WordPress is blessed with tons of developers creating plugins and themes for the platform. As a user, you benefit from the quick installation of the styles you need on your website.
Most WordPress plugins run on a freemium model, where you can access some features for free, but others are only available through a premium subscription or purchase.
In this article, I will quickly review the PluginsforWP platform, which serves as a marketplace to get WordPress items at a fraction of the price.
Note: Ensure you check out my collection of the best GPL websites to know PluginsforWP’s current position in the industry.
Best GPL sites on Medium (disregard :)).
Table of Contents
Understanding WordPress GPL Themes and Plugins
Before we can understand what PluginsforWP is, we first need to understand WordPress GPL.
What exactly is GPL on WordPress?
GPL is an open-source software license used mainly by open-source applications, including WordPress, to freely showcase their work and its derivatives.
The GPL (General Public License) gives users four main freedoms:
- Use the software for any purpose.
- Access and modify the software’s source code.
- Distribute the original software to help others.
- Share modified versions under the same GPL terms.
Let me carefully dissect these four freedoms that come with the GPL license.
The first freedom is the ability to use the software for any purpose. That’s self-explanatory.
The second freedom is to access and modify the software’s source code. This lets users of WordPress plugins and themes interact with the source code of the software and alter it however they want.
The third freedom is to distribute the original software to help others. This takes it a little further. Aside from interacting with and modifying the source code, users are also allowed to share any software from WordPress just like the actual developers do on their websites.
Normally, when a GPL product is shared, it retains the same privileges. The fourth freedom says that even when modified by users, the altered version will still fall under the same terms (i.e., the four freedoms being explained).
What do these freedoms mean for actual developers?
Unfortunately, if you want to build for WordPress, you must comply with the four freedoms that have made the platform what it is today.
As a developer, you agree to the fact that anything you’re releasing on WordPress isn’t only your own. Others can distribute your product in their name freely and legally.
What’s PluginsforWP?
PluginsforWP is a platform that offers GPL-licensed WordPress themes and plugins at an affordable price. It provides access to a wide range of premium WordPress products that users can download and use on unlimited websites.
It’s one of the largest GPL sites in terms of library size; with over 10,000 products (and still growing), PluginsforWP is gradually becoming a go-to source for everything WordPress GPL.
In our review of PluginsforWP, we would like to address two primary concerns first:
- How safe is PluginsforWP
- Are the Products on PluginsforWP up-to-date?
1. How Safe is PluginsforWP?
PluginsforWP claims to offer GPL-licensed software that isn’t modified. We’ll check if that is true here.
To test this, we downloaded a bunch of products from the platform and scanned them using the VirusTotal scanner for scrutiny.
Coincidentally, we didn’t find any threats.
We then uploaded these plugins to our site, and most of them worked perfectly.
However, 2% of the plugins we downloaded (maybe because the demand is low) had two issues.
The first issue is that the version from the site isn’t a premium version (just the regular one from WordPress.org).
The second issue is that some of the plugins (with low demand) aren’t up-to-date. They are several versions behind the current release.
I contacted their customer support regarding the products that didn’t work, and thankfully, they were responsive. They uploaded the recent versions of some products and refunded me for the ones they couldn’t fix.
I have also confirmed that the platform is dealing with GPL-licensed products only, sourced from WordPress developers.
In short, PluginsforWP is one of the safest GPL platforms where you can download WordPress themes and plugins.
2. Are the Products on PluginsforWP up-to-date?
As mentioned earlier, less than 2% of the themes and plugins I downloaded are out-of-date.
If you’re looking for popular products, you can be assured that you’ll find the latest versions. However, if you’re looking for a solution that only a few people download each month, it may not be as current.
The simple trick to getting the best version is to compare GPL platforms to see where they currently stand and then choose the most up-to-date item.
You can see our list of the best WordPress GPL sites. Compare them for the best rates and versions.
In our review of PluginsforWP, we found it to be one of the best platforms that prioritize consistent updates.
Their vendor program also contributes to this.
When the platform isn’t the only one uploading GPL products, there is a high chance of finding even less demanded items, if not in their latest versions.
