The Download Monitor Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Download Monitor in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Download Monitor
The Insider’s Guide
WordPress plugin for managing, tracking and gating file downloads
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among tools for selling digital products, read from Download Monitor’s own pages.
Made by WP Chill · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Download Monitor’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Download Monitor’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 23 of the 50 other tools for selling digital products we grade
Download Monitor is a WordPress plugin for uploading files, organizing them with categories and versions, and logging every download. A free edition covers the basics, and paid plans for 1, 3 or 5 sites add email notifications, CSV import and export, cloud file hosting and access rules.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Download Monitor, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's a plugin you install and configure on a WordPress site.
- 1
Best for tracking and gating file downloads on a WordPress site
Download Monitor is a WordPress plugin that tracks downloads, keeps versions under one link and gates files behind terms or email.
- 2
Paid plans start at $11.50 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $138 per year for 1 site, after a first year at $48.
- 3
There is a free plan
Free edition on WordPress.org with download tracking and terms-and-conditions gating; PRO features such as captcha, buttons and email notification are not included.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Download tracking
Logs each download with user data, IP address and timestamp, with reports on trends and top files.
- 6
Versions under one link
Keep several file versions under a single download link so visitors get the current release.
- 7
Access control
Role-based permissions and password protection, with rule-based access management on the Complete plan.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 23 of 50
That is against the other tools for selling digital products we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Download Monitor you could make: digital downloads, reports and forms. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Download Monitor at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $138 per year for 1 site, after a first year at $48
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- WP Chill
- Category
- Selling Digital Products
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for tracking and gating file downloads on a WordPress site
Download Monitor is a WordPress plugin that tracks downloads, keeps versions under one link and gates files behind terms or email. The free edition lacks captcha, buttons and email notice, and the paid plans renew at $138 a year after a $48 first year.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | $138 a year for 1 site after a $48 first year, about $11.50 a month, which sits above the cheapest quarter of $8.99. Three sites is $258 and five is $398 a year. |
| Free plan and trial | B | A free edition on WordPress.org with download tracking and terms gating. Captcha, custom buttons and email notification are paid. |
| Features | C | Tracking, versions, access rules, email before download, S3 and Drive hosting. But it's a download manager, not a store with its own checkout, and email, CSV and cloud hosting need Popular. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. It's a plugin you install and configure on a WordPress site. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | WordPress only, with Amazon S3, Google Drive, Mailchimp and form plugin links. No standalone app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Download Monitor is for
- Fits if you run WordPress and want to count who downloads what
- Works for sites that give out files after an email sign-up
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you're not on WordPress, since it runs only inside it
- Pricey if you stay past year one, because plans renew at $138, $258 or $398
- Watch out: email notification, CSV tools and cloud hosting need Popular or above
- Watch out: access rules and form locks need Complete at $398 a year
- Skip it if you want to sell files, as there's no checkout of its own
Good to know
Good for
- WordPress site owners who share manuals, reports or lead magnets
- Agencies running download tracking across several client sites
- Publishers who want files behind a form or user role
Worth knowing
- Runs only inside WordPress; it is a download manager, not a storefront with its own checkout.
- Annual plans renew at the regular price after the introductory first year.
- Email notification, CSV tools and cloud hosting need Popular or above; access rules and form locks need Complete.
- Free edition lacks captcha, custom buttons and email notification.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$11.50
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Download Monitor has a free plan. Paid plans start at $138 per year for 1 site, after a first year at $48.
A free edition on WordPress.org with download tracking and terms gating.
Free
$0
Core download management and terms-and-conditions gating, without the PRO extensions.
Basic
$138
per year for 1 site, regular price after a first year at $48
1 site, 1 year of support and updates, Enhanced Metrics, anti-spam and bot protection. First year shown at $48.
Popular
$258
per year for 3 sites, regular price after a first year at $90
Adds email notification, CSV import and export, Document Library Manager and Amazon S3 and Google Drive hosting.
Complete
$398
per year for 5 sites, regular price after a first year at $139
Adds rule-based access management, priority support and form locks for Ninja Forms, Gravity Forms, WPForms and more.
The free plan
Free edition on WordPress.org with download tracking and terms-and-conditions gating; PRO features such as captcha, buttons and email notification are not included.
Read from download-monitor.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
First-year introductory price on annual plans
Annual plans show $48, $90 and $139 for the first year with a Black Friday banner; they renew at the regular price.
Stated on download-monitor.comLifetime license
Lifetime licenses with 3 years of support
One-time payments listed at $483 for 1 site, $903 for 3 sites and $1,393 for 5 sites, with lifetime updates.
Stated on download-monitor.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
WordPress plugin for managing, tracking and gating file downloads. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: forms, file sharing, reports, digital downloads.
But it's a download manager, not a store with its own checkout, and email, CSV and cloud hosting need Popular.
- Download tracking
- Logs each download with user data, IP address and timestamp, with reports on trends and top files.
