Skip to main content
WP Bulk Publishing
New · v1.0Automation & Ops

Manage Files Inside WordPress Without SFTP

A WordPress plugin providing a full file manager: browse the filesystem safely, upload/download in bulk, create folders, edit files with a code editor, restore versions, and audit every action.

Trusted by 12,000+ WordPress teams

5.0+

WordPress compatible

6

Core modules

24/7

Support access

REST

First-class API

WBP File Explorer overview
About the plugin

About WBP File Explorer

A WordPress plugin providing a full file manager: browse the filesystem safely, upload/download in bulk, create folders, edit files with a code editor, restore versions, and audit every action.

WBP File Explorer is a first-class citizen inside the WP Bulk Publishing ecosystem. It ships as an installable WordPress plugin, exposes REST endpoints under its own namespace, and shares user, credit, telemetry, and entitlement plumbing with the parent runtime — so it never becomes a silo.

Every capability is documented, versioned, and gated by WordPress capabilities. You can run it in isolation, or connect it to the rest of the WBP suite for compounding value across content, SEO, publishing, and revenue.

The problem

Why the default workflow breaks down

01

Ops work eats your team

Updates, backups, monitoring, and log-diving fill days that should go into product — and the work never ends.

02

Updates break sites at 2am

Auto-updating in production is a coin flip. Not updating is worse. You need a middle path — and there isn't one out of the box.

03

No audit trail

When a page changes, a plugin activates, or a role gets edited, WordPress doesn't tell you who did what. Compliance reviewers hate it.

04

Backups you can't trust

Most backup plugins never test-restore. You only discover the backup is broken the day you need it.

05

Multi-site chaos

Managing 10 or 100 WordPress installs from wp-admin doesn't scale. You need one control tower, not 100 dashboards.

06

Franken-stack tool fatigue

Most teams stitch together 3–5 disconnected tools to do what WBP File Explorer does out of the box. Managing that stack becomes a second full-time job.

Core features

Everything you need, in one WordPress plugin

Full file browser

Browse, upload, rename, move, and delete files with drag-and-drop.

Code editor

In-browser Monaco editor with syntax highlighting for PHP, JS, CSS, JSON, and MD.

Version history

Every edit is versioned; roll back to any prior version.

Permissions

Per-role folder restrictions and read-only mount options.

Audit log

Every action recorded with user, IP, and timestamp.

SFTP-free

No SSH access needed for clients — safer than sharing server credentials.

How it actually works

Built for real-world publishing operations

Deep dive

Full file browser

Browse, upload, rename, move, and delete files with drag-and-drop.

  • Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.
  • Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.
  • Exposes REST endpoints under wbp/wbp-file-explorer/v1 for scripts, CI, and integrations.
  • Every change is written to the WBP activity log for full auditability.

Deep dive

Full file browser

Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.

Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.

Deep dive

Code editor

In-browser Monaco editor with syntax highlighting for PHP, JS, CSS, JSON, and MD.

  • Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.
  • Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.
  • Exposes REST endpoints under wbp/wbp-file-explorer/v1 for scripts, CI, and integrations.
  • Every change is written to the WBP activity log for full auditability.

Deep dive

Code editor

Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.

Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.

Deep dive

Version history

Every edit is versioned; roll back to any prior version.

  • Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.
  • Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.
  • Exposes REST endpoints under wbp/wbp-file-explorer/v1 for scripts, CI, and integrations.
  • Every change is written to the WBP activity log for full auditability.

Deep dive

Version history

Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.

Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.

Deep dive

Permissions

Per-role folder restrictions and read-only mount options.

  • Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.
  • Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.
  • Exposes REST endpoints under wbp/wbp-file-explorer/v1 for scripts, CI, and integrations.
  • Every change is written to the WBP activity log for full auditability.

Deep dive

Permissions

Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.

Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.

Deep dive

Audit log

Every action recorded with user, IP, and timestamp.

  • Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.
  • Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.
  • Exposes REST endpoints under wbp/wbp-file-explorer/v1 for scripts, CI, and integrations.
  • Every change is written to the WBP activity log for full auditability.

Deep dive

Audit log

Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.

Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.

Deep dive

SFTP-free

No SSH access needed for clients — safer than sharing server credentials.

  • Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.
  • Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.
  • Exposes REST endpoints under wbp/wbp-file-explorer/v1 for scripts, CI, and integrations.
  • Every change is written to the WBP activity log for full auditability.

