WP Activity Log
Plugin Review
AI-ResearchedWhat is WP Activity Log?
WP Activity Log is a 13-year-old WordPress plugin that records every user action and system change on your site. Developed by Melapress, it has over 300,000 active installs and a 4.7 out of 5 rating from 480 reviews. The plugin tracks events like post edits, user logins, plugin changes, and failed login attempts without requiring you to write any code. It stores this data in your WordPress database by default, with logs kept for 3 months out of the box. The free edition does not limit the data it collects, matching the premium version's event tracking scope.
With 88% of its 480 ratings being five-star, the plugin enjoys strong user approval. Its longevity and install base make it a standard choice for site auditing. The current version, 5.6.4, requires WordPress 5.5+ and PHP 7.4+.
Key Features of WP Activity Log
- Complete Event Logging – Tracks changes to posts, pages, custom post types, user profiles, settings, plugins, themes, widgets, menus, and WordPress database tables.
- User Login & Session Tracking – Records every login, logout, failed login attempt, and even session terminations for security monitoring.
- Multisite Network Support – Logs site additions, deletions, archiving, and user assignments across WordPress multisite networks.
- Third-Party Plugin Integration – Monitors changes in WooCommerce, Yoast SEO, RankMath, Gravity Forms, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), MainWP, and other popular plugins.
- File Change Detection – Alerts you when new files are added or existing files are modified on your WordPress server.
- Customizable Log Retention – Set how long logs are kept (default 3 months) or retain them indefinitely through the settings.
- Log Export Options – Export activity logs as CSV or HTML files for external analysis or compliance reporting.
Who Should Use WP Activity Log?
This plugin suits administrators who manage multi-author blogs, membership sites, or WooCommerce stores. It is ideal for anyone needing to track user productivity or detect suspicious behavior before it escalates. The tool works for beginners because setup is simple, yet it offers depth for security professionals who need compliance data for GDPR or PCI DSS standards.
With 300,000+ active installs, it serves a broad range of site sizes. The 6 one-star ratings (6% of total) suggest some users find the free version limited for advanced reporting needs. Those requiring real-time alerts, external database storage, or SIEM integration should consider the premium or enterprise editions.
Installation & Setup
Install WP Activity Log from your WordPress dashboard like any other plugin. After activation, a configuration wizard walks you through setting log retention periods and excluding certain user roles. The process is beginner-friendly and takes under 5 minutes for most sites.
Support & Community
In the last 2 months, the support team resolved 5 of 6 open threads, achieving an 83% resolution rate. This indicates responsive help for common issues. The 4.7 overall rating from 480 reviews reflects consistent quality, though the 6% one-star ratings often cite feature limitations rather than bugs. Many users praise the plugin's detailed event descriptions and the ability to see exactly what changed, when, and by whom.
Pros & Cons
- With over 300,000 active installs and a 4.7/5 rating from 480 reviews, it is a widely trusted logging solution for WordPress sites.
- It tracks detailed changes to posts, pages, custom post types, tags, categories, and user activity, including what changed, when, and by whom.
- The plugin records failed login attempts to help detect potential security breaches and strengthen site protection.
- It supports multisite networks and helps ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR and PCI DSS without writing any code.
- Setup is simple, allowing administrators to start monitoring user activity and troubleshooting outages quickly.
- Advanced features like real-time alerts, session management, and reporting require a paid premium or enterprise upgrade.
- The free version may generate a large volume of log data, which can impact database performance on high-traffic sites.
- Some users report that the plugin’s interface can feel cluttered when viewing extensive activity logs, making it harder to find specific events.
Technical Details
- Requires WordPress
- 5.5+
- Requires PHP
- 7.4+
- First Released
- 2013 (13+ years)
- Support (last 2 months)
- 6 threads — 83% resolved
Feature Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the core plugin is free and available on WordPress.org. The free edition does not limit the data it collects, though premium and enterprise editions unlock advanced features like log exports and real-time alerts.
Over 300,000 WordPress sites actively use WP Activity Log. It has a 4.7 out of 5 rating based on 480 reviews, reflecting strong user satisfaction.
WP Activity Log requires WordPress version 5.5 or higher. It works with both single sites and multisite networks.
Yes, the plugin is actively maintained by Melapress and was last updated on June 2, 2026. It has been available since 2013, with version 5.6.4 being the current release.
The plugin requires PHP version 7.4 or higher. This ensures compatibility with modern hosting environments and security standards.
Support is reliable, with 5 out of 6 support threads resolved in the last 2 months, giving an 83% resolution rate. Most users find the plugin easy to set up and start benefiting from quickly.
Yes, it features simple setup so you can start benefiting quickly without writing any code. The plugin tracks events automatically, making it easy for beginners to monitor user activity and detect suspicious behavior.
It records detailed logs of user logins, logouts, failed login attempts, and changes to settings or posts. You can keep log data indefinitely by adjusting the default 3-month retention policy, and the premium edition adds log exports, session management, and external database integration.