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5 Top WordPress Media Library Plugins to Sort Your Files

In this article, we've put together five of your top choices, and the majority of them offer free versions. We'll be able to get to those plugins as soon as we can. First, we'll need to define a quick concept of how these plugins function to organize the contents of your Media Library.

Virtual WordPress Media Folders vs Real Media Folders Key Differentiation
In the case of WordPress Media Library folder plugins There are two kinds of folders:

Real folders
Virtual folders
What are the real WordPress Media Folders?
The real media folder is linked to the folder structure that is on the WordPress web server. If you transfer a file to a new real media folder, it will alter the location of the file within your site's servers ( and the URL will also change).

This can be useful in certain circumstances, but there's a major issue:

If you modify the folder of a file, it can change the URL of that file and destroy all instances of the image that are currently in use.

What is Virtual WordPress Media Folders?
The virtual media folders can be described as WordPress media files that do not have any connection to the actual structure of your folders within your WordPress server. Instead, they offer an intuitive way to manage files in your WordPress dashboard, without altering the structure of the folders on your server.

Technically speaking, "virtual" WordPress media folders simply assign subcategories and categories to individual images, just as you assign an article into one category or another. The WordPress plugin allows you to navigate through the categories and subcategories using a user-friendly, intuitive view of the folder - which is why the folders are "virtual".

The benefit of this virtual approach is that it allows you to transfer files around as many times as you like without worrying about altering the URLs of your files. You can also add the same image to multiple folders, without the need to duplicate the image on your server as you would do with actual folders.

Five of the Best WordPress Media Library Folders and Organization Plugins
1. Filebird is a very popular choice to create multimedia folders with a contemporary interface. It doesn't come with a long list of features. It's an easy way to manage your Media Library with virtual folders.

Key Features
Makes media files virtual on infinite levels.
Modern drag-and-drop interface with right-click capabilities.
Bulk select the files you want to drag and drop.
Search/filter files.
Interface
FileBird offers a modern interface, fast speed. You can drag files individually or use the bulk selection feature to move several files:
Pricing
FileBird offers an almost fully-featured free version available at WordPress.org. The main limitation is, however, it's free and lets you create 10 files ( and the Pro version comes with advanced sorting options, as well as additional options).

2. Media Library Folders / Media Library Folders Pro
Media Library Folders are a well-known option to work with authentic Media folders. That's right, the plugin allows you to browse and control the folder layout of media files stored on your WordPress website's server.

Additionally, you'll have advanced options, including the capability to upload/manage files and folders using FTP in addition to synchronizing these modifications to the interface for the plugin inside Your WordPress dashboard.

If you do require actual WordPress folders This is certainly one of the best options.

Key Features
Create folders for media that are real.
Organize your files with drag-and-drop.
The option to copy or move the file ( copying lets you move a file into the new folder without breaking embeds already in place).
It is possible to sync your folders with your server after you upload files using FTP.
Create dynamic galleries using the images contained within the folder.
Transfer media files offloading into Amazon S3 or DigitalOcean Spaces while keeping the structure of your folder ( requires premium)
Interface
Media Library Folders uses a drag-and-drop interface for folders, just like the one you use on your computer. You can view the actual media folders in the image below. Note the way that Media Library Folders is able to recognize the default WordPress file structure.
Pricing
Media Library Folders has a free version available at WordPress.org. This version is free and lets you arrange the media files you have in your library, but doesn't allow you to browse those folders when inserting images using your WordPress editor.
To achieve that, and gain access to additional high-end features like offloading to S3/Spaces

3. the WP Media Folder
WP Media Folder is a premium Media Library plugin from JoomUnited. It's among the most richly-featured options which is the reason it should be on this list, even it doesn't have a free version.

One of the most advanced features is the capability to sync it to Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, and more. You can keep the same folder structure, and even upload files. For instance, you can upload an image onto Google Drive and then access the file through the dashboard of your WordPress dashboard, all the while maintaining the same structure of your folder as Google Drive.

It also comes with a unique mix of real and virtual media folders. Although the program creates virtual folders for media as default it offers the option to transfer and sync folders from your server you've uploaded using FTP and keep the structure of your folder. You can also transfer your virtual folders into real files on the server.

Key Features
The software creates virtual media folders automatically.
Modern, drag-and-drop interface.
Alternative to convert virtual folders into actual media folders that you can store on your servers.
Import folders and files from your server, which you've uploaded through FTP.
Connect to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Photos, and Amazon S3.
Many sorting and filter options.
Create galleries using folder items.
Include videos hosted remotely as Media Library items. This can be great for your knowledge base if have tutorials hosted on YouTube or Vimeo. This allows you to quickly organize them along with your images and easily search for them when you need them.
Interface
WP Media Folder has an extremely user-friendly and modern interface. You can drag individual files, or bulk select files. You'll be able color-code folders to improve organization. You are able to access the same interface when you insert media into your WordPress editor.

4. Folders
Folders is another well-known free tool that lets you make use of virtual folders for organizations. It's similar to the FileBird plugin, however, it has one distinct advantage in it that its free edition allows you to make unlimited folders (while the FileBird free version restricts your folders to 10). You'll require an upgrade to the Pro Version to build subfolders.

Key Features
Make virtual folders for media.
Modern drag-and-drop interface.
Bulk chooses multiple files to drag and drop.
Filter and search files when necessary.
Organize posts, pages, custom post types (e.g. knowledgebase articles), and other blocks that can be reused in groups (in conjunction with Media Library items).
Interface
Folders' interface is modern which resembles FileBird. However, it does not have right-click support.

You are also able to access folders when working within WordPress editor.
Pricing
The free version of Folders is designed to work for all websites however unless you're required to create subfolders. This requires an upgrade to the Pro version. The Pro version is also equipped with advanced features like duplicating the folders and locking them sticking important folders or starring them and much more.

5. Enhanced Media Library
Enhanced Media Library is a well-known option to arrange the WordPress Media LIbrary items using tags and categories. This is basically similar to virtual folder plugins. It does not take the additional step of showing everything in a visually appealing view of your folder.

In the alternative, you must manually tag images with tags and then filter them with drop-downs.

One benefit of Enhanced Media Library is that you can create your own categories or taxonomies ( custom categories or tags) and make use of multiple different categories to arrange your file. This gives you more freedom than using the folder approach.

Key Features
Organize media content by using endless categories and tags or even custom taxonomies.
Utilize drop-down filters to sort media items by tag, category as well as author.
Re-order images using drag-and-drop.
Automatically categorize items based on the kind of post the item was uploaded to. For instance, automatically categorize photos that you upload to knowledgebase articles.
Interface
Also, Enhanced Media Library doesn't display an interface for folders. Instead, it allows you to assign tags and categories to your images in this manner: You can either assign categories individually or batch select multiple images.

Which is the best WordPress Media Library Plugin for Organization?
The next question is Which plugin do you need to use to manage the contents of your WordPress Media Library?

It all is dependent on your requirements.

The free version of FileBird lets users create parent folders as well as subfolders. However, you can only create 10 folders, unless you purchase.
Folders allow you to create unlimited folders, however, it isn't possible to create subfolders until you pay.

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