Head-to-head · September 2026
Developer Debug Mode vs WP Debugging
WP Debugging comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Developer Debug Mode.
Developer Debug Mode
Stop editing wp-config.php every time you need to debug your WordPress site.
WP Debugging
This plugin sets the following debug constants in wp-config.php on plugin activation and removes them on…
| Metric | Developer Debug Mode | WP Debugging |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 50+ | 10K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 95 | 5.8K |
| Download trend | +4.4% | -67.4% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 1 | 21 |
| Health score | 47/100 | 75/100 |
| Last updated | 8 months ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.9.9 | WP 7.1.2 |
| Support resolved | — | 0% |
| Requires PHP | 7.0+ | 5.6+ |
| First released | Feb 2026 | Feb 2019 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Developer Debug ModeWP Debugging
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)
Choose WP Debugging if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 10K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 5/5 from 21 reviews
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
FAQ
Developer Debug Mode vs WP Debugging: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 29, 2026
Which is better, Developer Debug Mode or WP Debugging?
WP Debugging comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Developer Debug Mode. Choose Developer Debug Mode if you care most about download trend. Choose WP Debugging if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Developer Debug Mode more popular than WP Debugging?
WP Debugging is the more popular of the two with 10K+ active installs, compared with 50+ for Developer Debug Mode.
Can I use Developer Debug Mode and WP Debugging together?
Both plugins cover debug and wp-config, 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 Developer Debug Mode and WP Debugging free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
Powered by PageForge
Want thousands of pages that rank like these? Build them in an afternoon.
This directory runs on the same engine as PageForge. Turn any spreadsheet, CSV or API into thousands of fast, SEO-ready WordPress pages — with schema, internal links and AI-written copy baked in.
- CSV, Google Sheets & API data sources
- AI content, schema & internal links per page
- Works with Elementor, Gutenberg, Yoast & Rank Math
- Free on WordPress.org — no credit card
