# Announcement Bar vs TopBar Buddy

> Announcement Bar vs TopBar Buddy compared on installs, downloads, ratings, updates, compatibility and support. TopBar Buddy comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against Announcement Bar.

**TopBar Buddy comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against Announcement Bar.** Choose Announcement Bar if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose TopBar Buddy if you care most about download trend, health score and last updated.

| | Announcement Bar | TopBar Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 3K+ ✅ | 20+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 298 ✅ | 162 |
| Download trend | +20.6% | +125% ✅ |
| Rating | 1/5 | — |
| Reviews | 2 ✅ | 0 |
| Health score | 23/100 | 55/100 ✅ |
| Last updated | 11 years ago | 1 week ago ✅ |
| Tested up to | WP 4.2.39 | WP 6.9.10 ✅ |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.4+ |
| First released | Aug 2011 | Feb 2026 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better, Announcement Bar or TopBar Buddy?
TopBar Buddy comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against Announcement Bar. Choose Announcement Bar if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose TopBar Buddy if you care most about download trend, health score and last updated.

### Is Announcement Bar more popular than TopBar Buddy?
Announcement Bar is the more popular of the two with 3K+ active installs, compared with 20+ for TopBar Buddy.

### Can I use Announcement Bar and TopBar Buddy together?
Both plugins cover announcement bar, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.

### Are Announcement Bar and TopBar Buddy free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/compare/announcement-bar-vs-topbar-buddy/ · Generated 2026-10-08 23:43 UTC by PageForge