- Versions under one link
- Keep several file versions under a single download link so visitors get the current release.
- Access control
- Role-based permissions and password protection, with rule-based access management on the Complete plan.
- Email before download
- Form locks for Ninja Forms, Gravity Forms, WPForms, Contact Form 7 and Mailchimp can collect an email first.
- Cloud file hosting
- Serve files from Amazon S3 with secure, expiring links, or use files hosted on Google Drive.
- Document library
- Build searchable, filterable document libraries and use shortcodes to place buttons and lists anywhere.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- WordPress
- Amazon S3
- Google Drive
- Ninja Forms
- Gravity Forms
- Mailchimp
- WPForms
- Contact Form 7
Download Monitor is made by WP Chill.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
23/50
Other tools for selling digital products it is graded above
Download Monitor's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 23 of the 50 other tools for selling digital products we grade, and level with 11.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 23 of 50) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $11.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $16.74 for the category: 9 of the 22 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 8 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 51 tools for selling digital products we grade, cut by the letter each got. Download Monitor’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 5 of 50
- BFree plan and trialAbove 23 of 50
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 50
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 50
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 14 of 50
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 33 tools for selling digital products. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Download Monitor is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Download Monitor you could make: digital downloads, reports and forms. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $138 a year.
What you could make
- Digital downloads, reports and forms: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- It plugs into other products, WordPress, Amazon S3 and Google Drive among them.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.
What this rests on. Download Monitor’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Easy Digital Downloads, Memberful, E-junkie, FetchApp and Freemius
The 5 tools Download Monitor is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Easy Digital Downloads
Free plan · from $199/yr
WordPress plugin for selling digital downloads from your own site.
- Download Monitor also covers forms, file sharing and reports.
- Easy Digital Downloads also covers online store.
- 2.0GPA
Memberful
Free trial · from $49/mo
Membership platform for paid newsletters, podcasts and communities.
- Download Monitor has a free plan. Memberful does not, though it has a free trial.
- Download Monitor also covers forms, file sharing and reports.
- Memberful also covers paid newsletters, online courses and community.
- 2.4GPA
E-junkie
Free trial · from $8/mo
Sell downloads and goods with buttons, carts or a shop.
- Download Monitor has a free plan. E-junkie does not, though it has a free trial.
- Download Monitor also covers forms, file sharing and reports.
- E-junkie also covers affiliate tracking, online store and shipping labels.
- 2.2GPA
FetchApp
Free plan · from $5/mo
Digital download and license key delivery for your own store.
- Download Monitor also covers forms, file sharing and reports.
- FetchApp also covers online store.
- 2.4GPA
Freemius
Free plan
Merchant of record, licensing and payments for software sellers.
- Download Monitor also covers forms, file sharing and reports.
- Freemius also covers affiliate tracking, online store and merchant of record.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Download Monitor free?
Download Monitor has a free plan. Free edition on WordPress.org with download tracking and terms-and-conditions gating; PRO features such as captcha, buttons and email notification are not included.
How much does Download Monitor cost?
Download Monitor lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Download Monitor work on?
Download Monitor is available on Web.
Does Download Monitor offer any discounts?
Download Monitor publicly lists the following: First-year introductory price on annual plans; Lifetime licenses with 3 years of support.
Does Download Monitor have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Download Monitor is listed for Web.
Does Download Monitor have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Download Monitor is listed for Web.
Is Download Monitor open source?
Download Monitor is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Download Monitor integrate with?
Download Monitor's listing names WordPress, Amazon S3, Google Drive, Ninja Forms, Gravity Forms, Mailchimp, WPForms and Contact Form 7.
Who makes Download Monitor?
Download Monitor is made by WP Chill.
What are the alternatives to Download Monitor?
The closest alternatives to Download Monitor in our directory are Easy Digital Downloads, Memberful, E-junkie, FetchApp and Freemius.
How does Download Monitor compare with other tools for selling digital products?
Download Monitor's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 23 of the 50 other tools for selling digital products we grade, and level with 11.
Is Download Monitor good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Download Monitor C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $11.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $16.74 for the category: 9 of the 22 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Download Monitor?
The plain part of Download Monitor you could make: digital downloads, reports and forms.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Download Monitor’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Download Monitor's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by WP Chill. Prices change, so check download-monitor.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Download Monitor, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/download-monitor
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Download Monitor: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/download-monitor
Know someone choosing between tools for selling digital products?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/download-monitor/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded tools for selling digital products after Download Monitor, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Selling Digital Products Insider's GuideEvery one of the 51 tools for selling digital products we grade, compared
- Whop Insider's GuideStorefront, checkout and payouts for paid communities and products3.4 GPA
- itch.io Insider's GuideOpen marketplace for indie games, assets and tools, pay what you want3.2 GPA
- Patreon Insider's GuidePaid memberships, a shop and community for creators and their fans3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Download Monitor’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Download Monitor is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by WP Chill. Prices and plans change: check download-monitor.com before you buy.