Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes
by Pär Thernström · Booking & Events
Also makes 11 other plugins · 361.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
Track changes and user activities on your WordPress site. See who created a page, uploaded an attachment, and more, for a complete audit trail.
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 92/100
no flags
Active installs
300K+
≈390K estimated
Momentum
-20%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “activity” for “log”. “activity” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #14. “log” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
92 health vs 69 average across 1,839 Booking & Events plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.2%
of downloads still active
At least 300K of 13.8M lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Booking & Events plugin keeps 0.8%, across 943 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Booking & Events 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 21 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 15 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 491 reviews, smoothed to 4.83★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
3 of 4 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.
38
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.3
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
22%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.9
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| history your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| simple history | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| track | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| audit | #2 | #2 | up 1 |
| audit trail | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| order log history | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| user history | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| changes | #3 | #2 | down 1 |
| audit log your tag | #4 | #4 | up 1 |
| event log your tag | #4 | #4 | up 3 |
| log | #5 | #4 | up 4 |
| wordpress site audit | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| wordpress audit | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| page history | #2 | #2 | — |
| trail | #5 | #3 | 0 |
| user tracking your tag | #7 | #6 | up 6 |
| who | #7 | #6 | 0 |
| site audit | #4 | #4 | up 1 |
| wordpress activity log | #4 | #4 | 0 |
| activities | #12 | #12 | up 4 |
837 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 788 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words).
What to do about it
- Swap “activity” for “log”. “activity” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #14. “log” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “activity”. #14 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 622.1K · 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
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.
21
releases in the last 12 months
15d ago
latest release · v5.36.0 · 17 Oct 2026
236
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare 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.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “300K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 20 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 90% of the way through.
Install history since 1 Oct 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ jdav174mo 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 ↗ - ★★★★★ Ron the Web Guy4mo ago
I use the free & premium version on multiple websites. Too simple & easy not to use.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ dollyforsue4mo ago
Thank you for a great plugin that has helped our persons easily.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Karsten4mo ago
Very usefull tool – easy to install / configure / use! Thanks!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ berlinfo5mo ago
A precise and reliable tool for years. I highly recommend it.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ cliffo45mo 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 ↗ - ★★★★★ prezio775mo ago
Great!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ cmarrington5mo 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 ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — 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
- — 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
- — 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
- — 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
- — 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
- — 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
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 6 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (5.36.0). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched 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
- 2026-03-22 CVE-2026-39473 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 5.24.0 Patched in 5.24.1
- 2023-02-02 CVE-2022-45350 Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File Affects <= 3.3.1 Patched in 3.4.0
- 2016-07-28 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 2.7.4 Patched in 2.7.5
- 2014-08-01 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 1.0.7 Patched in 1.0.8
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.
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 34 languages, 4 at 90% or more
Plus 10 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.
Share of voice
How often each assistant names Simple History when asked about this topic, where it comes in the answer, and how that compares with its wp.org search position. Latest run 1 Nov 2026.
- Assistants
- ChatGPT, Claude
- Topics tracked
- RSS feeds
Readme readiness
8 of 8 pass · checked 25 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Track changes and user activities on your WordPress site. See who created a page, uploaded an attachment, a..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 14 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 14 of 14 read like questions a user would type.
- ✓ Names who it is for Names its audience or use cases ("perfect for", "who need", "for developers").
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WooCommerce, Block editor, Beaver Builder, Advanced Custom Fields and 8 more.
- ✓ Headings and lists 16 headings and 8 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 7,633 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "event log", "user tracking" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-03-25 200K+ → 300K+ up after 116 days in tier
- 2024-11-29 300K+ → 200K+ down after 77 days in tier
- 2024-09-13 200K+ → 300K+ up after 798 days in tier
- 2022-07-08 100K+ → 200K+ up after 1102 days in tier
- 2019-07-02 90K+ → 100K+ up after 120 days in tier
- 2019-03-04 80K+ → 90K+ up after 153 days in tier
- 2018-10-02 70K+ → 80K+ up after 154 days in tier
- 2018-05-01 60K+ → 70K+ up after 209 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).
-
WP Activity Log 300K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A -
Stream – Activity Log & Audit Trail 70K+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags A -
Logify WP – Activity Log & User Audit Log 300+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags B -
Adminify Activity Log & Audit Trail 200+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags -
ActivityLog – wordpress logging for actions inside admin 30+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags -
coreActivity: Activity Logging for WordPress 10+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags
Embed this report card
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.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/simple-history" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes: 300K+ active installs, 4.9★ (491 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/simple-history
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