More about the vendor program below.
Features that set PluginsforWP apart
1. Automatic updates from their Plugin Manager on WordPress
PluginsforWP is one of the few GPL platforms that provide the capability to perform automatic updates directly on WordPress. This is made possible thanks to its plugin manager, which you can download from the platform.
2. Version Control
Out of the many GPL themes and plugins websites, less than 2% allow users to revert to older versions. This feature is vital when considering the nature of GPL products distributed by these sites.
At times, the latest version may not work properly. In this case, you can use other versions in the meantime.
3. Vendor Program
PluginsforWP has a vendor program where users can even earn money as if they are running their own GPL site.
It works like this: Users submit the premium version of the software (as they have obtained from actual developers), and then the team at PluginsforWP reviews them for authenticity and potentially approves them.
If approved, the software is stored on the server and made available for everyone to download.
When people download your item, PluginsforWP pays you a commission.
This can be seen as another way to run a GPL site, especially for those who don’t have big budgets.
PluginsForWP Alternatives and Competitors
There are countless alternatives to PluginsForWP. GPL sites pop up every day. Here are the best ones currently available:
- Festinger Vault, the biggest GPL marketplace for WordPress themes and plugins (25,000+ products) | Visit site
- Srmehranclub, a GPL site that offers solutions beyond WordPress (33,500+ products in total, 17,500+ for WordPress) | Visit site
- WorldPressIT, the best WordPress GPL site for single-download preferences (3,500+ products) | Visit site.
PluginsforWP Pricing
In our review of PluginsforWP, we found two pricing plans: the single-download option (starting from $4.99) and a membership subscription (starting from $14.50/month).
Here is the pricing in full:
- $4.99 per item
- $14.50/month for unlimited downloads (20 downloads/day)
- $99.50/year for unlimited downloads (50 downloads/day)
- $399 for lifetime access (100 downloads/day)
PluginsforWP Review: Pros and Cons
Here are the things I liked about PluginsforWP and what I disliked about it.
PluginsforWP Pros
- Premium WordPress plugins and themes at 97% off
- Great for short-term usage and testing of products without paying the original price
PluginsforWP Cons
- No pay-as-you-go pricing
- Unpopular products don’t receive updates as frequently
- Delays in updates generally
Conclusion
PluginsforWP is one of the few GPL clubs moving forward in the act of redistributing WordPress plugins and themes.
A lot of GPL platforms have closed, and some of them are not consistent with releasing new products or updates.
For that reason, the platform appeared in our collection of the best GPL sites.
Its website design suggests how safe they are to use.
Overall, PluginsforWP is a legit place to get WordPress products for short-term use and testing purposes.
Anything beyond that makes the platform, along with others, less honest. That’s why it’s advisable to download from the actual developers.
If we continue to get products from GPL distributors, the real value of WordPress will eventually diminish.
FAQs
Is PluginsforWP safe?
The platform is probably safe to use, but always expect the worst. Make sure to run downloaded files through scanners like VirusTotal before uploading them to your site.
Why are GPL themes and plugins less commonly discussed?
The GPL topic is a sensitive area in WordPress. It’s the last thing a developer will discuss since it can undermine their work.
Which site is considered the top choice for GPL WordPress themes and plugins?
To find the best site overall for WordPress themes and plugins, visit our collection: The best sites for WordPress GPL products.
We don’t want to disclose the top choice here because the industry is ever-changing, and rankings can change anytime. To maintain up-to-date information, we decided to only include it in our comprehensive guide.
Is it legal to sell GPL-licensed software?
Yes, it is.
You can sell GPL-licensed software without any legal issues.
Why do most GPL club owners keep their identities private?
There’s a stigma associated with redistributing developers’ products as your own, even when the law allows it. That’s why most of them don’t reveal their identities.
What’s your advice? Should I use a GPL site or the developer’s site?
Ultimately, the decision is yours.
But I always advise getting products from the actual developers. By doing so, you’re supporting their work, and in turn, you receive consistent updates and customer support.
