PluginSift

Better Admin Bar vs NorthStar (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

Better Admin Bar

Better Admin Bar

4.8(19)

4.0K+ active installs

Free

Updated 4 months ago
View Better Admin Bar
VS
NorthStar

NorthStar

0(0)

0 active installs

Free

Updated 3 years ago
View NorthStar

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, Better Admin Bar has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 19 reviews) and leads in active installations (4.0K+ vs 0). Both are free WordPress plugins. Better Admin Bar has accumulated 96K+ total downloads while NorthStar has 668.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.8/5Better Admin Bar
◄
NorthStarN/A
Total Reviews
19Better Admin Bar
◄
NorthStar0
Active Installs
4.0K+Better Admin Bar
◄
NorthStar0
Total Downloads
96K+Better Admin Bar
◄
NorthStar668
Support Resolution
N/ABetter Admin Bar
NorthStarN/A
Last Updated
4 months agoBetter Admin Bar
◄
NorthStar3 years ago
First Released
2014Better Admin Bar
NorthStar2023
Age
12 yearsBetter Admin Bar
NorthStar3 years
WP Requires
3.0.1+Better Admin Bar
NorthStar5.0+
PHP Requires
false+Better Admin Bar
NorthStarfalse+
Business Model
FreeBetter Admin Bar
NorthStarFree
Latest Version
4.1.4Better Admin Bar
NorthStar1.0

Rating Breakdown

Better Admin Bar

4.8/5(19 reviews)
5
89%
4
5%
3
5%
2
0%
1
0%

NorthStar

0/5(0 reviews)
5
0%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%

Recent Reviews

Better Admin Bar Reviews

by pagrob

funziona :)

funziona bene da frontend 🙂 This topic was modified 4 years ago by pagrob.

by nealumphred

Easy to understand, configure, and use

I love this plugin! It’s easy to understand, easy to configure, and easy to use. Makes moving around on my blog from page to page so much more convenient. Keep on keepin’ on … This topic

by morvy

Excellent little plugin

I didn’t even know I needed this plugin, it really helps on sites with sticky header.

NorthStar Reviews

No reviews yet

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Better Admin Bar or NorthStar more popular?
Better Admin Bar has 4.0K+ active installations while NorthStar has 0. Better Admin Bar is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Better Admin Bar or NorthStar?
Better Admin Bar has a 4.8/5 rating from 19 reviews, while NorthStar has a 0/5 rating from 0 reviews.
Are Better Admin Bar and NorthStar free?
Better Admin Bar is free and NorthStar is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Better Admin Bar or NorthStar?
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?
Better Admin Bar was last updated 4 months ago and NorthStar was last updated 3 years ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.