Debug Bar vs Debug (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Debug has a higher user rating (4.6/5 from 11 reviews) while Debug Bar leads in active installations (20K+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Debug Bar has accumulated 2.1M+ total downloads while Debug has 93K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Debug Bar | Debug | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | ► | 4.6/5 |
| Total Reviews | 69 | ◄ | 11 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 2.1M+ | ◄ | 93K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 2 years ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2017 | |
| Age | 16 years | 9 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.4+ | 3.4+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.8 | 1.12 |
Rating Breakdown
Debug Bar
Debug
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Debug Bar averaged approximately 1,771 daily downloads while Debug averaged 8.
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
Debug Reviews
Simple & Great Learning Tool
It helps get access to a site’s error log, even for lay users without contacting web hosts or filesystem access. Really useful in debugging in support. Also useful as a teaching/learning tool for basi
Still Works Great on WP 5.8.2
Thank you for this great plugin which saves time on backing up wp-config.php and turning on debug mode. Eliminates mistakes which might otherwise be introduced when manually changing wp-config.php and
Still works
Even though updates have been a while (at least at the time of writing this), the plugin still works well and serves its purpose.
More Plugins Worth Comparing
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Log PHP, database and JavaScript errors via WP_DEBUG with one click. Conveniently create, view, filter and clear the debug.log file.
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A profiler to measure the performance of your WordPress plugins and themes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Debug Bar or Debug more popular?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.