MediaKnightv1.0.4
Make Media Library files private: block direct URL access to PDFs and images so only logged-in users can open them. Apache rules + Nginx snippet.
Alternatives to Protect Media
Plugins below are selected for functional relevance and current directory signals. Active-install counts do not affect this ranking.
Relevant replacements
WordPress plugins with similar use cases
Compatibility and update metadata provide context, not a quality guarantee. Review each plugin’s details for your site.
Local WebP optimizer for WordPress. Free converts images to WebP; Pro adds AVIF and site-wide image tools.
Prevent public access to WordPress files and folders. Protect downloads from public access. Role and user based folder access in premium plans only.
Proxy missing media to a production origin so staging and local environments don't need a full copy of the uploads directory.
Store uploads outside wp-content in a custom folder, organized by post type. Includes a migration tool for existing media.
Media Syncv1.5.3
Simple plugin to scan "uploads" directory and bring those files into Media Library.
Plugin uploads selected files from the WordPress uploads directory to S3 and serves registered uploads through S3 or CloudFront.
Brightery File Lockdownv1.0.9
Locks down code-changing capabilities and restricts WordPress uploads to approved media types.
Detect and permanently delete orphaned uploads (files physically present on disk without an attachment in the Media Library).
One-click uploads from Unsplash, Openverse, Pixabay, Pexels, and Giphy directly to your WordPress media library.