sites and it is fabulous for downloadable media tied directly to PayPal payments. It takes a bit of paying attention to details for the installation and setup with PayPal, more an issue with PayPal than with the Plugin, though the documentation could be improved to be a little more specific when it comes to identifying the right PayPal API SIGNATURE to get to link the two. Once connected to PayPal through the API setup, simply upload your digital media and copy the upload URL location in the WordPress Media Library, create or edit a post or Page and place your cursor where you want the purchase button to appear. Then click the button next to Add Media and enter the information about the digital file and the URL. Snap. Done. Fabulous. I’d give it a 5 save for the bit of frustration with the API setup (just improve the documentation to be a bit clearer on which cert to get with PayPal) and the inability to upload the file directly from within the post or Page. That extra step causes my clients some frustration, and I have to step in and remind them of that extra step if a couple months goes by between uploads. But the tie-in through the PayPal API is fabulous and makes it ideal for handling one or more digital downloads. Thanks for the fantastic work and support on this!

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ Heimhenge

   10.6y ago

   Had some issues with v1.2 generating header errors. Posted a question on the forum, and in about a week v1.3 came out. Error fixed. Outstanding support for a free plugin. This plugin (now) does exactly what it claims to do, including multiple BUY buttons on the same page.

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ sk

   10.6y ago

   If this plugin actually worked with more than one button on a page, I would rate it 5 stars. But it doesn’t. See my comments in the Support section for details.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ vwbanks

   11.6y ago

   This is a terrific app. First of all, it’s got clear instructions so it’s easy to set up (unlike many WordPress apps). Secondly, it creates a button in the editing page of WordPress pages/posts, so you don’t have to mess with settings or write any code to create a new “Buy it Now” button…you can just click the handy dandy button, specify what you’re selling, where the link should point to, how much it is…and you’re done. I tried a bunch of other Paypal plugins and they varied from impossible to understand to non-functional. Plus, when I submitted a question to the plugin’s support forum, I was answered immediately. 5 stars!

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ Scott Paterson

   11.6y ago

   Works Good!

   Read on wp.org ↗

Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.

This plugin’s searches fall outside the topics measured so far. See the topics measured so far.

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2026-06-24 100+ → 90+ down after 1043 days in tier
2. 2023-08-16 200+ → 100+ down after 316 days in tier
3. 2022-10-04 300+ → 200+ down after 413 days in tier
4. 2021-08-17 600+ → 300+ down after 798 days in tier
5. 2019-06-11 700+ → 600+ down after 161 days in tier
6. 2019-01-01 600+ → 700+ up after 950 days in tier
7. 2016-05-26 400+ → 600+ 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).

Embed this report card

Drop a live Pulse card for PayPal Digital Downloads into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

PayPal Digital Downloads: 90+ active installs, 4.6★ (7 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-02. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/easy-paypal-digital-downloads