LogWatch
Monitor and analyze PHP error logs directly from your WordPress admin panel with smart grouping, filtering, and export capabilities.
Use with caution
LogWatch works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 6 months ago, and scores 42/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where LogWatch stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| debugging | >100 |
| developer-tools | >100 |
| error log | >100 |
| log viewer | >100 |
| php errors | >100 |
About LogWatch
From the official readme · v1.0.0Description
Stop hunting through server logs. Monitor PHP errors directly in WordPress.
LogWatch brings professional error monitoring to your WordPress admin panel. Whether you’re debugging a plugin conflict, tracking down a theme issue, or monitoring a production site, LogWatch gives you instant visibility into PHP errors without SSH access or server configuration.
Why LogWatch?
For Developers:
* Catch errors before your clients do
* Debug faster with grouped, organized error logs
* Track error patterns across deployments
* Export logs for team collaboration
For Agencies:
* Monitor multiple client sites from their dashboards
* Professional error tracking without server access
* Quick diagnosis saves billable hours
* Clean interface clients can understand
For Site Owners:
* Know when something breaks (before visitors complain)
* Share error logs with developers easily
* Works on any hosting (shared, VPS, dedicated)
* No technical knowledge required
Key Features
Smart Error Grouping
Stop seeing the same error 1,000 times. LogWatch automatically groups identical errors and shows you:
* How many times it occurred
* When it first appeared
* When it last happened
* Full stack trace on demand
Multi-Format Log Support
Reads any PHP error log format:
* PHP error_log (standard format)
* Apache error logs
* Nginx error logs
* WordPress debug.log
* Custom log files
Works on Shared Hosting
No server access? No problem. Enable the Custom Error Handler to create a dedicated, protected log file that captures all PHP errors automatically.
Optimized for Large Files
* Handles log files with 100,000+ errors
* Shows newest errors first (reverse reading)
* Dashboard widget loads asynchronously
* Won’t slow down your admin panel
Advanced Filtering
* Filter by error type (Fatal, Warning, Notice, Deprecated)
* URL-based filtering for bookmarking
* Hide errors you’ve already fixed
* Restore hidden errors anytime
Export & Share
Export logs to CSV for:
* External analysis tools
* Team collaboration
* Client reports
* Long-term archiving
Dashboard Widget
See your 3 most recent errors at a glance. Click to jump directly to filtered views. Loads asynchronously so it never slows down your dashboard.
Common Use Cases
- Plugin/Theme Development – Catch errors during development before release
- Site Migrations – Monitor for errors after moving to a new host
- WordPress Updates – Check for compatibility issues after core/plugin updates
- Client Handoff – Ensure sites are error-free before delivery
- Production Monitoring – Keep tabs on live sites without SSH access
- Debugging – Quickly identify the source of “white screen of death” errors
- Performance Optimization – Find deprecated functions slowing down your site
How It Works
- Install & Activate – One-click installation from WordPress.org
- Auto-Detection – LogWatch finds available log files automatically
- Start Monitoring – View errors grouped by type with occurrence counts
- Take Action – Click to see full details, mark as fixed, or export
Pro Version Available
Upgrade to LogWatch Pro for advanced features:
- Real-time Notifications – Slack, Discord, and email alerts
- Error Analytics – Trends, patterns, and insights
- Performance Monitoring – Track page load times and memory usage
- Scheduled Reports – Daily/weekly summaries via email
- Smart Grouping – AI-powered similar error detection
- Priority Support – Direct access to our development team
Learn more about LogWatch Pro →
Perfect For
- WordPress Developers
- Web Development Agencies
- Freelance Developers
- Site Administrators
- DevOps Teams
- Anyone managing WordPress sites
Technical Details
- Zero Configuration – Works out of the box
- Lightweight – Minimal performance impact
- Secure – Follows WordPress security best practices
- Compatible – PHP 7.4 through 8.3
- Modern – Built for WordPress 5.0+
- Tested – Verified up to WordPress 6.9
Privacy & Data
LogWatch reads log files locally on your server. No data is sent to external services unless you enable Pro features like notifications. The plugin respects your privacy and your users’ privacy.
