Head-to-head · September 2026
Query Monitor vs Show var_dump
Query Monitor comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Show var_dump.
Query Monitor
Query Monitor is the developer tools panel for WordPress and WooCommerce. It enables debugging of database…
Show var_dump
“var_dump” method can’t show results in functions.php. If You can use original method “var_dump_ex”,the…
| Metric | Query Monitor | Show var_dump |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 200K+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 301.9K | 72 |
| Download trend | -2% | +28.6% |
| Rating | 4.9/5 | — |
| Reviews | 469 | 0 |
| Health score | 71/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 3 months ago | 12 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.0.6 | WP 4.0.38 |
| Support resolved | 33% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | Any |
| First released | Nov 2013 | Oct 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Query MonitorShow var_dump
Choose Query Monitor if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 200K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.9/5 from 469 reviews
- Slow support — only 33% of recent threads resolved
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
Query Monitor 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, Query Monitor or Show var_dump?
Query Monitor comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Show var_dump. Choose Query Monitor if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Show var_dump if you care most about download trend.
Is Query Monitor more popular than Show var_dump?
Query Monitor is the more popular of the two with 200K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Show var_dump.
Can I use Query Monitor 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 Query Monitor 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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