Debug Bar vs Admin Bar Tools (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, Admin Bar Tools has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 8 reviews) while Debug Bar leads in active installations (20K+ vs 400). Both are free WordPress plugins. Debug Bar has accumulated 2.1M+ total downloads while Admin Bar Tools has 15K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Debug Bar | Admin Bar Tools | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 69 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 400 |
| Total Downloads | 2.1M+ | ◄ | 15K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 5 years ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2012 | |
| Age | 16 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.4+ | 4.7+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.8 | 4.0 |
Rating
4.1/5Debug Bar
►Admin Bar Tools4.8/5
Total Reviews
69Debug Bar
◄Admin Bar Tools8
Active Installs
20K+Debug Bar
◄Admin Bar Tools400
Total Downloads
2.1M+Debug Bar
◄Admin Bar Tools15K+
Support Resolution
N/ADebug Bar
Admin Bar ToolsN/A
Last Updated
1 month agoDebug Bar
◄Admin Bar Tools5 years ago
First Released
2010Debug Bar
Admin Bar Tools2012
Age
16 yearsDebug Bar
Admin Bar Tools14 years
WP Requires
3.4+Debug Bar
Admin Bar Tools4.7+
PHP Requires
false+Debug Bar
Admin Bar Tools5.6+
Business Model
FreeDebug Bar
Admin Bar ToolsFree
Latest Version
1.1.8Debug Bar
Admin Bar Tools4.0
Rating Breakdown
Debug Bar
4.1/5(69 reviews)
5
74%
4
4%
3
1%
2
1%
1
19%
Admin Bar Tools
4.8/5(8 reviews)
5
88%
4
0%
3
13%
2
0%
1
0%
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
Admin Bar Tools Reviews
No reviews yet
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Debug Bar or Admin Bar Tools more popular?
Debug Bar has 20K+ active installations while Admin Bar Tools has 400. Debug Bar is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Debug Bar or Admin Bar Tools?
Debug Bar has a 4.1/5 rating from 69 reviews, while Admin Bar Tools has a 4.8/5 rating from 8 reviews.
Are Debug Bar and Admin Bar Tools free?
Debug Bar is free and Admin Bar Tools is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Debug Bar or Admin Bar Tools?
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 Admin Bar Tools was last updated 5 years ago.
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.