Ever feel like your website’s back-end is more cluttered than a teenager’s bedroom? Overflowing with images, videos, PDFs, and who knows what else? Well, you’re not alone. But guess what? There’s a solution to this digital disarray, and it’s called WordPress file manager plugins.
Imagine having a super-organized, easy-to-navigate digital filing cabinet right in your WordPress dashboard. No more wrestling with FTP or cPanel. These plugins are like your personal digital butler, helping you to organize, edit, upload, and download files. And the best part? They can even help you delete unused images in your WordPress Media Library manually or use a more automated solution like Media Hygiene. Say goodbye to digital clutter!
In this article, we’re going to take a comprehensive journey through the world of free file manager plugins available on the WordPress.org website. We found all the plugins on the WordPress respository and that feel like a desktop file manager but for your WordPress site.
Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the WordPress waters or you’re a seasoned pro, there’s a file manager plugin out there that’s just right for you. So, buckle up and get ready to dive into the exciting world of WordPress file manager plugins listed in alphabetical order.
Let’s get started!
Advanced File Manager
The Advanced File Manager is a WordPress plugin developed by modalweb. It is a powerful tool that provides users with the ability to edit, delete, upload, rename, copy, paste, download, zip, and perform multiple operations on files and folders. This plugin eliminates the need for cPanel and FTP, allowing users to access files both inside and outside the WordPress root directory.
Advanced File Manager offers a variety of features, including editable root directory path, shortcodes for logged in and non-logged in users, drag & drop file upload support, resizable folder pane, and UTF-8 normalizer of file-name and file-path. It also supports PDF preview, auto resize on file upload, and folder upload.
The plugin also comes with a Pro version that allows users to organize their WordPress media library, users, plugins, and more using folders.
As of the last update a week ago, Advanced File Manager is at version 5.1 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.2.2. It requires WordPress 4.0 or higher and PHP 7.0 or higher. The plugin has over 100,000 active installations and has received 337 5-star ratings.
Bit File Manager
The Bit File Manager is a WordPress plugin developed by Bit Apps. This plugin is a robust and powerful tool that allows users to upload, delete, copy, move, rename, archive, and extract files directly from the WordPress dashboard. It eliminates the need for FTP or cPanel, making file management simple and easy.
Key features of the Bit File Manager plugin include drag & drop file upload, list and icons view, alternative to FTP and cPanel, supported archives (zip, rar, 7z, tar, gzip, bzip2), image and file edit support, quicklook, preview for common file types, calculate directory sizes, video and audio preview/play, file search and sort, automatic media sync, trash folder, high performance server backend, and many more.
As of the last update four weeks ago, Bit File Manager is at version 6.2 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.2.2. It requires WordPress 4.0 or higher and PHP 5.6 or higher. The plugin has over 20,000 active installations and has received 128 5-star ratings out of a total of 171 ratings.
CatFolders – WP Media Folders
The CatFolders – WP Media Folders is a WordPress plugin developed by CatFolders. It is designed to help users categorize and manage their media files in the WordPress media library more efficiently and faster.
CatFolders creates folders in the WordPress media library using the latest technology and minimum loading elements, delivering a media file manager with the fastest performance possible. It provides an integrated folder tree right inside the WordPress media library, allowing users to create unlimited main folders and freely move them to the position they want.
The plugin also supports easy folder import from other popular WordPress media folders plugins, making it easy for users to migrate their established folder structure to CatFolders. It also works with the Media Library Assistant and supports the [mla_gallery] shortcode.
As of the last update 5 days ago, CatFolders is at version 1.8 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.1.3. It requires WordPress 5.2 or higher and PHP 7.2 or higher. The plugin has over 600 active installations and has received 6 5-star ratings.
FileBird – WordPress Media Library Folders & File Manager
FileBird provides a range of features, including the ability to create virtual folders to categorize your WordPress media file uploads. It also offers a smart context menu for file operations, a drag & drop interface for easy file movement, and a powerful search feature. The plugin is designed to boost your productivity in managing WordPress media files.
FileBird also comes with an addon that helps you create a standalone WordPress document gallery using Gutenberg and FileBird folders. It is compatible with all major WordPress themes, page builders, and website builders.
As of the last update a month ago, FileBird is at version 5.3.2 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.2.2. It requires WordPress 3.0 or higher. The plugin has over 100,000 active installations and has received 781 5-star ratings out of a total of 903 ratings.
Filester – File Manager Pro
The File Manager Pro – Filester is a free WordPress plugin developed by Ninja Team. It is designed to help users manage WordPress configuration files and directories without the need for FTP access.
