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File Manager Pro – Filester vs BuddyDrive (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

File Manager Pro – Filester

File Manager Pro – Filester

4.9(146)

100K+ active installs

Free

Updated 2 months ago
View File Manager Pro – Filester
VS
BuddyDrive

BuddyDrive

4.3(47)

1.0K+ active installs

Free

Updated 10 months ago
View BuddyDrive

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, File Manager Pro – Filester has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 146 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. File Manager Pro – Filester has accumulated 1.4M+ total downloads while BuddyDrive has 240K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5File Manager Pro – Filester
◄
BuddyDrive4.3/5
Total Reviews
146File Manager Pro – Filester
◄
BuddyDrive47
Active Installs
100K+File Manager Pro – Filester
◄
BuddyDrive1.0K+
Total Downloads
1.4M+File Manager Pro – Filester
◄
BuddyDrive240K+
Support Resolution
50%File Manager Pro – Filester
BuddyDriveN/A
Last Updated
2 months agoFile Manager Pro – Filester
◄
BuddyDrive10 months ago
First Released
2020File Manager Pro – Filester
BuddyDrive2013
Age
6 yearsFile Manager Pro – Filester
BuddyDrive13 years
WP Requires
3.0+File Manager Pro – Filester
BuddyDrive4.5+
PHP Requires
false+File Manager Pro – Filester
BuddyDrive7.4+
Business Model
FreeFile Manager Pro – Filester
BuddyDriveFree
Latest Version
2.0.2File Manager Pro – Filester
BuddyDrive2.1.4

Rating Breakdown

File Manager Pro – Filester

4.9/5(146 reviews)
5
95%
4
1%
3
2%
2
0%
1
2%

BuddyDrive

4.3/5(47 reviews)
5
72%
4
13%
3
2%
2
0%
1
13%

Recent Reviews

File Manager Pro – Filester Reviews

by apuroid

То что надо

Так как я занимаюсь поддержкой сайта и вход на хостинг затруднителен – надо ждать смс владельцу, работа с файлами сайта из админки – отличное решение. Спасибо за удобство

by digitalley

Essential File Manager for Serious WordPress Work

Filester has become one of the few plugins I install almost by default. It provides a full graphical file management interface right inside the WordPress dashboard, so I can work with my site’s files

by islamragab

It just works 😌

It has all the features you’d come to expect from a premium file manager and, guess what? Without a paywall! Kudos to the developers for empowering open source 👏

BuddyDrive Reviews

by songdove

Still works and works well, need shortcode

I very much like how this plugin works, and wondering if it could have a shortcode to allow me to create a widget in the sidebar of uploaded documents?

by Steel Rat

Exactly what I need, but seriously needs updating

This plugin is exactly what I need for a Role-Playing Game site, unfortunately it’s too bugged to work with newer versions of WP. Sad.

by Richard Hunting

Could have been really good if they updated it.

I know this plugin hasn’t been updated in over 2 years… and I am sure it worked well at one point, but now it does nothing. Users can’t add folders or files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is File Manager Pro – Filester or BuddyDrive more popular?
File Manager Pro – Filester has 100K+ active installations while BuddyDrive has 1.0K+. File Manager Pro – Filester is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — File Manager Pro – Filester or BuddyDrive?
File Manager Pro – Filester has a 4.9/5 rating from 146 reviews, while BuddyDrive has a 4.3/5 rating from 47 reviews.
Are File Manager Pro – Filester and BuddyDrive free?
File Manager Pro – Filester is free and BuddyDrive is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — File Manager Pro – Filester or BuddyDrive?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
File Manager Pro – Filester was last updated 2 months ago and BuddyDrive was last updated 10 months ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.