Looking for the best WordPress file upload plugin? Here are the 9 best file uploader plugins to accept file uploads from users on your site.
Approximate read time: 10.5 minutes
If you want users to upload files on your WordPress website, a file upload WordPress plugin is the easiest solution.
A solid WordPress file upload plugin allows users to upload files to your site easily.
Some file upload plugins have advanced features like multiple file upload, zip file upload, and more. And if you look at the WordPress.org plugin directory, there are plenty of plugins to choose from.
So what's the best option? We'll take you through our top 9 to help you decide which one to install.
Why use a WordPress file upload plugin?
There are several reasons to use a WordPress plugin to allow users to upload files.
Here are some of the top:
- Simple file management: With a WordPress upload plugin, you have one spot to manage all your files easily. So, you save time, effort, and headaches. Plus, it makes it easy for visitors, too!
- Better experience for users: Having a contact form with file uploads in WordPress also works great! And if you have a drag and drop file upload WordPress plugin, creating a form is even easier.
- More secure: The best WordPress plugins with upload file forms offer enhanced security features to protect you. File type restrictions, access control, and virus scanning are a few you’ll find.
- Customize it to your needs: Your needs aren’t the same as the next person's. And that’s why you need customization options from your file upload form WordPress plugin.
So, having the ability to upload a file in a WordPress plugin is helpful for all types of users!
The best file upload plugins for WordPress
1. Formidable Forms
When it comes to file uploads, a WordPress plugin with forms for file uploads is the best choice.
Add a file upload field to any form, and you're set! Formidable allows you to easily create forms that anyone can use on the front end of your site.
Looking for a contact form with file upload in a WordPress plugin? The file upload options in Formidable can do that, plus a lot more:
- Allow for multiple files to upload in one form (upload images, PDFs, and more)
- Attach uploaded files to the form email notification
- Automatically delete old files when new files are uploaded
- Auto re-size files before uploading
So why does Formidable Forms top this list? It's a fully-functional form builder that works with any WordPress theme! And file uploads are just one of many field types you can build forms with.
Get Your File Upload Plugin now!
Another thing, Formidable Forms functions like a WordPress file upload plugin for users, members, and admins alike. With Formidable user registration, every logged-in user can upload files easily from the front end! And with the Formidable WooCommerce form builder, your WooCommerce forms can also handle file uploads.
Plus, Formidable offers a PDF plugin.
So, if you want to convert your entries to a PDF, it's easy with Formidable! Only a few plugins provide that!
And a contact form with file upload WordPress plugin is one of the best that do…and that’s Formidable Forms.
2. File Manager
File Manager is a robust file management solution for WordPress sites. It can handle file uploads, but it does much more than just allow users to upload files to your site.
With File Manager, you can browse and manage all of the files on your server right from your WordPress dashboard. No need to use FTP!
As part of that, any user can upload files of any size to any location on your server - even outside your wp-content folder in your WP admin.
Beyond that, you'll also be able to:
- Create ZIP files from one or more additional files on your server.
- Control upload file types.
- Share uploaded files by email with just a few clicks.
- Create private folders for uploads (with the Pro version).
- Delete uploaded files.
- Drag-and-drop files to move them to different locations.
- Register uploaded files with your Media Library to use them in WordPress.
There are also premium add-ons that let you upload (or download) files from WordPress to external cloud storage services, such as:
- Dropbox
- Google Drive
- OneDrive
- Box
This is overkill if you want a simple solution to upload files to the WordPress Media Library. Want a complete file management solution that can rival FTP and cPanel File Manager? This is great. It lets you do it all without leaving your WordPress dashboard.
You can get started for free at WordPress.org. After that, you can purchase individual extensions for $19 each or a bundle for $99.
3. WordPress File Upload
The creatively named WordPress File Upload plugin does exactly what it says on the box. It gives you a simple way to let you or other visitors upload files to WordPress.
Once you activate the plugin, you can use a [wordpress_file_upload] shortcode to add a file upload field anywhere on your site. There's also a dedicated widget that you can add to your sidebar or any other widget area.
The plugin uploads files to your site's wp-content folder. It also displays a new dashboard widget that shows the most recently uploaded files.
For more control, you can choose the specific destination folder to upload files to within the wp-content folder. There's also an option for users to select the destination folder from the front end.
Plus, you can use it as a free file upload plugin in WordPress!
Other valuable features include:
- An in-dashboard file browser allows you to browse all the uploaded files without leaving WordPress.
- User role restrictions to control who can upload files. There's also an option to enable/disable file uploads for guest visitors (i.e., visitors without a WordPress account).
- Restrictions for file extensions and file size.
- Notification emails for newly-submitted files.
- Custom fields to capture additional information about file uploads.
All of the features from the list above are available for free. Then, there's also a premium version that adds support and features. These include multiple file uploads, drag-and-drop file uploads, CAPTCHAs, and more. The Pro version starts at €20.00.
4. WP User Frontend
WP User Frontend does more than just file uploads. It lets you create a custom frontend user profile area and improve the WordPress registration system.
Your users can manage their profiles from the front end of your site and submit content, such as guest posts.
