Simple Download Counter
by Jeff Starr · Analytics
Also makes 30 other plugins · 1.1M+ installs across the portfolio →
Simply counts the number of times your files are downloaded. Display download links and counts using shortcodes.
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 89/100
no flags
Active installs
2K+
≈2.9K estimated
Momentum
+16%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “file manager”, “statistics” and “downloads” for “counter”, “traffic counter” and “view counter”. “file manager” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “counter” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “statistics” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “traffic counter” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “downloads” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #19. “view counter” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
89 health vs 67 average across 1,826 Analytics plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →5.5%
of downloads still active
At least 2K of 36K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Analytics plugin keeps 1.2%, across 1,007 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Analytics 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 6 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
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 84 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 19 reviews, smoothed to 4.32★ and held back under 25 reviews
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.
39
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.0
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
18%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| download counter your tag | #1 | #3 | 0 |
| simple counter | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| counter | #4 | #2 | down 1 |
| download | #8 | #11 | 0 |
| download manager your tag | #8 | #11 | up 1 |
| traffic counter | #5 | #7 | 0 |
| click counter | #6 | #6 | 0 |
| counter up | #4 | #3 | 0 |
| download links | #9 | #10 | 0 |
| view counter | #8 | #5 | 0 |
| post counter | #5 | #7 | 0 |
| page counter | #5 | #6 | 0 |
| post counter plugin | #5 | #8 | 0 |
| counter number | #5 | #3 | up 2 |
| download counts | #5 | #6 | 0 |
| wordpress counter | #5 | #4 | 0 |
| counts | #14 | #15 | down 1 |
| downloads your tag | #19 | #19 | 0 |
| number counter block | #7 | #7 | 0 |
| number counter | #8 | #5 | up 2 |
| file manager your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| statistics your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
119 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 86 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 manager”, “statistics” and “downloads” for “counter”, “traffic counter” and “view counter”. “file manager” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “counter” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “statistics” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “traffic counter” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “downloads” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #19. “view counter” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 6 Oct 2022 · 1,487 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 2.7K · 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
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
6
releases in the last 12 months
3mo ago
latest release · v2.3.3 · 9 Aug 2026
20
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 74% 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 “2K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 18 months ago; the previous band took 16 months to cross, which places it about 90% of the way through.
Install history since 5 Oct 2022
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ minusc5mo ago
Does what you expect it to!Easy to configure with many options! ****** Great plugin
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ginajackson9mo ago
Does what it says and with complete, clean simplicity.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mitrakov1.7y ago
Super cool and easy-to-use. No additional blocks or buttons. You just need to update your links.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Hans-Gerd Gerhards2.1y ago
Thanks a lot for this great Plugin. It does exactly what it is supposed to do, simply count how often a file is downloaded. And the plugin is very lightweight. The additional options in connection with the shortcode leave nothing to be desired.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Bowo2.4y ago
Another great plugin from Jeff. It’s simple and it works.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ garrettm302.6y ago
This simple plugin does just what it claims to do, all without the huge bloat like in some other plugins pushing paid pro versions. I have also found by first-hand experience that developer behind this free plugin is great to work with for other developers who submit detailed bug reports or respectfully request hooks. A credit to the WordPress community.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Julian Song2.7y ago
Thank you Jeff for another awesome lightweigt plugin!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Marjoline2.9y ago
Jeff Starr is such an Ace when ik comes to creating simple stuff that just works! Perfect! Thanks so much, Jeff!
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 5 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (2.3.3). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Simple Download Counter <= 2.3 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'text' Shortcode Attribute ↗2026-03-25 CVE-2026-4278 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.3 Patched in 2.3.1
- Patched Medium · 4.9 Simple Download Counter <= 2.2.2 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Arbitrary File Read via Path Traversal ↗2025-12-09 CVE-2025-13677 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory Affects <= 2.2.2 Patched in 2.2.3
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Simple Download Counter <= 2.2 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-04-22 CVE-2025-46240 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.2 Patched in 2.2.1
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Simple Download Counter <= 1.6 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2023-09-08 CVE-2023-4838 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects 1.6 Patched in 1.6.1
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 3 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
6 of 8 pass · checked 27 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Simply counts the number of times your files are downloaded. Display download links and counts using shortc..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 4 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 4 of 4 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("built for"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Google Analytics, REST API, Multisite.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 4 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 3,387 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "file manager", "statistics" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-05-14 1K+ → 2K+ up after 480 days in tier
- 2024-01-20 900+ → 1K+ up after 37 days in tier
- 2023-12-14 800+ → 900+ up after 21 days in tier
- 2023-11-23 700+ → 800+ up after 28 days in tier
- 2023-10-26 600+ → 700+ up after 37 days in tier
- 2023-09-19 500+ → 600+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2023-09-18 600+ → 500+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2023-09-17 500+ → 600+ up after 32 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).
-
Lana Downloads Manager 3K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags B - D Download Manager MS 10+ installs · 3.3★ · 3 shared tags F
-
Download Manager 100K+ installs · 4.1★ · 2 shared tags B -
Download Monitor 80K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A -
Download Manager Addons for Elementor 6K+ installs · 3.4★ · 2 shared tags B -
Document Library Lite 4K+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Simple Download Counter into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/simple-download-counter" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Simple Download Counter — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Simple Download Counter: 2K+ active installs, 4.9★ (19 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/simple-download-counter
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