Head-to-head · September 2026
BEA – Sanitize Filename vs Clean Filenames
BEA – Sanitize Filename comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Clean Filenames.
BEA – Sanitize Filename
This plugin allows you to sanitize files on upload, which is pretty handy. It means all punctuation and…
Clean Filenames
This reduces problems with some servers, services, plugins… That may have problems handling filenames with…
| Metric | BEA – Sanitize Filename | Clean Filenames |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 1K+ | 3K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 387 | 250 |
| Download trend | -11% | -12.9% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Reviews | 4 | 8 |
| Health score | 62/100 | 41/100 |
| Last updated | 6 months ago | 1 year ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.0.6 | WP 6.7.9 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 8.0+ | 5.6+ |
| First released | Feb 2018 | Feb 2011 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
BEA – Sanitize FilenameClean Filenames
Choose BEA – Sanitize Filename if…
You care most about downloads (30 days), download trend and health score.
- Very few reviews so far
Choose Clean Filenames if…
You care most about active installs and reviews.
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: sanitize
FAQ
BEA – Sanitize Filename vs Clean Filenames: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 28, 2026
Which is better, BEA – Sanitize Filename or Clean Filenames?
BEA – Sanitize Filename comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Clean Filenames. Choose BEA – Sanitize Filename if you care most about downloads (30 days), download trend and health score. Choose Clean Filenames if you care most about active installs and reviews.
Is BEA – Sanitize Filename more popular than Clean Filenames?
Clean Filenames is the more popular of the two with 3K+ active installs, compared with 1K+ for BEA – Sanitize Filename.
Can I use BEA – Sanitize Filename and Clean Filenames together?
Both plugins cover sanitize, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are BEA – Sanitize Filename and Clean Filenames free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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