Debug Bar vs Dashboard Widgets Suite (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Dashboard Widgets Suite
4.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Dashboard Widgets Suite has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 36 reviews) while Debug Bar leads in active installations (20K+ vs 4.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Debug Bar has accumulated 2.1M+ total downloads while Dashboard Widgets Suite has 153K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Debug Bar | Dashboard Widgets Suite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 69 | ◄ | 36 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 4.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 2.1M+ | ◄ | 153K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | 100% | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ► | 1 week ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2016 | |
| Age | 16 years | 10 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.4+ | 4.7+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.6.20+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.8 | 3.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Debug Bar
Dashboard Widgets Suite
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Debug Bar averaged approximately 1,687 daily downloads while Dashboard Widgets Suite averaged 29.
Recent Reviews
Debug Bar Reviews
Simple and easy
It works…
Works perfectly
Finding bugs is very easy and efficient with that plugin. I can highly recommend it.
Seemingly abandoned
Debug Bar is still listed in WordPress’s own developer documentation as a go-to debugging tool, yet it hasn’t been updated in over a year and throws PHP errors. It’s a clear example of Automattic prom
Dashboard Widgets Suite Reviews
Great and simple:)
A great plugin for my blogs, to see social links, errrors and so on:)
Legit Useful & Educating
This really helped me secure my server, as a newbie. I had no idea we had to secure PHP and other stuff.
A must-have plugin
One of the best plugins Jeff could ever devise. Simplicity, efficiency, everything at your fingertips. Increased user experience on WordPress.
More Debug Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Debug Bar and Dashboard Widgets Suite
WP Crontrol enables you to take control of the cron events on your WordPress website.
Query Monitor is the developer tools panel for WordPress and WooCommerce.
Log PHP, database and JavaScript errors via WP_DEBUG with one click. Conveniently create, view, filter and clear the debug.log file.
Simply and easy-to-use the customize for Admin and Frontend. A lot of custom filters and actions, and included the developer tools.
A profiler to measure the performance of your WordPress plugins and themes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Debug Bar or Dashboard Widgets Suite more popular?
Which has better ratings — Debug Bar or Dashboard Widgets Suite?
Are Debug Bar and Dashboard Widgets Suite free?
Which plugin has better support — Debug Bar or Dashboard Widgets Suite?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.