Filester provides a range of features, including drag & drop interface for easy file movement, a smart context menu for file operations, an advanced built-in code editor, flexible configuration options, and the ability to create and extract archives. It also boasts a clean and compact UI/UX design for faster file editing and transferring.
One of the standout features of Filester is its security. The plugin has addressed vulnerabilities that have led to attacks on other WordPress file manager plugins, making it a safe choice for users.
As of the last update a month ago, Filester is at version 1.7.7 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.2.2. It requires WordPress 3.0 or higher. The plugin has over 50,000 active installations and has received 103 5-star ratings out of a total of 108 ratings.
Filester is also compatible with all major WordPress themes, page builders, and website builders, making it a versatile tool for a wide range of WordPress sites.
FileOrganizer – Manage WordPress and Website Files
The FileOrganizer – Manage WordPress and Website Files is a WordPress plugin developed by the Softaculous Team. This lightweight and easy-to-use file management plugin allows users to organize and manage their WordPress files without any control panel or FTP access. Users can access, upload, download, edit, delete, zip, cut, copy, and paste files even outside the WordPress root directory.
Key features of the FileOrganizer plugin include all file operations on a remote server such as creating files or directory, uploading, downloading, renaming, copying, etc. It also supports easy drag-and-drop file transfer for uploading and moving files, a built-in editor for editing code and files, one-click archive creation or extraction, file previews for common file types including PDFs, pictures, videos, audio, and thumbnails, and a built-in search feature for easy file finding.
As of the last update two months ago, FileOrganizer is at version 1.0.2 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.1.3. It requires WordPress 5.5 or higher and PHP 5.5 or higher. The plugin has over 60,000 active installations and has received 2 5-star ratings.
File Manager
The File Manager is a powerful and flexible WordPress plugin developed by mndpsingh287. It allows users to edit, delete, upload, download, zip, copy, and paste files and folders directly from the WordPress backend, eliminating the need for FTP to manage and move files.
The plugin comes with a wide range of features, including various operations with files and folders on a remote server, drag & drop file movement, archive creation and extraction, and a built-in integrated development environment (IDE). It also includes a syntax checker for code reviews before saving files, multiple themes, file sharing by email, and a built-in trash function.
The File Manager plugin supports all types of image files and offers a responsive UI that works on tablets and mobile devices. It also includes a search function, keyboard shortcuts, automatic file resizing, and a browsing history feature.
As of the last update two months ago, the plugin is at version 7.1.9 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.2.2. It requires WordPress 4.0 or higher, PHP 5.2.4 or higher, and MySQL 5.x. The plugin has over 1 million active installations and has been rated 1,116 times with a majority of 5-star ratings.
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager
The Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager is a WordPress plugin developed by Premio. This plugin allows users to organize all their Pages, Posts, and Media files in folders. Users can easily drag and drop items into directories and change the folders tree view (hierarchy) as they wish.
Folders plugin offers a range of features, including the ability to create unlimited folders, drag and drop pages, posts, and media library, replace media files with other files, and import folders from other plugins. It also supports keyboard shortcuts for quick actions with folders, undo action, search folder names, and resize folders menu.
As of the last update two months ago, Folders is at version 2.9.2 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.2.2. It requires WordPress 3.0.0 or higher. The plugin has over 60,000 active installations and has received 1,115 5-star ratings out of a total of 1,137 ratings.
The plugin also offers a Pro version that provides additional features such as unlimited sub-folders, dynamic folders, delete unused media library files, download any media library folder as a ZIP, and many more.
Wicked Folders
Wicked Folders is a WordPress plugin developed by Wicked Plugins. It is designed to manage large numbers of pages and custom post types by organizing them into folders. This plugin does not alter your content’s permalinks or hierarchy, giving you the freedom to organize your pages, posts, and custom post types any way you want independently of your site’s structure.
Wicked Folders provides a range of features, including the ability to control which post types can be organized using folders, create an unlimited number of folders, and nest them any way you like. It also supports drag and drop for easy reorganization of folders and items, bulk move items to folders, and assign items to multiple folders.
The plugin also offers dynamic folders, which let you filter pages and custom post types by things like date or author. You can even browse pages or custom post types by other categories that are assigned to the post type.
As of the last update a month ago, Wicked Folders is at version 2.18.18 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.2.2. It requires WordPress 4.6 or higher. The plugin has over 20,000 active installations and has received 41 5-star ratings.
Real Media Library: Media Library Folder & File Manager
The Real Media Library: Media Library Folder & File Manager is a WordPress plugin developed by devowl.io. It is designed to help users organize their media files in the WordPress media library into folders, collections, and galleries. This plugin essentially acts as a file manager for WordPress, making media management easy and efficient.
