Head-to-head · October 2026
PayPal Digital Downloads vs Premium Packages
Premium Packages comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against PayPal Digital Downloads.
PayPal Digital Downloads
Note: PayPal Digital Goods is no longer available for new PayPal accounts. This feature remains available for…
Premium Packages
Premium Packages transforms your WordPress Download Manager into a complete eCommerce solution for selling…
| Metric | PayPal Digital Downloads | Premium Packages |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 90+ | 2K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 76 | 8.9K |
| Download trend | +40.7% | +17.6% |
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Reviews | 7 | 4 |
| Health score | 35/100 | 74/100 |
| Last updated | 9 years ago | 4 days ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.9.33 | WP 7.1.2 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.4+ | Any |
| First released | Mar 2015 | May 2018 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
PayPal Digital DownloadsPremium Packages
Choose PayPal Digital Downloads if…
You care most about download trend and reviews.
- Small user base (90+ active installs)
- No update in 8 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Premium Packages if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score.
- Actively developed — last update 4 days ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Momentum — downloads up 17.6% vs the previous 30 days
- Very few reviews so far
Both compete in: digital downloads
FAQ
PayPal Digital Downloads vs Premium Packages: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 5, 2026
Which is better, PayPal Digital Downloads or Premium Packages?
Premium Packages comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against PayPal Digital Downloads. Choose PayPal Digital Downloads if you care most about download trend and reviews. Choose Premium Packages if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score.
Is PayPal Digital Downloads more popular than Premium Packages?
Premium Packages is the more popular of the two with 2K+ active installs, compared with 90+ for PayPal Digital Downloads.
Can I use PayPal Digital Downloads and Premium Packages together?
Both plugins cover digital downloads, 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 PayPal Digital Downloads and Premium Packages 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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