{"id":8532,"date":"2023-11-01T01:09:05","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T23:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themeisle.com\/blog\/?p=8532"},"modified":"2024-01-10T20:53:42","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T18:53:42","slug":"wordpress-activity-logs-plugins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themeisle.com\/blog\/wordpress-activity-logs-plugins\/","title":{"rendered":"We Compared 4 WordPress Activity Logs Plugins: Our Results"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re running a WordPress site with multiple contributors or a lot of activity, you\u2019ll want to stay in the loop about what happens and when on your site. The problem is that keeping track of every change manually is basically impossible if you run an active website. That\u2019s where activity log plugins come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Activity logs enable you to take note of everything important that happens on your WordPress site and store that information until you need it. If you run into any errors or someone makes a mistake, a log can point you in the right direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83e\uddb8 In this article, we’ll introduce you to four of our favorite WordPress activity log plugins<\/a>, and help you choose the right one for your needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t \t\tCheck out the best #WordPress activity log #plugins available on the market \ud83d\udd0c\ud83d\udcc8<\/a>\n\t\t \t<\/div>\n\t\t \t
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Let’s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Compare WordPress activity log plugins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the rest of this article, we\u2019ll dive into what sets the following four activity log plugins apart. If you\u2019re in a hurry, here’s a quick overview of our findings:<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/strong><\/td>\nWHAT TYPE OF EVENTS DOES IT LOG?<\/strong><\/td>\nEASE OF USE (1-5)<\/strong><\/td>\nWHAT TYPE OF SITES SHOULD USE IT?<\/strong><\/td>\nPRICE<\/strong><\/td>\nBEST FOR<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WP Activity Log<\/a><\/td>\nNearly every type of event<\/td>\n3<\/td>\nSecurity-conscious websites<\/td>\nFree, with premium add-ons<\/td>\nAll-around solution (Swiss Army Knife)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Simple History<\/a><\/td>\nAlmost every event, except core updates and changes to Multisite<\/td>\n5<\/td>\nWebsites that only need a basic solution<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\nNon-tech savvy users with simple websites<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
User Activity Log<\/a><\/td>\nAlmost every event, except core updates and changes to Multisite<\/td>\n4<\/td>\nSites with multiple contributors<\/td>\nFree and premium options<\/td>\nOrganizations with lots of external contractors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Error Log Viewer<\/a><\/td>\nWordPress error messages<\/td>\n3<\/td>\nWebsites with frequent troubleshooting needs and staging platforms<\/td>\nFree<\/td>\nProgrammers who feel comfortable with error logs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Now you have a basic idea of what sets these plugins apart, we\u2019re going to compare them in detail. We\u2019ll explain what kind of events they enable you to track and how easy it is to start using each of them. That way, you\u2019ll have all the information you need to make a choice.<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/span>WP Activity Log<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\"WP\t\t\tWP Activity Log<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t
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Author(s):\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMelapress<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Current Version:<\/span> 5.6.2<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Last Updated:<\/span> April 1, 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Direct Download<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t94%Ratings<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t300,000+Installs<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWP 5.5+Requires<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
<\/span>Simple History<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\"Simple\t\t\tSimple History \u2013 Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t
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Author(s):\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tP\u00e4r Thernstr\u00f6m<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Current Version:<\/span> 5.26.0<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Last Updated:<\/span> April 12, 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Direct Download<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t98%Ratings<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t300,000+Installs<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWP 6.3+Requires<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
<\/span>User Activity Log<\/div>
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Item not found:<\/br>\"user-activity-log\"<\/i><\/br>does not exist.<\/span>
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<\/span>Error Log Viewer<\/div>
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\"Error\t\t\tError Log Viewer by BestWebSoft<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t
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Author(s):\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbestwebsoft<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Current Version:<\/span> 1.1.8<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Last Updated:<\/span> December 3, 2025<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Direct Download<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Instead of going over each plugin in turn, we’re going to focus on what you really need to know about – the features they offer and how easy they are to use. Let’s start with the former.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Event tracking features \u2699\ufe0f<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some of the activity log plugins you can use are quite similar in terms of what events they track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, WP Activity Log<\/strong>, Simple History<\/strong>, and User Activity Log<\/strong> are all focused on logging as many unique events as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To give you an idea of how all-inclusive they are, WP Activity Log<\/strong> tracks events such as user registrations, logins, uploaded or modified files, source IPs, core updates, changes to your Multisite network<\/a>, and more. If you want an all-in-one logging solution, this may be the plugin for you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WordPress<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Simple History<\/strong> and User Activity Log<\/strong> both track a similar range of events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, neither of them log updates to WordPress core or changes to Multisite networks. User Activity Log<\/strong>, however, does shine when it comes to providing information about what user performed which action. That includes details such as their role, IP address<\/a>, and contact information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"User<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

WP Activity Log<\/strong> also provides user data for each event. However, it doesn’t provide as much information concerning users as User Activity Log, as it focuses more on their actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Error Log Viewer<\/strong>, on the other hand, focuses solely on tracking errors on your site. The plugin creates an error log you can access from the dashboard to troubleshoot technical issues with your site:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WordPress<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overall WP Activity Log<\/strong> is the plugin that tracks the most number of unique events. The premium version of the plugin adds more events to that list, such as real-time information about logged-in users.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Ease of use \ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83d\udcbb<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s talk about how practical each of these activity logs plugins is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to logging functionality, WP Activity Log<\/strong> is the clear winner, but it\u2019s also the most complex plugin in the group. If you want to get the most out of it, you\u2019ll need to read up on how to configure it and experiment with its advanced features until you\u2019re comfortable with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simple History<\/strong>, on the other hand, lives up to its name. It\u2019s very easy to use, and its logs are easy to sort through. They\u2019re displayed in the dashboard home page and the logs provide you with a quick, clear update on what happened since your last login:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Simple<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

User Activity Log<\/strong> lies somewhere between these two plugins when it comes to ease of use. It offers a few more settings to configure than Simple History<\/strong>, but not as many as WP Activity Log<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Error Log Viewer<\/strong>, on the other hand, can be difficult to navigate unless you have a background in web development. The plugin doesn’t offer a user-friendly interface that explains what each entry in the logs represents or what causes each error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WordPress<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To understand these error logs, you’ll need to know your way around WordPress core files<\/a>. The plugin will often point you toward specific files and the lines of code that might be causing errors, but you’ll need to troubleshoot them manually<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Which WordPress activity log plugin is right for you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for the best overall activity log, WP Activity Log<\/strong> is our choice. Additionally, WP Activity Log<\/strong> offers an advanced premium feature that lets you use an external database, which is a helpful performance tweak<\/a> for larger sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, Simple History<\/strong> offers less detail, but makes up for that by being easier to use. If you don\u2019t need to keep incredibly detailed logs, it may be ideal for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\tWP Activity Log<\/a>\n\t\t

Author(s): Melapress<\/p>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t94%Ratings<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t300,000+Installs<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tWP 5.5+Requires<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tMore info<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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Direct Download<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t

Current Version:<\/span> 5.6.2<\/p>\n\t\t

Last Updated:<\/span> April 1, 2026<\/p>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t94%Ratings<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t300,000+Installs<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tWP 5.5+Requires<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tWordPress.org Plugin Page<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWP Activity Log<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t
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