Black Bar vs Debug Bar Shortcodes (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
VS
VS
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Black Bar has a higher user rating (5/5 from 9 reviews) and leads in active installations (600 vs 40). Both are free WordPress plugins. Black Bar has accumulated 38K+ total downloads while Debug Bar Shortcodes has 26K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Black Bar | Debug Bar Shortcodes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 9 | ◄ | 3 |
| Active Installs | 600 | ◄ | 40 |
| Total Downloads | 38K+ | ◄ | 26K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 9 years ago |
| First Released | 2018 | 2013 | |
| Age | 8 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.1+ | 3.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.1.4 | 2.0.3 |
Rating
5/5Black Bar
Debug Bar Shortcodes5/5
Total Reviews
9Black Bar
◄Debug Bar Shortcodes3
Active Installs
600Black Bar
◄Debug Bar Shortcodes40
Total Downloads
38K+Black Bar
◄Debug Bar Shortcodes26K+
Support Resolution
N/ABlack Bar
Debug Bar ShortcodesN/A
Last Updated
4 months agoBlack Bar
◄Debug Bar Shortcodes9 years ago
First Released
2018Black Bar
Debug Bar Shortcodes2013
Age
8 yearsBlack Bar
Debug Bar Shortcodes13 years
WP Requires
6.1+Black Bar
Debug Bar Shortcodes3.6+
PHP Requires
7.4+Black Bar
Debug Bar Shortcodesfalse+
Business Model
FreeBlack Bar
Debug Bar ShortcodesFree
Latest Version
4.1.4Black Bar
Debug Bar Shortcodes2.0.3
Rating Breakdown
Black Bar
5/5(9 reviews)
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%
Debug Bar Shortcodes
5/5(3 reviews)
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Bar or Debug Bar Shortcodes more popular?
Black Bar has 600 active installations while Debug Bar Shortcodes has 40. Black Bar is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Black Bar or Debug Bar Shortcodes?
Black Bar has a 5/5 rating from 9 reviews, while Debug Bar Shortcodes has a 5/5 rating from 3 reviews.
Are Black Bar and Debug Bar Shortcodes free?
Black Bar is free and Debug Bar Shortcodes is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Black Bar or Debug Bar Shortcodes?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Black Bar was last updated 4 months ago and Debug Bar Shortcodes was last updated 9 years ago.
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.