Head-to-head · September 2026
Black Bar vs Debug Bar Shortcodes
Black Bar comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Debug Bar Shortcodes.
Black Bar
Black Bar is an unobtrusive Debug Bar for WordPress developers. It collects and displays errors, executed SQL…
Debug Bar Shortcodes
Debug Bar Shortcodes adds a new panel to the Debug Bar that displays the registered shortcodes for the…
| Metric | Black Bar | Debug Bar Shortcodes |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 500+ | 30+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 593 | 71 |
| Download trend | +9.2% | -11.3% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 9 | 3 |
| Health score | 67/100 | 31/100 |
| Last updated | 5 months ago | 10 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.0.6 | WP 4.4.34 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 8.1.2+ | Any |
| First released | Feb 2018 | Dec 2013 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Black BarDebug Bar Shortcodes
Choose Black Bar if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Small user base (500+ active installs)
- Needs PHP 8.1.2 or newer
Choose Debug Bar Shortcodes if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (30+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.4 (latest is 7.1)
FAQ
Black Bar vs Debug Bar Shortcodes: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 29, 2026
Which is better, Black Bar or Debug Bar Shortcodes?
Black Bar comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Debug Bar Shortcodes. Choose Black Bar if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Black Bar more popular than Debug Bar Shortcodes?
Black Bar is the more popular of the two with 500+ active installs, compared with 30+ for Debug Bar Shortcodes.
Can I use Black Bar and Debug Bar Shortcodes together?
Both plugins cover debug bar and debugbar, 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 Black Bar and Debug Bar Shortcodes 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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