Debug Bar vs Development Assistant (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, Debug Bar has a higher user rating (4.1/5 from 69 reviews) and leads in active installations (20K+ vs 10). Both are free WordPress plugins. Debug Bar has accumulated 2.1M+ total downloads while Development Assistant has 2.1K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Debug Bar | Development Assistant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | ◄ | 3/5 |
| Total Reviews | 69 | ◄ | 2 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 10 |
| Total Downloads | 2.1M+ | ◄ | 2.1K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 5 months ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2024 | |
| Age | 16 years | 2 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.4+ | 5.0.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 7.4.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.8 | 1.2.10 |
Rating
4.1/5Debug Bar
◄Development Assistant3/5
Total Reviews
69Debug Bar
◄Development Assistant2
Active Installs
20K+Debug Bar
◄Development Assistant10
Total Downloads
2.1M+Debug Bar
◄Development Assistant2.1K+
Support Resolution
N/ADebug Bar
Development AssistantN/A
Last Updated
1 month agoDebug Bar
◄Development Assistant5 months ago
First Released
2010Debug Bar
Development Assistant2024
Age
16 yearsDebug Bar
Development Assistant2 years
WP Requires
3.4+Debug Bar
Development Assistant5.0.0+
PHP Requires
false+Debug Bar
Development Assistant7.4.0+
Business Model
FreeDebug Bar
Development AssistantFree
Latest Version
1.1.8Debug Bar
Development Assistant1.2.10
Rating Breakdown
Debug Bar
4.1/5(69 reviews)
5
74%
4
4%
3
1%
2
1%
1
19%
Development Assistant
3/5(2 reviews)
5
50%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
50%
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
Debug Bar Reviews
by Lene
Simple and easy
It works…
by Michael Galli
Works perfectly
Finding bugs is very easy and efficient with that plugin. I can highly recommend it.
by James Hunt
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
Development Assistant Reviews
No reviews yet
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Debug Bar or Development Assistant more popular?
Debug Bar has 20K+ active installations while Development Assistant has 10. Debug Bar is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Debug Bar or Development Assistant?
Debug Bar has a 4.1/5 rating from 69 reviews, while Development Assistant has a 3/5 rating from 2 reviews.
Are Debug Bar and Development Assistant free?
Debug Bar is free and Development Assistant is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Debug Bar or Development Assistant?
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?
Debug Bar was last updated 1 month ago and Development Assistant was last updated 5 months ago.
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.