What is FileDeck? Free & Pro

FileDeck is a document library plugin for WordPress. It turns your files — PDFs, forms, policies, minutes, reports — into a searchable, organized library that visitors can browse on any page of your site. The free version is available on wordpress.org, and FileDeck Pro adds access control, file protection, and reporting on top.

What FileDeck does

FileDeck gives you a Documents menu in wp-admin where each file becomes a document with a title, optional description and featured image, and hierarchical categories and tags. You can drag and drop a file straight onto a document or pick one from the Media Library; the file size, type, and filename are captured automatically.

On the front end, a library displays those documents in one of four layouts:

• Table — sortable columns (click a header to sort) such as title, date, size, type, and a download link.
• Grid — card-style tiles with featured images, suited to visual collections.
• Gallery — large thumbnails front and centre, for image-led and design-led collections.
• Folders — collapsible categories that visitors expand like a file explorer.

Every layout includes instant search-as-you-type, multi-select filters for category and tag, and page numbers, load more or infinite scroll. Libraries are server-rendered with progressive enhancement, so they work with any theme and stay fast without configuration.

You place a library with the Document Library Gutenberg block (live preview, layout picker, columns and category scoping) or the [filedeck] shortcode. FileDeck also creates a ready-made "Document Library" page when you activate it.

Beyond the library itself, FileDeck can search inside file contents — with OCR for scanned PDFs — and can optionally add AI semantic search and an "Ask this library" chat widget, using your own AI provider key. Review cycles, email digests for subscribers, and an approval workflow keep the library current, while a weekly health scan and an activity log with a content-gap report show you what is broken, stale, or missing.

Who FileDeck is for

Any organization that publishes documents: schools sharing forms and newsletters, councils publishing agendas and minutes, clinics posting patient information, law and accounting firms sharing resources with clients, nonprofits, manufacturers with spec sheets — anywhere visitors need to find the right file quickly.

Free vs Pro in short

The free version covers the full publishing workflow: unlimited documents, all four layouts, search, filters, the block and shortcode, a standalone search box, external file links, color and column controls, and download counting. Pro (from $59/yr) adds access control by role or password, true file protection with expiring signed download links, CSV import and export, automatic version history, auto-expiry dates, multi-select zip downloads, inline previews, download logs and reports, and lead capture. See the full breakdown in Free vs Pro.

Where to go next

Try the live demo to click through the layouts before installing anything, download FileDeck free from wordpress.org (or search for "FileDeck" under Plugins → Add New), then follow the quick start to publish your first library in about five minutes. Full instructions are in install and activate FileDeck.

FAQ

Does FileDeck work with my theme?

Yes. Libraries are server-rendered standard markup and inherit your theme’s typography, and FileDeck ships accent color and layout controls to match your branding.

Do visitors need an account to download files?

No. By default any visitor can search and download. Restricting downloads by role or password is a Pro feature.

Can I try FileDeck before buying Pro?

Yes. Install the free version from wordpress.org, explore the live demo, and if you upgrade, Pro comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.