Head-to-head · October 2026
Better Messages vs Buddypress Sidebar
Better Messages comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Buddypress Sidebar.
Better Messages
Better Messages is the most feature-rich realtime private messaging system for WordPress, with native…
Buddypress Sidebar
Create multiple sidebars, just name your new sidebar the same name as the Buddypress Component and it will…
| Metric | Better Messages | Buddypress Sidebar |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10K+ | 20+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 46.8K | 62 |
| Download trend | +15.2% | +82.4% |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | — |
| Reviews | 142 | 0 |
| Health score | 93/100 | 24/100 |
| Last updated | 5 days ago | 16 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 3.1.4 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | Any |
| First released | Jan 2017 | Aug 2010 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Better MessagesBuddypress Sidebar
Choose Better Messages if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 10K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.8/5 from 142 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 5 days ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Responsive support — 100% of recent threads resolved
Choose Buddypress Sidebar if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (20+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 15 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.1 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: buddypress
FAQ
Better Messages vs Buddypress Sidebar: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 13, 2026
Which is better, Better Messages or Buddypress Sidebar?
Better Messages comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Buddypress Sidebar. Choose Better Messages if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Buddypress Sidebar if you care most about download trend.
Is Better Messages more popular than Buddypress Sidebar?
Better Messages is the more popular of the two with 10K+ active installs, compared with 20+ for Buddypress Sidebar.
Can I use Better Messages and Buddypress Sidebar together?
Both plugins cover buddypress, 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 Better Messages and Buddypress Sidebar 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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