Head-to-head · October 2026
Debug Bar Rewrite Rules vs Debug Bar Widgets
Debug Bar Rewrite Rules comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Debug Bar Widgets.
Debug Bar Rewrite Rules
Debug Bar Rewrite Rules adds information about Rewrite Rules (changed via filters) to a new panel in the…
Debug Bar Widgets
Debug Bar Widgets adds a new panel to the Debug Bar that displays all registered widgets.
| Metric | Debug Bar Rewrite Rules | Debug Bar Widgets |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 700+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 935 | 41 |
| Download trend | +116.4% | +28.1% |
| Rating | 5/5 | — |
| Reviews | 5 | 0 |
| Health score | 39/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 2 years ago | 2 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.5.13 | WP 6.6.10 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Sep 2016 | Mar 2016 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Debug Bar Rewrite RulesDebug Bar Widgets
Choose Debug Bar Rewrite Rules if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Momentum — downloads up 116.4% vs the previous 30 days
- Small user base (700+ active installs)
- No update in 2 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.5 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Debug Bar Widgets if…
You care most about last updated and tested up to.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 2 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.6 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: debug bar
FAQ
Debug Bar Rewrite Rules vs Debug Bar Widgets: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 15, 2026
Which is better, Debug Bar Rewrite Rules or Debug Bar Widgets?
Debug Bar Rewrite Rules comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Debug Bar Widgets. Choose Debug Bar Rewrite Rules if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend. Choose Debug Bar Widgets if you care most about last updated and tested up to.
Is Debug Bar Rewrite Rules more popular than Debug Bar Widgets?
Debug Bar Rewrite Rules is the more popular of the two with 700+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Debug Bar Widgets.
Can I use Debug Bar Rewrite Rules and Debug Bar Widgets together?
Both plugins cover debug 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 Debug Bar Rewrite Rules and Debug Bar Widgets 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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