Some WordPress hosting services offer a built-in file manager feature to make it easy to access WordPress files. Some offer only an FTP account, which requires extra configuration before you can use it.
If your hosting doesn’t offer a file manager feature, you can use a file manager plugin to access your WordPress more effortlessly, without needing to install an FTP client and make some configuration.
I have explored some file manager plugins and put together the best ones in the list below so that you don’t need to try every single one yourself which can take time.
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File Manager Plugin vs Media Manager Plugin
One thing I need to clarify in advance. What I will share in the list below are file manager plugins, not media manager plugins. They are different.
A file manager is a plugin designed to help you access and manage the files related to your websites. Such as the wp-config.php file, the wp-login.php file, etc.
A media manager plugin, meanwhile, is a plugin that adds extra features to the default media manager of WordPress (Media Library). A media manager plugin commonly allows you to create folders to make your media files more organized.
As I mentioned in the opening section, some hosting services offer a built-in file manager feature to make it easy for you to access WordPress files.
You can also use the feature to upload a file to the server, which is quite helpful if you want to upload a site ownership verification file and other files.
Two examples of web hosting services that come with a built-in file manager are:
If you use a hosting service that doesn’t offer a file manager feature and are not interested in using FTP, then you can install one of the file manager plugins in the list below.
List of Free WordPress File Manager Plugins
On the list:
1. WP File Manager
WP File Manager is arguably the most popular file manager plugin for WordPress. It already has over 1 million downloads according to WordPress.org.
The plugin brings the Mac’s Finder vibe by presenting folders in a turquoise by default, which you can change according to your preference. It offers 5 different themes you can choose from, including the one similar to Window’s File Explorer.
There are a lot of things you can do with WP File Manager. From uploading a file, downloading a file, creating a folder, creating a file, editing a file, and so on.
You can also use it to create a ZIP file, which is quite useful if you want to perform a manual backup over your website.
WP File Manager offers a contextual menu to make it easy to access all of its features. It supports both list view and column view in presenting your files.
WP File Manager is available for free. A pro version is also available with advanced features like the ability to show the file manager on the front-end, access manager, advanced code editor, and so on.
Key Features of WP File Manager
- Contextual menu
- Text editor
- Multiple theme options
- List view and column view
- Archive manager
- Search
- Full-screen mode
2. Advanced File Manager
Advanced File Manager is a file manager plugin that has the similar interface as WP File Manager above. However, you will see an annoying enough banner on the right side which can only be removed if you use the pro version.
The overall features that Advanced File Manager offers are not much different from WP File Manager. It also allows you to run some file operations like move, copy, delete, cut, rename, and so on.
A contextual menu is also available to make it easy to access the file operations it supports. You can also switch from the list mode to the column mode to view your files.
Advanced File Manager also offers a Finder-like look by default, which you can change according to your preference. Unfortunately, the free version is limited to two themes.
Features like database access and integration with a cloud storage service are available, but they are only accessible on the pro version.
Key Features of Advanced File Manager:
- Contextual menu
- Access manager
- Text editor
- Multiple theme options
- List view and column view
- Archive manager
- Search
- Full-screen mode
3. Filester
Filester is a free file manager from Ninja Team, the team that also owns Filebird. In case you don’t know, Filebird is a most popular media manager plugin. It allows you to further organize your media files in folders.
Same as the first two plugins above, Filester also comes with a Finder vibe by default with its turquoise folders. You can also change this default look. Apart from its default look, there are five more look options you can choose from.
Filester is a completely free plugin. No pro version is available. It also offers a drag-and-drop file manager experience, complete with handy features like contextual menu, ability to display the files in a list and column mode, and so on.
If you have multiple users on your WordPress site, you can set who can access the plugin thanks to its access manager feature.
Or, you can give access to all users, with limited file operation capabilities.
Key Features of Filester:
- Contextual menu
- Access manager
- Text editor
- Multiple theme options
- List view and column view
- Archive manager
- Search
- Full-screen mode
- Ability to disable file operation command
- Ability to restrict file upload by file type
4. Bit File Manager
Bit File Manager is another feature-rich file manager plugin for WordPress that allows you to access files on the server without needing to configure FTP.
Unfortunately, the first impression is not that good as you are greeted with an ad promoting another plugin from the same developer.
Also, its interface is not as clean as Filester and WP File Manager.
In terms of features and functionality, however, Bit File Manager is great enough. It offers a dark interface by default, which you can change per your preference.
Bit File Manager is especially great if you often make minor edits to WordPress configuration files. It comes with an advanced enough text editor which is usable to edit a PHP file, CSS file, and JavaScript file.
Key Features of Bit File Manager:
- Contextual menu
- Access manager
- Text editor
- Multiple theme options
- List view and column view
- Archive manager
- Search
- Full-screen mode
- Ability to disable file operation command
- Ability to restrict display file manager in frond-end
5. WPIDE
WPIDE is an ideal option if you need a file manager plugin with an advanced code editor. The developer itself positions the plugin as an IDE for WordPress. Meaning that the plugin is aimed at developers, not regular users.
If you are not a developer and are looking for a file manager to replace FTP, then WPIDE is not an ideal option.
Unlike other plugins above, WPIDE doesn’t load all WordPress files until you upgrade to the pro version. For instance, the wp-config.php is not loaded on the free version, which is a pity.
Meanwhile, if you are a developer, WPIDE is a great plugin. Its editor is super usable. The editor comes with an advanced an advanced search feature to allow you to search a certain part of your file according to specific criteria.
It also offers a tabbed interface, which is great to open multiple files at once.
Also, you can perform a search and replace with the editor.
Key Features of WPIDE:
- Contextual menu
- Advanced code editor
- Multiple theme options
- List view and column view
- Archive manager
- Search
6. FileOrganizer
FileOrganizer is a file manager from Softaculous.
Softaculous, as you may already know, is a tool usually found on a cPanel-based hosting service which is used to install WordPress. File manager is one of the features available on cPanel.
If you use a managed hosting service, which usually develops its own control panel instead of using cPanel, you can try FileOrganizer to access your WordPress files more easily. Without needing to configure FTP.
The interface of FileOrganizer is pretty similar to the first plugins above. So are the features.
You can find features like a contextual menu for easier file operation, a simple text editor, an archive manager, and so on.
Key Features of FileOrganizer:
- Contextual menu
- Text editor
- Multiple theme options
- List view and column view
- Archive manager
- Search
- Full-screen mode
Summary
You can use a file manager plugin to do several things related to file access and management on your WordPress website. From uploading a new file, editing a file, copying file, creating an archive file and so on.
A file manager plugin is great to replace FTP, which requires extra configuration before you can use it. Especially if you are new to WordPress.
All file manager plugins on the above list are free to use. Some offer advanced features accessible on the pro version. But for basic file management functionality, the free version is more than enough.
If your hosting service doesn’t offer a built-in file manager feature, then the above plugins can be the solutions.
