Head-to-head · September 2026
Debug Bar vs Show var_dump
Debug Bar comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Show var_dump.
Debug Bar
Adds a debug menu to the admin bar that shows query, cache, and other helpful debugging information.
Show var_dump
“var_dump” method can’t show results in functions.php. If You can use original method “var_dump_ex”,the…
| Metric | Debug Bar | Show var_dump |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 20K+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 44.5K | 72 |
| Download trend | -8.9% | +28.6% |
| Rating | 4.1/5 | — |
| Reviews | 69 | 0 |
| Health score | 65/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 7 months ago | 12 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.0.6 | WP 4.0.38 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Nov 2010 | Oct 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Debug BarShow var_dump
Choose Debug Bar if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 20K+ active sites
Choose Show var_dump if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 11 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.0 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: debug
FAQ
Debug Bar vs Show var_dump: 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 Show var_dump?
Debug Bar comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Show var_dump. Choose Debug Bar if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Show var_dump if you care most about download trend.
Is Debug Bar more popular than Show var_dump?
Debug Bar is the more popular of the two with 20K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Show var_dump.
Can I use Debug Bar and Show var_dump 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 Show var_dump 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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