Support & Documentation
Need help? Visit our contact page for support.
Translations
LogWatch is translation-ready. Help us translate it into your language!
External services
This plugin uses an external service provided by Pixel Solutions to collect optional deactivation feedback.
When a user deactivates the plugin, a modal dialog appears asking for an optional reason. If the user chooses to submit feedback, the following data is sent to the Pixel Solutions API:
- Plugin name
- Deactivation reason and optional details
- User display name and email address
- Site URL
- WordPress version and PHP version
- Current date/time
This data is sent only once, at the moment of plugin deactivation, and only if the user actively submits the feedback form. No data is sent if the user skips the feedback step.
The service is provided by Pixel Solutions: Terms of Service, Privacy Policy.
API endpoint: https://api.pixelsolutions.biz/plugins/feedback
Reviews & Testimonials
We’d love to hear your feedback! If LogWatch helps you debug faster or catch errors before your users do, please consider leaving a review.
About Pixel Solutions
LogWatch is developed by Pixel Solutions, a team based in Milan, Italy dedicated to creating professional WordPress tools for developers and agencies. We build plugins that solve real problems and respect your workflow.
Visit us at pixelsolutions.biz
Installation
Automatic Installation
- Log in to your WordPress admin panel
- Go to Plugins > Add New
- Search for “LogWatch”
- Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”
Manual Installation
- Download the plugin ZIP file
- Upload the
logwatchfolder to/wp-content/plugins/ - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
- Go to LogWatch > Settings to configure your log source
- View logs under LogWatch > Logs
First Time Setup
- Navigate to LogWatch → Settings
- Select a log source (auto-detected) or enable Custom Error Handler
- Choose which error types to display
- Click Save Settings
- Go to LogWatch → Logs to view your errors
Frequently asked questions
Where does LogWatch read logs from?
LogWatch automatically detects available PHP error logs on your server, including: * PHP ini error_log setting * WordPress debug.log * Apache/Nginx error logs * Custom log files in your document root You can also enable the Custom Error Handler to create a dedicated log file.
What if I’m on shared hosting and can’t access system logs?
Enable the Custom Error Handler in Settings. This creates a protected log file at wp-content/uploads/logwatch/php-errors.log that captures all PHP errors without requiring server access. Perfect for shared hosting environments like Bluehost, SiteGround, or GoDaddy.
Can I export the logs?
Yes! Click the Export CSV button on the Logs page to download all visible errors in CSV format for external analysis, sharing with your team, or importing into other tools.
How does error grouping work?
LogWatch groups identical errors (same file, line, and message) together and shows you: * Total occurrence count * First seen timestamp * Last seen timestamp * Full stack trace This helps you focus on unique issues instead of seeing the same error repeated thousands of times. For example, if a deprecated function is called 5,000 times, you’ll see one grouped entry showing “5,000 occurrences” instead of 5,000 separate entries.
Can I hide errors I’ve already fixed?
Yes! Click Mark as Fixed next to any error to hide it from the main view. You can view and restore hidden errors from LogWatch → Hidden Logs anytime. This keeps your logs clean and focused on active issues.
Does LogWatch slow down my site?
No. LogWatch only reads log files when you view the admin pages – it has zero impact on your frontend performance. The dashboard widget loads asynchronously so it won’t slow down your dashboard. Log parsing is optimized for large files using reverse reading techniques.
What log formats are supported?
PHP error_log format (standard PHP errors) Apache error log format Nginx error log format WordPress debug.log format Custom log formats with PHP error messages
Is LogWatch compatible with PHP 8?
Yes! LogWatch is fully compatible with PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3. We test on all major PHP versions to ensure compatibility.
Will LogWatch work with my hosting provider?
Yes! LogWatch works on any hosting provider: * Shared Hosting – Use Custom Error Handler (Bluehost, SiteGround, HostGator, GoDaddy, etc.) * VPS/Cloud – Auto-detects system logs (DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, etc.) * Managed WordPress – Works with WP Engine, Kinsta, Flywheel, Pressable * Local Development – Perfect for XAMPP, MAMP, Local by Flywheel, Docker
Can I monitor multiple sites?
