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Comparison · WordPress Folders

Folderly vs FileBird — honest comparison

Two WordPress plugins, both built around virtual folders that don’t change your file URLs. FileBird is the established choice — 1,111 reviews on WordPress.org and 200,000+ active installs since 2018. Folderly is the newer, lighter alternative, released in October 2024, with one feature FileBird gates behind Pro: folders for posts and pages in the free tier. Both are GPL, and both ship an importer that lets you switch later without rebuilding your folder structure. This page lays out where each one wins so you can pick the right tool for your site.

Free downloadSee FileBird on WordPress.org

At a glance

Verifiable facts pulled from the public WordPress.org listings on (2026-11-10).

FeatureFolderlyFileBird
WordPress.org rating5.0 ★ (1 review)4.7 ★ (1,111 reviews)
Active installs30+200,000+
First releasedOctober 2024July 2018
Free version — unlimited foldersYes — subfolders in ProYes
Virtual folders (URLs unchanged)YesYes
Folders for posts, pages, and CPTsPosts & pages free; CPTs & WooCommerce in ProPro only
Import from other folder plugins12 plugins incl. FileBird, Real Media Library, HappyFiles, Wicked FoldersReal Media Library, HappyFiles, JoomUnited, others
Page builder integrationsElementor, Divi, Beaver, Bricks, Brizy, +7 moreElementor, Divi, Visual Composer, +many
Gallery blockNot yetYes (Gutenberg block)
Document library addonNot yetYes (separate plugin)
Tree-view themes (Dropbox / Win11 styling)Not yetPro
REST API for developersYesYes
GPL-licensed free version on WordPress.orgYesYes

Pricing intentionally not shown — both products evolve their pricing pages, and you should compare current rates directly on Folderly’s site and FileBird’s site.

Which one should you pick?

Choose Folderly if

  • You want folders for posts and pages in the free version, without buying Pro.
  • You're starting fresh and prefer a smaller, simpler plugin with a clean codebase.
  • You're currently on FileBird and want a migration path that preserves your folder structure — and can be undone.
  • You run WooCommerce, JetEngine, ACF, Pods, Toolset, or Meta Box and want folders for those CPTs for a one-time Pro payment.
  • You value modern Gutenberg-first design over feature breadth.

Choose FileBird if

  • You want the most established option with 200,000+ installs and 1,111 reviews behind it.
  • You need the FileBird Gallery Gutenberg block for displaying folder contents on the frontend.
  • You publish documents and want the FileBird Document Library addon out of the box.
  • You use a premium theme (Avada, Divi, Salient, Flatsome, Uncode, etc.) and want vendor-tested integrations.
  • You want Pro features like Dropbox/Windows-11-style tree-view themes or download-folder-as-ZIP.

Migration

Switching from FileBird to Folderly

Folderly’s importer handles FileBird along with 11 other folder plugins. It reads FileBird’s database tables, recreates the folder hierarchy in Folderly, and reassigns each item — media, posts, or pages — to its matching folder. Re-running it is safe: folders already imported are skipped. File URLs are untouched — both plugins use virtual folders, so nothing on the public side of your site changes.

Practical steps:

  1. Back up your database (always a good idea before touching media).
  2. Install Folderly. FileBird can stay active during the import — or not; the importer reads its data either way.
  3. Open Settings → Folderly → Import, tick the post types you want to bring over from FileBird (media, posts, pages), and run the import.
  4. Review the imported folder tree in the WordPress media library.
  5. Once you’re happy, deactivate FileBird.

If anything looks wrong, click Undoon that post type’s row — it removes only the folders the import created, never folders you made yourself. Your original FileBird data isn’t touched. The importer is read-only on the FileBird side.

Frequently asked questions

Is Folderly a good FileBird alternative?
Folderly is a newer, lighter alternative to FileBird, built around the same core idea of virtual folders that don't change your file URLs. It's a strong pick if you want folders for posts and pages in the free tier (FileBird gates that behind Pro), or if you prefer a smaller plugin footprint. FileBird remains the most established option in the category with 1,111 reviews and 200,000+ active installs.
Will I lose my folders if I switch from FileBird to Folderly?
No. Folderly's importer reads FileBird's folders for media, posts, and pages — FileBird doesn't even need to be active. Your folder hierarchy, file assignments, and naming all carry over, re-running the import is safe, and an Undo per post type removes only the folders the import created. File URLs do not change — both plugins use virtual folders, so your existing image and document permalinks keep working.
Does Folderly change my media file URLs?
No. Folderly uses virtual folders, the same approach FileBird uses. Files stay in /wp-content/uploads/ on disk; the folder structure is metadata stored in the database. Moving a file between folders does not change its URL, so SEO links and embedded images continue to work.
Can Folderly organize WooCommerce products and custom post types?
Yes, with Folderly Pro. The free version covers media, posts, and pages; WooCommerce products and any other custom post type (JetEngine, ACF, Pods, Toolset, Meta Box) need Pro — a one-time payment rather than a yearly licence. FileBird's post-type support also requires its Pro license.
Which plugin is faster?
Both plugins are designed to scale to thousands of files. FileBird has a longer track record at scale (six years of optimization across 200,000+ installs). Real-world performance depends more on your hosting, database, and page builder than on the plugin choice.
Should I just use FileBird?
If you want the most mature ecosystem with the deepest premium-theme and page-builder integrations, the FileBird gallery block, the document library addon, and the Pro tree-view themes — yes, FileBird is the safer pick. If you want a simpler, lighter plugin with post and page folders included free, a one-time-payment Pro tier, and a clear migration path off FileBird later, Folderly is the better starting point.

See also

Other Folderly comparisons

Picking a WordPress folder plugin is rarely a two-horse race. Here’s how Folderly stacks up against the rest of the category.

Try Folderly free, upgrade when you’re ready

The free version is on WordPress.org. Folderly Pro is a one-time payment of $49 for a single site, with lifetime updates and a 7-day money-back guarantee.

Free downloadSee full pricing