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Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes

By PÃ¤r ThernstrÃ¶m

Site Administration & Utilities / Site Health & Diagnostics

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes Review - In-Depth Analysis

Track changes and user activities on your WordPress site. See who created a page, uploaded an attachment, and more, for a complete audit trail.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.16/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 485+ reviews)

Active Installations

300,000+

Update Frequency

Outstanding It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

5.6 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Simple History shows recent changes made within WordPress, directly on your dashboard, on a separate page, or in the admin bar.

The plugin acts as an audit log of the most important events that occur in WordPress.

It is a plugin that is good to have on websites where several people are involved in editing the content.

No coding is required to use the plugin. Just install it and it will start logging events.

Track what is happening on your site. Identify issues and debug faster. Keep freelancers and agencies accountable.

Out of the box Simple History has support for posts, pages, attachments, taxonomies, comments, widgets, plugins, user profiles, user logins, menu edits, and more.

Simple History comes with built-in support for many plugins and allows plugin authors to add support for Simple History in their plugins.

Simple History begins tracking your WordPress site's activities instantly after installation. View your activity logs through the convenient dashboard widget or browse the full history on the dedicated 'Simple History' page in your WordPress admin.

Enable weekly email reports to stay informed about your site's activity without logging in daily.

Using the optional password protected RSS feed, you can keep track of the changes made on your website using your favorite RSS reader.

WP-CLI commands are available for automation to view and search the log.

Stealth Mode allows Simple History to run completely in the background, hidden from the WordPress admin interface.

Theme and plugin developers can log custom events in Simple History using the logging API.

Take your activity logging to the next level with add-ons that enhance tracking, security, and customization.

Comparing to Alternatives

Simple History stands out among WordPress activity log plugins by offering straightforward tracking of changes and user actions. While there are other plugins with similar goals, Simple History focuses on simplicity and clarity.

Top alternatives

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes

Strengths

Clear and easy-to-read event logs
Lightweight with minimal performance impact
Tracks a wide range of user and system activities
User-friendly interface suitable for all skill levels

Weaknesses

Limited advanced filtering options compared to some competitors
Customization options for logged events are basic
Some users may desire deeper integration with third-party plugins

User Sentiment Analysis

Users consistently praise Simple History for its reliability and ease of use, highlighting its value in monitoring site changes and user activity.

Positive highlights

"Just the functionality I was wishing for." – Argentum
"Simple and to the point. It shows you who changes what and who logs in." – wgroth3
"It allows us to control all changes, who tries to access the website or does access it, and what they do." – franfoto
"So simple and easy to use. Does exactly what it says and has a good developer experience." – aaron13223
"An essential plugin for any site I work on. It's lightweight and I do not notice any negative performance impact." – pnem

Common complaints

Lacks some advanced filtering and customization features
Could benefit from more detailed event categorization

Weaknesses

Limited integration with some third-party plugins
Basic customization of logged events

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Site administrators and managers who want a simple, effective way to monitor changes and user activities without complex setup.

Not ideal for

Users needing highly customizable logs or deep integration with numerous third-party plugins may find this plugin limited.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers comprehensive logging of user actions and changes, with an easy-to-navigate interface and essential features for most users.

Pro version (49 - 149 USD / year)

The premium version typically includes advanced filtering, extended logging capabilities, and priority support to enhance monitoring and management.

Final Verdict

Simple History is a reliable and user-friendly plugin that effectively tracks and logs WordPress changes, making it invaluable for site management and security oversight.

While it may lack some advanced features found in other plugins, its simplicity and performance make it an excellent choice for most users seeking straightforward activity logging.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes plugin.

Activity

Audit Log

Event Log

History

User Tracking

Screenshots

FAQ

Yes! Simple History has been free for over 10 years and will remain free. To support development and unlock extra features, you can purchase the premium add-on. View premium features.