Real Media Library offers a range of features, including the ability to create, rename, move, and delete folders, drag & drop files into folders, create shortcuts for files, filter in inserting media dialog, and custom image order. It also supports advanced upload management, allowing users to upload files directly to folders and create galleries from a folder.
The plugin is compatible with WordPress 5.x / Gutenberg and works great with all major themes, page builders, and many plugins. It also supports WordPress Multisite, where each page has its own folder tree.
As of the last update two weeks ago, Real Media Library is at version 4.20.4 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.2.2. It requires WordPress 5.2 or higher and PHP 7.2.0 or higher. The plugin has over 70,000 active installations and has received 161 5-star ratings out of a total of 182 ratings.
Simple File List
The Simple File List is a WordPress plugin developed by Mitchell Bennis. This plugin is designed to provide a list of files, either publicly available or private to logged-in users. Users can place a file list anywhere on their site using a simple shortcode, allowing front-end users to open, download, and optionally edit them. Users can also upload files if you choose.
Simple File List is also a good alternative for organizations using FTP or Dropbox for larger files. Simply provide your clients with a link to their file list. The plugin offers a range of features, including three file list styles: table, tiles, or flex. It also provides complete settings for the file list style and display, file upload restrictions, and upload notifications.
As of the last update two weeks ago, Simple File List is at version 6.1.8 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.2.2. It requires WordPress 5.0 or higher. The plugin has over 5,000 active installations and has received 17 5-star ratings out of a total of 22 ratings.
The plugin also offers a Pro version that adds sub-folder support, allowing users to create unlimited levels of sub-folders, display different folders in different places on your site, and easily move files and folders as needed.
SP Project & Document Manager
The SP Project & Document Manager is a WordPress plugin developed by smartypants. It is designed to help users manage, share, track, group, and distribute any type of document, file, or media. This plugin allows users to upload documents, files, and media online to their own personal page. Users can create or add to existing projects or folders.
The plugin provides a range of features, including a built-in login/registration system, Ajax multi uploader, unlimited nesting of folders, secure documents under login for each user, and a localization support for many languages. It also supports WordPress Multisite, where each page has its own folder tree.
The plugin also offers a premium version that provides additional features such as group user files together, category system for files, thumbnail mode to view files in a windows format, add vendors so files can be sent regularly, advanced shortcodes, save files as a draft for later publishing, add file revisions to a file, limit file types, create thumbnails from PDFs, PSDs and other popular formats, and many more.
As of the last update 5 months ago, SP Project & Document Manager is at version 4.67 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.1.3. It requires WordPress 5.5 or higher. The plugin has over 2,000 active installations and has received 42 5-star ratings out of a total of 57 ratings.
WPIDE – File Manager & Code Editor
The WPIDE – File Manager & Code Editor is a WordPress plugin developed by XplodedThemes. This plugin is an advanced file manager and code editor for WordPress, allowing users to edit any file within the wp-content folder, not just plugins and themes. It comes with a smart context menu, customizable root path, and the ability to create new files and directories. It also supports batch download and upload of files and folders using drag and drop.
The plugin includes an advanced file editor with line numbers, syntax highlighting, automatic indentation, code folding, and WordPress and PHP code auto-completion. It also features a file recovery wizard and a beautiful image gallery. WPIDE uses a modern, clean, and easy-to-use interface, making managing and editing files a breeze. It also comes with six different themes and a dark mode to reduce blue light exposure.
As of the last update six months ago, WPIDE is at version 3.4.6 and has been tested up to WordPress 6.1.3. It requires WordPress 5.0 or higher and PHP 7.4.0 or higher. The plugin has over 30,000 active installations and has received 132 5-star ratings out of a total of 142 ratings.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving digital landscape, managing files effectively is a critical aspect of running a successful WordPress website. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a WordPress novice, having the right tools at your disposal can make all the difference. That’s where WordPress file manager plugins come into play. These plugins are not just tools, they’re your personal digital assistants, helping you to organize, edit, upload, download, and even delete unused images in your WordPress Media Library.
We’ve explored a range of top-notch, free file manager plugins available on the WordPress.org website, each with its unique features and capabilities. From the robust and powerful Bit File Manager with over 20,000 active installations to the user-friendly Simple File List with over 5,000 active installations, there’s a plugin to suit every need.
Whether you’re looking for advanced functionalities like zip and unzip capabilities, file previews, and user access control, or basic file organization and editing features, these plugins have got you covered. They are regularly updated and maintained by their developers, ensuring compatibility with the latest WordPress versions.
In conclusion, managing files on your WordPress site doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right file manager plugin, you can keep your digital space organized and efficient, giving you more time to focus on what truly matters – creating amazing content and providing value to your audience. So, go ahead and give these plugins a try, and experience the difference they can make in your WordPress file management.