Yes! Install LogWatch on each site you want to monitor. Each installation monitors its own logs independently. For centralized multi-site monitoring, check out LogWatch Pro.
Does LogWatch capture all PHP errors?
LogWatch displays errors that are logged by PHP. Make sure error logging is enabled in your php.ini or wp-config.php: define('WP_DEBUG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false); Alternatively, enable the Custom Error Handler in LogWatch settings to automatically capture all errors.
What’s the difference between LogWatch and LogWatch Pro?
LogWatch (Free): * View and parse error logs * Smart error grouping * Filter by error type * CSV export * Dashboard widget * Hide/unhide errors LogWatch Pro: * Everything in Free, plus: * Real-time Slack/Discord notifications * Email alerts for critical errors * Advanced error analytics and trends * Performance monitoring * Scheduled reports * Priority support Compare features →
How do I enable WordPress debug mode?
Add these lines to your wp-config.php file (above the “That’s all, stop editing!” line): define('WP_DEBUG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false); This enables error logging to wp-content/debug.log without displaying errors on your site.
Can I use LogWatch on a production site?
Yes! LogWatch is safe for production use. It only reads log files and doesn’t modify your site’s code or database (except for storing hidden error preferences). The admin interface is only accessible to users with “manage_options” capability (administrators).
Does LogWatch work with multisite?
Yes, LogWatch works on WordPress multisite installations. Each site in the network can have its own LogWatch configuration.
I don’t see any errors. What’s wrong?
If you don’t see any errors, it could mean: 1. No errors are occurring – Great! Your site is error-free 2. Error logging is disabled – Enable WP_DEBUG_LOG in wp-config.php 3. Wrong log file selected – Try enabling Custom Error Handler in Settings 4. Log file permissions – Ensure the web server can read the log file Check the Settings page to see which log file is being monitored and when it was last modified.
Can I filter errors by date?
Currently, LogWatch shows all errors in the selected log file, sorted by most recent. Date-range filtering is planned for a future update. You can export to CSV and filter by date in Excel/Google Sheets.
How often should I check LogWatch?
We recommend: * Development sites – Check after each major change * Staging sites – Check before deploying to production * Production sites – Check weekly, or enable LogWatch Pro for real-time alerts The dashboard widget gives you a quick glance every time you log in.
Is LogWatch GDPR compliant?
Yes. LogWatch reads log files locally on your server and doesn’t send any data to external services (unless you enable Pro features like notifications). Error logs may contain IP addresses depending on your server configuration, so treat them according to your privacy policy.
Changelog
Initial release of LogWatch. Monitor and analyze PHP errors directly from WordPress admin.
1.0.0 – 2024-01-15
- Initial release
- Smart error grouping with occurrence counts
- Multi-format log parsing (PHP, Apache, Nginx)
- Custom error handler for shared hosting
- Dashboard widget with AJAX loading
- Advanced filtering by error type
- CSV export functionality
- Hide/unhide error management
- Reverse file reading optimization
- Full stack trace viewing
- Auto-detection of available log files
- Deactivation feedback system
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best LogWatch alternatives
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FAQ
LogWatch: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 29, 2026
Is LogWatch free?
Yes. LogWatch is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is LogWatch safe to use in 2026?
LogWatch works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. Was last updated 6 months ago, and scores 42/100 on our health check.
How many websites use LogWatch?
LogWatch is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 286 times since it launched in April 2026. It was downloaded 48 times in the last 30 days.
Does LogWatch work with WordPress 7.1?
LogWatch is officially tested up to WordPress 6.9.9, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does LogWatch need?
LogWatch requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was LogWatch last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.0, was released on April 9, 2026 (6 months ago).
Who makes LogWatch?
LogWatch is developed and maintained by Pixel Solutions.
What are the best alternatives to LogWatch?
The most popular alternatives to LogWatch are Freesoul Deactivate Plugins (8K+ installs), Fatal Error Notify (6K+ installs) and Debug Log Manager Tool (3K+ installs).
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