Debug Bar vs Developer Tool (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 Bar has a higher user rating (4.1/5 from 69 reviews) and leads in active installations (20K+ vs 0). Both are free WordPress plugins. Debug Bar has accumulated 2.1M+ total downloads while Developer Tool has 1.4K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Debug Bar | Developer Tool | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | ◄ | N/A |
| Total Reviews | 69 | ◄ | 0 |
| Active Installs | 20K+ | ◄ | 0 |
| Total Downloads | 2.1M+ | ◄ | 1.4K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 6 years ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2019 | |
| Age | 16 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.4+ | 4.4+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.3+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.8 | 1.0.2 |
Rating Breakdown
Debug Bar
Developer Tool
Download Trends
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
Developer Tool Reviews
No reviews yet
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Debug Bar and Developer Tool
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 Developer Tool more popular?
Which has better ratings — Debug Bar or Developer Tool?
Are Debug Bar and Developer Tool free?
Which plugin has better support — Debug Bar or Developer Tool?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.