# HW Monitor vs If File Exists

> HW Monitor vs If File Exists compared on installs, downloads, ratings, updates, compatibility and support. If File Exists comes out ahead, winning 5 of 5 head-to-head checks against HW Monitor.

**If File Exists comes out ahead, winning 5 of 5 head-to-head checks against HW Monitor.** Choose If File Exists if you care most about downloads (30 days), download trend and health score.

| | HW Monitor | If File Exists |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 30+ | 30+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 73 | 202 ✅ |
| Download trend | -2.7% | +8.6% ✅ |
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 1 | 1 |
| Health score | 31/100 | 40/100 ✅ |
| Last updated | 7 years ago | 2 years ago ✅ |
| Tested up to | WP 5.2.29 | WP 6.8.11 ✅ |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.3.29+ | Any |
| First released | Oct 2018 | Jun 2009 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better, HW Monitor or If File Exists?
If File Exists comes out ahead, winning 5 of 5 head-to-head checks against HW Monitor.  Choose If File Exists if you care most about downloads (30 days), download trend and health score.

### Is HW Monitor more popular than If File Exists?
HW Monitor is the more popular of the two with 30+ active installs, compared with 30+ for If File Exists.

### Can I use HW Monitor and If File Exists together?
Both plugins cover filesystem, 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 HW Monitor and If File Exists 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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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/compare/hw-monitor-vs-if-file-exists/ · Generated 2026-10-22 22:20 UTC by PageForge