Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes

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. 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. The recent download trend is too spiky to read.

1. ★★★★★ jdav17

   1mo ago

   This is one of the first plugins I install on any site that content editors who don’t understand WordPress or code will need to edit. We can lock down a lot, but not everything they can break, so it really helps to be able to trace what’s happened. I do prefer not to show it in the admin menu or upper bar, so I was relieved when they rolled that option back. (I do wish the default wasn’t to show it all over the place, because now I have to go into the Settings on every site and turn those off and put it in the Tools menu, which luckily most of my users are scared of!)

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ Ron the Web Guy

   1mo ago

   I use the free & premium version on multiple websites. Too simple & easy not to use.

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ dollyforsue

   2mo ago

   Thank you for a great plugin that has helped our persons easily.

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ Karsten

   2mo ago

   Very usefull tool – easy to install / configure / use! Thanks!

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ berlinfo

   3mo ago

   A precise and reliable tool for years. I highly recommend it.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ cliffo4

   3mo ago

   Been using this for some time, great to be able to see at a glance whats been going on or drill down further. Development has been good new features and updates as WP changes.

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ prezio77

   3mo ago

   Great!

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

   3mo ago

   This plugin does what it says. A slug change was made over 60 days ago that needed reversed, without this simple history plugin, it would have been a nightmare finding the name of the original slug. Highly recommend.

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 5.29.0 🔒 This release brings Simple History together with WordPress’s built-in privacy tools: a person’s activity log is now included in personal-data exports (Tools → Export Personal Data), and a new “Privacy & Data” settings 5.29.0
2. — Version 5.28.0 Ready for WordPress 7.0 ! This version is tested and confirmed working on the latest WordPress version. It also adds logging for the new AI Connectors Screen . Plus: WP-CLI and REST API coverage for content and settings 5.28.0
3. — Version 5.27.0 🤖 This release adds AI agent attribution to log events, so you can see when an action was triggered through Claude Code, ChatGPT, or other AI tools. Also, Action links are now front-and-center for media, plugins, users, 5.27.0
4. — Version 5.26.0 This version makes the log actions more discoverable by moving them out of the dropdown menu and into inline buttons. It also contains a new experimental feature: reactions! Read more about it in the release post Added M 5.26.0
5. — Version 5.25.0 This release focuses on keeping your database lean. Three features that reduce log storage size are now active for all users: smarter default retention for new installs, failed login rate limiting, and compact diff stora 5.25.0
6. — Version 5.24.1 Security RSS feed error response no longer exposes the feed secret token in the self-referencing link. Changed Capabilities added to roles are now logged at “notice” level instead of “warning” to reduce unnecessary alarm 5.24.1

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

1. High · 7.5 Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes <= 5.26.0 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) Account Takeover via Missing Authorization on Event Reaction Endpoint ↗
   2026-05-29 CVE-2026-7459 Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password Affects <= 5.26.0 Patched in 5.27.0
2. Medium · 5.3 Simple History <= 5.24.0 - Unauthenticated Information Exposure ↗
   2026-03-22 CVE-2026-39473 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 5.24.0 Patched in 5.24.1
3. Medium · 4.9 Simple History <= 5.8.1 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Sensitive Information Exposure via Detective Mode ↗
   2025-06-05 CVE-2025-5760 Plaintext Storage of a Password Affects <= 5.8.1 Patched in 5.8.2
4. Medium · 6.0 Simple History <= 3.3.1 - Authenticated (Subscriber+) CSV Injection ↗
   2023-02-02 CVE-2022-45350 Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File Affects <= 3.3.1 Patched in 3.4.0
5. Medium · 4.3 Simple History Plugin < 2.7.5 - Sensitive Information Disclosure ↗
   2016-07-28 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 2.7.4 Patched in 2.7.5
6. Medium · 5.3 Simple History <= 1.0.7 - Sensitive Information Disclosure ↗
   2014-08-01 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 1.0.7 Patched in 1.0.8

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0

Translated into 32 languages, 6 at 90% or more

Plus 8 more locales with partial translations.

Growth timeline

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

1. 2025-03-25 200K+ → 300K+ up after 116 days in tier
2. 2024-11-29 300K+ → 200K+ down after 77 days in tier
3. 2024-09-13 200K+ → 300K+ 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 Activity Log 300K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags B
• Stream – Activity Log & Audit Trail 80K+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags A
• Logify WP – Activity Log & User Audit Log 200+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags B
• Adminify Activity Log & Audit Trail 200+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags B
• Unbranded Portal Connector 80+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags C
• ActivityLog – wordpress logging for actions inside admin 30+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags C

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Drop a live Pulse card for Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes: 300K+ active installs, 4.9★ (486 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-25. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/simple-history