Simple Download Counter

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

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

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 · 74% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price. A small install base leaves thin data to model from. The recent download trend is too spiky to read.

1. ★★★★★ minusc

   3mo ago

   Does what you expect it to!Easy to configure with many options! ****** Great plugin

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

   7mo ago

   Does what it says and with complete, clean simplicity.

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ mitrakov

   1.5y ago

   Super cool and easy-to-use. No additional blocks or buttons. You just need to update your links.

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ Hans-Gerd Gerhards

   1.9y 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 ↗
5. ★★★★★ Bowo

   2.2y ago

   Another great plugin from Jeff. It’s simple and it works.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ garrettm30

   2.4y 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 ↗
7. ★★★★★ Julian Song

   2.5y ago

   Thank you Jeff for another awesome lightweigt plugin!

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ Marjoline

   2.7y 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 ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 2.3.2 Fixes bug with reset options Updates plugin settings page Improves readme.txt documentation Tests on WordPress 7.0 Full changelog @ https://plugin-planet.com/wp/changelog/simple-download-counter.txt 2.3.2
2. — Version 2.3.3 Updates plugin settings page Tests on WordPress 7.1 2.3.3

5 disclosed vulnerabilities on record for this plugin, all fixed in the current version. Sites on older versions stay exposed until they update.

1. 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 ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects <= 2.3 Patched in 2.3.1
2. 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 ('Path Traversal') Affects <= 2.2.2 Patched in 2.2.3
3. 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 ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects <= 2.2 Patched in 2.2.1
4. Medium · 6.5 Simple Download Counter <= 2.0 - Authenticated (Author+) Arbitrary File Read ↗
   2025-02-28 CVE-2025-1730 External Control of File Name or Path Affects <= 2.0 Patched in 2.1
5. 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 ('Cross-site Scripting') Affects 1.6 Patched in 1.6.1

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1

Translated into 3 languages, 0 at 90% or more

Growth timeline

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

1. 2025-05-14 1K+ → 2K+ up after 480 days in tier
2. 2024-01-20 900+ → 1K+ up after 37 days in tier
3. 2023-12-14 800+ → 900+ up after 21 days in tier
4. 2023-11-23 700+ → 800+ up after 28 days in tier
5. 2023-10-26 600+ → 700+ up after 37 days in tier
6. 2023-09-19 500+ → 600+ up after 1 days in tier
7. 2023-09-18 600+ → 500+ down after 1 days in tier
8. 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 A
• 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 · 3.9★ · 2 shared tags B

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Drop a live Pulse card for Simple Download Counter into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

Simple Download Counter: 2K+ active installs, 4.9★ (19 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-29. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/simple-download-counter