Debug Bar vs WP Debugging (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, WP Debugging has a higher user rating (5/5 from 19 reviews) while Debug Bar leads in active installations (20K+ vs 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Debug Bar has accumulated 2.1M+ total downloads while WP Debugging has 433K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Debug Bar | WP Debugging | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 69 | ◄ | 19 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 2.1M+ | ◄ | 433K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2019 | |
| Age | 16 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.4+ | 5.2+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.8 | 2.12.2 |
Rating Breakdown
Debug Bar
WP Debugging
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Debug Bar averaged approximately 1,771 daily downloads while WP Debugging averaged 79.
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
WP Debugging Reviews
Perfect
Simple and easy to use. Does what is says
Another great debugging plugin
Yet another one of your plugins that I love and use all the time! Thank you. (Side note: is there a place to buy you a coffee or donate for your time?)
Makes debugging so much easier.
I use this on all of my sites to streamline debugging. It saves so much time and hassle.
More Debug Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Debug Bar and WP Debugging
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.
A profiler to measure the performance of your WordPress plugins and themes.
Simply and easy-to-use the customize for Admin and Frontend. A lot of custom filters and actions, and included the developer tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Debug Bar or WP Debugging more popular?
Which has better ratings — Debug Bar or WP Debugging?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.