Head-to-head · October 2026
Announcement Bar vs TopBar Buddy
TopBar Buddy comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against Announcement Bar.
Announcement Bar
This plugin adds a jQuery file that will position a fixed bar at the top of your browser screen to show…
TopBar Buddy
Dedicated Support For quick support and assistance, please contact us
| Metric | 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 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Announcement BarTopBar Buddy
Choose Announcement Bar if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 11 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.2 (latest is 7.1)
Choose TopBar Buddy if…
You care most about download trend, health score and last updated.
- Actively developed — last update 1 week ago
- Small user base (20+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: announcement bar
FAQ
Announcement Bar vs TopBar Buddy: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 8, 2026
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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