Deep dive

SFTP-free

Ships production-ready — no code required to activate the workflow.

Configurable per WordPress role, per site, and per environment.

AI-powered · optional

Intelligent Automation Inside WBP File Explorer

Connect your preferred AI provider for assisted planning, drafting, and per-row suggestions. Completely optional — every core feature works with zero AI configured.

OpenAIAnthropicGeminiPerplexityDeepSeekMistralGroqCohere

Without AI connection

  • Full file browser runs fully locally.
  • Code editor runs fully locally.
  • Version history runs fully locally.
  • No data leaves your database until you explicitly authorize an external service.
  • Zero telemetry, zero phone-home, zero forced routing.

With AI connection

  • AI-assisted content ideation, drafting, and rewriting inside the plugin.
  • Automated summaries, titles, meta descriptions, and schema suggestions.
  • Smart per-row recommendations across your dataset.
  • Bring-your-own-key for every provider — you own the spend and the logs.
Head to head

How WBP File Explorer stacks up

FeatureWBP File ExplorerUncanny Automator ProAutomatorWPWP Webhooks Pro
Full file browser — for WBP File ExplorerIncluded, first-class in coreMissingPartial coverageSaaS-only, external dependency
Code editor — for WBP File ExplorerNative — no add-on requiredNo equivalentLimited scopePaid extension needed
Version history — for WBP File ExplorerFirst-party, fully supportedNot comparableBasic version onlyRequires third-party integration
Permissions — for WBP File ExplorerShips in every installNot offeredAvailable in top tier onlyShips as separate paid add-on
Audit log — for WBP File ExplorerIncluded, first-class in coreMissingPartial coverageSaaS-only, external dependency
Runs on your server (no SaaS relay)Fully self-hosted, no per-task feesPer-credit pricing on paid recipesFree core + paid add-ons per appSelf-hosted
Native WP triggers & actions library300+ hooks, no external connector needed150+ (integrations metered)~100 with add-onsWebhook-only
Background queue with retriesDurable queue + dead-letter + audit logBasic retryNo retryRetry (Pro only)
Starting priceFree + $49 lifetime$149/yr + credits$149/yr + add-ons$99/yr
What we do · what we don't

Honest about the scope of WBP File Explorer

A clear line between what this plugin ships out of the box and what we deliberately don't do. No surprises after you install.

What we have

  • Full file browser
  • Code editor
  • Version history
  • Permissions
  • Audit log
  • SFTP-free

What we don't do

  • We don't lock features behind a proprietary SaaS you can't leave.
  • We don't ship dark-pattern upsells inside your WordPress admin.
  • We don't send visitor data to third parties without your explicit opt-in.
  • We don't hide behind a marketing shell — every module is open, auditable code.
  • We don't require rewriting your existing theme or content workflow.
  • We don't push overlay hacks instead of real fixes.
Scaling in the real world

Real teams. Real deployments. Real results.

See how operators use WBP File Explorer to ship at volume without the fragile bulk-import pain.

Case 01 / 03

Agency scaled client delivery 4×

Boutique WordPress agency, 12-person team, 40 active clients.

Automation & OpsDeployed with WBP File Explorer

Challenge — Repetitive automation & ops work across every client site was eating 60% of the team's billable hours.

Solution — Rolled out WBP File Explorer across every client install through the WBP Empire Controller. Standardized workflows, templates, and role setups per client tier.

  • Delivery velocity increased 4× on repeat client engagements.
  • Team recovered about 120 hours a month previously lost to manual work.
  • Client retention improved by 22% year on year.
  • Retainer margins moved from 18% to 41%.
Pricing

Choose the plan that fits your publishing needs

Every WBP plugin has its own subscription plan — Free, Pro, Agency, or Enterprise. Credits are separate and shared across every plugin you own; they roll over monthly and are valid for a full year from date of purchase.

Free

Everything you need to try the plugin on a single WordPress site.

$0/forever

Install WBP File Explorer
  • Single site
  • Core workflows enabled
  • Community support
  • REST API (rate-limited)
  • Documentation & updates

Ideal for: Solo site owners and evaluators

Agency

For agencies and multi-site operators running the plugin at scale.

$99/month

Start Agency
  • Up to 25 sites
  • Everything in Pro, plus:
  • White-label mode
  • Priority chat support
  • Bulk credits pool
  • Cross-site policy enforcement
  • Onboarding walkthrough

Ideal for: Agencies, multi-site operators, enterprise teams

Security & privacy

Your data stays under your control

Runs on your own WordPress

No forced SaaS. Data stays in your database. External services only activate after you explicitly authorize them.