Another thing that they can do from the front end is — you guessed it — upload files and attachments. Users will get a frontend upload area to add both general file attachments. In addition, users can configure specific types of attachments, such as the featured image for a blog post they're submitting.
Want to go beyond just file uploads? You can also create some types of membership websites. Just be aware that it does a lot more than just file uploads.
WP User Frontend has a limited free version at WordPress.org. Then, there are also paid plans starting at $49 per year.
5. Forminator
Time for a plugin that’s a free WordPress form with file upload.
Forminator is that plugin. It gives users the ability to create unique forms, surveys, and more in a few simple steps. Plus, it gives you a ton of features to make it an excellent choice.
For example, it’s the perfect WordPress plugin contact form with file uploads. You can easily drag and drop your file upload fields and then customize what file types are accepted. Plus, you can set up notifications, control the file size, and much more.
This feature is especially useful for businesses or organizations because it easily accepts job applications, customer feedback and support, and event registration. And you can customize these forms to look exactly how you want so it fits exactly what your business needs.
So, if you’re looking for a WordPress form plugin with file upload for free, then give Forminator a shot.
Forminator Pro starts at $7.50/month.
6. Checkout Files Upload for WooCommerce
Checkout Files Upload for WooCommerce lets you give shoppers the ability to upload files as part of the checkout process at your WooCommerce store.
This is especially great for customizable products. For example, you could let shoppers upload the logo image they want to print on a hat you sell. Or, you can come up with your own uses!
The plugin gives you flexibility for where/when you display the file upload field.
You can display it on the checkout page before or after the form. Or, you can wait until a shopper places the order to let them upload the file. If you wait, you can display the file upload field on the "Thank You" or "My Account" pages.
Other useful features include the ability to:
- Conditionally show/hide the field based on the product(s) in a shopper's order.
- Set limits on the file extensions that shoppers can upload and the file size.
- Customize the error messages (e.g., the message that appears when someone tries to upload the wrong file type or a file that's too large).
The core plugin is free, but there's also a premium version that adds more features. Included is the ability to upload multiple files & more placement locations for the file upload field. The premium version starts at $39.
7. Drag and Drop Multiple File Uploader for Contact Form 7
Drag and drop WordPress form with file upload for free. It extends Contact Form 7 (CF7) to give you a new file upload field that you can use in your forms.
Your visitors will be able to upload files by simply dragging the files into the upload field. You'll also be able to allow multiple file uploads, to limit the number of files a visitor can upload. So, this is especially great if you need a contact form with file upload WordPress plugin for free.
Other useful features include the ability to:
- Restrict which file types users can upload.
- Attach uploaded files to email notifications.
- Give users the option to delete uploaded files before submitting the form.
If you need more flexibility, there's also a premium version that adds other features. Among those are the ability to automatically delete files, change the upload folder, performance improvements, and more.
The premium version costs $14.99.
8. WP Add Mime Types
WP Add Mime Types is a slightly different take on a WordPress file upload plugin. It's kind of a bonus plugin because it may or may not fit what you're looking for.
Most plugins make it easy for you or others to upload a file to your WordPress site. WP Add Mime Types instead focuses on expanding the types of files that you can upload to WordPress using the already-available upload methods.
By default, WordPress restricts the file extensions you can upload for security reasons. For example, you can only upload an eBook epub file to find out that WordPress blocks that extension.
With WP Add Mime Types, you can easily allow new file extensions from your WordPress dashboard. That's all it does - simple and easy.
WP Add Mime Types is 100% free.
9. NEX-Forms
NEX-Forms is a versatile and easy-to-use WordPress free form plugin with file uploads.
With the plugin, you can easily create custom forms based on your needs using a simple drag-and drop builder. And it has customizable file upload fields you can include. So, this is an ideal contact form upload file WordPress plugin.
While you can pay for the premium WordPress plugin for form upload files, the free WordPress form plugin with file upload gets you everything you need to get started. Multiple file types, file sizes, and even email notifications with the files attached.
And if you want to customize your forms, you get all the design features you need to make it feel unique to your website.
Overall, NEX-Forms is an excellent WordPress file upload plugin for free that’s sure to meet your needs.
NEX-Forms Pro is $39.
Wrapping up
With all these WordPress file upload and download plugins, there will easily be more than one that fits the bill.
If you think we missed some file upload and download WordPress plugins for free or paid, then let us know in the comments the plugin, and we’ll add it!
Now, if you want to learn how to create one, then you’ll love this guide on how to create a file upload form in WordPress with a plugin. You’ll be allowing users to upload files in WordPress in no time!
Get Your File Upload Plugin now!
Until next time, stay tuned to the Formidable blog for more WordPress tips and tutorials. Bye for now!
Read more about WordPress file uploads!
How To Create a WordPress Contact Form with File Uploads
5 Best WordPress Plugins To Download PDF Files (& Upload PDFs Too)
How to Display Form Submissions in an Image CarouselFormidable Forms is the most powerful WordPress form builder on the planet. Find our free plugin in the WordPress plugin directory or give our premium form maker a try today!
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