BuddyDrive
BuddyDrive lets BuddyPress users upload, manage, and share files and folders from profiles or groups.
Use with caution
BuddyDrive works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 1K+ sites, is rated 4.3/5 and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 50/100 on our health check.
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where BuddyDrive stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| buddypress | >100 |
| files | >100 |
| folders | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 from 47 reviews
About BuddyDrive
From the official readme · v2.1.4Description
BuddyDrive lets BuddyPress users upload, manage, and share files and folders from profiles or groups.
** 2025 UPDATE **
BuddyDrive is now actively maintained once again, with ongoing updates for performance, compatibility, and security.
Let your members upload and share files with ease — right inside your BuddyPress or BuddyBoss community.
BuddyDrive is the simplest way to give users their own personal file storage — and the ability to share files or folders with friends or the wider community. Whether it’s documents, PDFs, images, or other uploads, BuddyDrive keeps everything organized and accessible inside each user’s profile or groups.
This plugin uses the BuddyPress Attachment API for seamless integration, with support for both member profiles and group pages. It’s great for sharing personal files, collaborating in groups, or offering community downloads.
With the free version of BuddyDrive, users can:
- Upload and manage their own files
- Share files publicly, with friends, or keep them private
- Organize uploads into folders
- Control visibility directly within the user or group interface
BuddyDrive is now under active development with regular updates and ongoing support — rebuilt and maintained by a new team committed to making it fast, secure, and compatible with the latest versions of WordPress, BuddyPress, and BuddyBoss.
BuddyPress is available in English, French, Dutch and Brazilian Portuguese.
Need more advanced sharing options?
BuddyDrive Pro adds powerful features like:
- Password-protected file access
- Sharing with specific members or groups
- More flexible content visibility settings
Perfect for communities, educators, private groups, and creators who want to deliver content securely and selectively.
Frequently asked questions
Help! No files show up. What do I do?
Upgrade to version 2.1.4 and run the database upgrade.
How do you upload files in BuddyDrive from the front end?
Click the icon of a file with a plus icon to add a file. You can then click the button to find a file or drag and drop a file into the selected area.
How do you delete files?
Click the edit button in the control panel. Select the file or files you wish to delete. Click the Remove button.
Can you use video and mp3 files?
Yes. Multiple file types are allowed in BuddyDrive. You can edit which filetypes are allowed on the BuddyDrive settings page in the WordPress dashboard.
Is there a limit to how many people I can share files with?
No, you can share access with as many people as you desire.
Can I have more than one folder or folders within folders?
No, currently only one level of directories is allowed.
Can you add ____ feature?
We love hearing your needs, want, desires, and ideas for BuddyPress! Our goal is to provide the product that you need. This questions helps us know what you are looking for in BuddyPress and we try to accommodate these requests via updates as much as possible.
Changelog
Very important: backup your database before upgrading. Requires WP 4.5 & BP 2.5.
2.1.3
- Replaced bp_get_root_domain() to bp_get_root_domain().
- New frontend UI
- Added Freemius
2.1.2
- Removes Freemius from plugin.
2.1.1
- Fixes issue where upgrader wanted to run endlessly.
- Fixes Freemius integration issue.
2.1.0
- Plugin changed ownership, updated files to reflect this.
- Integrated Freemius Insights to better serve users.
- Fixed issue where database upgrade wasn’t possible, thereby breaking plugin on upgrade to 2.x.x series.
2.0.0
- !important Requires WordPress 4.5 and BuddyPress 2.5.
- Use custom post status to set a file or folder privacy.
- Completely revamped UI (Backbone/Underscore).
- Multiple file uploads.
- Share a file into multiple groups.
- Directly upload new files or create new folders from the current group.
- Share files or folders with specific members you select.
- Real shared folders.
- Search.
- Detailed user statistics.
1.3.4
- Prevents an error when the downloaded file size is bigger than the WP memory limit (props bentasm1).
- Improve the way the Groups selectbox is populated and include a new filter to eventually restrict the groups the user can share an item into.
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best BuddyDrive alternatives
All buddypress plugins →
FAQ
BuddyDrive: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 10, 2026
Is BuddyDrive free?
Yes. BuddyDrive is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is BuddyDrive safe to use in 2026?
BuddyDrive works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 1K+ sites, is rated 4.3/5 and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 50/100 on our health check.
How many websites use BuddyDrive?
BuddyDrive is active on 1K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 242,606 times since it launched in April 2013. It was downloaded 435 times in the last 30 days.
Does BuddyDrive work with WordPress 7.1?
BuddyDrive is officially tested up to WordPress 6.8.11, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does BuddyDrive need?
BuddyDrive requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was BuddyDrive last updated?
The latest version, 2.1.4, was released on June 3, 2025 (1 year ago).
Who makes BuddyDrive?
BuddyDrive is developed and maintained by Themekraft.
What are the best alternatives to BuddyDrive?
The most popular alternatives to BuddyDrive are Better Messages (10K+ installs), rtMedia for WordPress, Budd… (7K+ installs) and BuddyPress Docs (6K+ installs).
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