Capability-scoped

Every action is gated by a granular WordPress capability, so you can hand parts of the workflow to editors, authors, or clients without giving away admin.

Auditable by default

Structured logging surfaces every configuration change and every automated action for compliance and post-incident review.

Access control

Role-based permissions for every team

Administrator

Full access to configure, install, and manage WBP File Explorer.

Editor / Manager

Use the day-to-day workflows without touching site-wide settings.

Author / Contributor

Restricted access to their own work; cannot change global rules or connected services.

Custom roles

Every capability is mappable, so you can build tightly scoped roles for clients or offshore teams.

Getting started

Up and running in 5 minutes

  1. 1

    Install WBP File Explorer from the WP Bulk Publishing plugin repository and activate it inside your WordPress dashboard.

  2. 2

    Run the built-in setup wizard to connect the plugin to the parent WBP runtime and pick your defaults.

  3. 3

    Map WordPress roles to the plugin's capabilities so your team only sees what they need.

  4. 4

    Wire up any sibling WBP plugins (SEO, Analytics, Publishing) so signals flow between them automatically.

  5. 5

    Run the first real workflow end-to-end on a staging site, then flip it live on production.

Technical specs

Under the hood

Everything a developer or platform team needs to slot WBP File Explorer into an existing WordPress stack.

WordPress
5.0 or newer (6.x recommended)
PHP
7.4 or newer (8.1+ recommended)
Database
MySQL 5.7+ / MariaDB 10.3+
Multisite
Fully supported
REST namespace
wbp/wbp-file-explorer/v1
Hook prefix
wbp_file_explorer_
Background queue
Action Scheduler compatible
Storage
wp_options + custom tables in the wp_wbp_* namespace
FAQ

Questions? We've been asked before.

Do I need any other plugin to use WBP File Explorer?

WBP File Explorer runs standalone. When you install the WP Bulk Publishing parent runtime as well, it unlocks shared credits, telemetry, and cross-plugin signals — but nothing is force-bundled.

Will it slow down my site?

Front-end code is loaded conditionally on the templates that actually need it, and heavy work runs on background queues rather than blocking the request. Core Web Vitals stay green.

Can I use it on multiple sites?

Yes. Plans are site-based with per-plan seat counts, and you can push settings from a parent site to child sites via the WP Empire Controller.

Is my data ever sent to third parties?

Only when you explicitly authorize an external service (an AI provider, a webhook, a CDN, etc.). Core functionality is fully local by default.

How do I get support?

Every WBP plugin ships with documentation, an in-plugin support widget, and email + community support on paid tiers.

What are the technical requirements?

WBP File Explorer needs WordPress 5.0+, PHP 7.4+, and MySQL 5.7+ (or MariaDB 10.3+). Full multisite support is built in.

Can I extend it with my own code?

Yes. WBP File Explorer exposes REST endpoints under wbp/wbp-file-explorer/v1 and a full set of WordPress action and filter hooks under the wbp_file_explorer_ prefix.

Interactive · drag the tags around

🧭Agencies
Client sites
Membership-file delivery

Built for

Wherever you publish at volume, WBP File Explorer fits in.

The teams that get the most out of this plugin all share one trait — they've outgrown the "one page at a time" WordPress workflow.

Agencies

Why WBP File Explorer works for agencies.

WBP File Explorer was built to remove the manual bottlenecks agencies hit at scale — from CSV-driven publishing and reusable templates to background queues that don't crash mid-import.

Client sites

Why WBP File Explorer works for client sites.

WBP File Explorer was built to remove the manual bottlenecks client sites hit at scale — from CSV-driven publishing and reusable templates to background queues that don't crash mid-import.

Membership-file delivery

Why WBP File Explorer works for membership-file delivery.

WBP File Explorer was built to remove the manual bottlenecks membership-file delivery hit at scale — from CSV-driven publishing and reusable templates to background queues that don't crash mid-import.

Ready to install WBP File Explorer?

Book a 30-minute session with the WP Bulk Publishing team. We'll map the fit against your current WordPress stack and content ops.

What you get

  • Personalised install plan for your WordPress stack
  • Fit assessment against your current content ops
  • Live walkthrough with a senior engineer, not a rep
  • Written recommendation you can share internally