Head-to-head · October 2026
PiwikCounter vs Simple Download Monitor
Simple Download Monitor comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against PiwikCounter.
PiwikCounter
PiwikCounter is a Counter which needs a Piwik installation under your control. Without it, it won’t work. It…
Simple Download Monitor
I developed the Simple Download Monitor plugin because I needed a nice way to manage my digital downloads and…
| Metric | PiwikCounter | Simple Download Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 20K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 52 | 18.2K |
| Download trend | +48.6% | -5.9% |
| Rating | 3/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Reviews | 1 | 157 |
| Health score | 24/100 | 86/100 |
| Last updated | 15 years ago | 3 weeks ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.1.4 | WP 7.1.2 |
| Support resolved | — | 50% |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | May 2011 | Oct 2009 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
PiwikCounterSimple Download Monitor
Choose PiwikCounter if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 15 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.1 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Simple Download Monitor if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 20K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.7/5 from 157 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 3 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Both compete in: Counter
FAQ
PiwikCounter vs Simple Download Monitor: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
Which is better, PiwikCounter or Simple Download Monitor?
Simple Download Monitor comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against PiwikCounter. Choose PiwikCounter if you care most about download trend. Choose Simple Download Monitor if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is PiwikCounter more popular than Simple Download Monitor?
Simple Download Monitor is the more popular of the two with 20K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for PiwikCounter.
Can I use PiwikCounter and Simple Download Monitor together?
Both plugins cover Counter, 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 PiwikCounter and Simple Download Monitor 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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