WordPress Plugin Review: WordPress Download Monitor

I have always been curious on how many times my graphics and scripts have been downloaded. When I installed the WordPress Download Monitor plugin, I was not sure what to expect. However, once I started uploading my zip files and putting them out there for the public to download, I saw it immediately.

The script is very useful for webmasters, especially if when a lot of graphics and bandwidth can be involved. The plugin records how many times an item is downloaded, the IP address of the downloader, and at what time the downloading occurred.

When using the plugin, all you have to do is upload the zip file, the details you want people to see, specify if only members of your blog can access the download, and even mirror sites your items has been uploaded to. To add the download to your page, there is a simple dropdown menu in your WordPress ‘new post’ menu to select the download, and the code is added to the page.

If you have to update the file, it is also easy to do and simple as selecting the download you want to edit, uploading the new zip file, and then submitting.

For those with graphic sites that have been using old and unsecure php scripts, the WordPress Download Monitor would be far more ideal to use. On strictly php written websites, this can become a problem as it can be tedious to put together a template just for the downloads. It is much easier to nip this issue by using WordPress’ CMS goodness and the WordPress Download Monitor plugin.

This is also great for commercial graphic sites so the owner can select a few downloads as freebies, and the rest… can be members only.

Have you used this plugin? What are your thoughts and recommendations?