Head-to-head · September 2026
Debug Bar vs Developer Debug Mode
Debug Bar comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Developer Debug Mode.
Debug Bar
Adds a debug menu to the admin bar that shows query, cache, and other helpful debugging information.
Developer Debug Mode
Stop editing wp-config.php every time you need to debug your WordPress site.
| Metric | Debug Bar | Developer Debug Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 20K+ | 50+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 44.5K | 95 |
| Download trend | -8.9% | +4.4% |
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 69 | 1 |
| Health score | 65/100 | 47/100 |
| Last updated | 7 months ago | 8 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.0.6 | WP 6.9.9 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.0+ |
| First released | Nov 2010 | Feb 2026 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Debug BarDeveloper Debug Mode
Choose Debug Bar if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 20K+ active sites
Choose Developer Debug Mode if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (50+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: debug
FAQ
Debug Bar vs Developer Debug Mode: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 29, 2026
Which is better, Debug Bar or Developer Debug Mode?
Debug Bar comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Developer Debug Mode. Choose Debug Bar if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Developer Debug Mode if you care most about download trend.
Is Debug Bar more popular than Developer Debug Mode?
Debug Bar is the more popular of the two with 20K+ active installs, compared with 50+ for Developer Debug Mode.
Can I use Debug Bar and Developer Debug Mode together?
Both plugins cover debug, 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 and Developer Debug Mode 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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