WordPress plugin directory complete submission without trialware
Submit a complete, stable plugin to the directory and keep paid upsell out of the bait-and-switch install path.
Why this can grow a startup
WordPress frames the plugin directory as a safe place for non-technical and technical users alike. That makes honesty part of growth, not a legal footnote. The directory page is expected to deliver a stable downloadable version, not a name reservation or a crippled teaser. Trialware is not permitted, and the plugin has to be complete at submission time. That forces the team to earn monetization with the real product experience instead of with a misleading first install.
Company example
The WordPress guidelines say a stable version must be available from the Plugin Directory page, trialware is not permitted, and a complete plugin must be available at the time of submission because the zip is reviewed before approval.
Source and metric
Source: WordPress Plugin Handbook: Detailed Plugin Guidelines
WordPress reviews a complete zip before approval and requires a stable version on the directory page while disallowing trialware.
When to use it
Use this when Marketplaces, Trust, Product-led Growth is relevant to submission readiness, trialware, directory trust and you can run a bounded test with a free budget.
When not to use it
Do not use it as a substitute for customer evidence, a clear owner, or a measurable stop condition. Local platform rules and market behavior still need checking.
Founder checklist
- Read WordPress Plugin Handbook: Detailed Plugin Guidelines and identify what is directly supported.
- Choose one channel context: Marketplaces, Trust, Product-led Growth.
- Define the test around WordPress reviews a complete zip before approval and requires a stable version on the directory page while disallowing trialware..
- Set an owner, evidence window, and stop condition before launch.
Explore the context
Apply this with an operator
Choose product surfaces that compound distribution without hiding weak activation or retention.