Display PHP Version vs WP Dashboard Messages
Two WordPress plugins head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
These aren’t all alternatives to each other — they do different jobs — so this page compares popularity only, not features.
At a glance
Display PHP Version leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #993, ahead of WP Dashboard Messages at #9,841. Over the last 7 days Display PHP Version climbed 1 place and WP Dashboard Messages slipped 55 places. Display PHP Version has the largest install base, roughly 75× the next: 30K+ active installs against 400+ for WP Dashboard Messages. Downloads this week: Display PHP Version 220 and WP Dashboard Messages 40. Ratings: Display PHP Version 4.9★ from 35 and WP Dashboard Messages 5★ from 3 reviews.
| Metric | Display PHP Version | WP Dashboard Messages |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #993 ▲ 1 | #9,841 ▼ 55 |
| Active installs | 30K+ | 400+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 220 | 40 |
| Rating | 4.9★ (35) | 5★ (3) |
| Last updated | May 16, 2023 | Dec 5, 2025 |
| Current version | 1.8 | 1.1.7 |
| Best rank on record | #976 | #9,774 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Jul 2011 | May 2020 |
Highlighted cells mark the strongest figure in each row. Rank and installs are from the latest WordPress.org capture; downloads are the last seven captured days.
Ranking history Lower is better
Active installs
Downloads per day
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Display PHP Version or WP Dashboard Messages?
By active installs, Display PHP Version: 30K+ sites run it against 400+ for WP Dashboard Messages, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 19, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Display PHP Version or WP Dashboard Messages?
Display PHP Version, at #993 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with WP Dashboard Messages at #9,841. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Display PHP Version or WP Dashboard Messages alternatives to each other?
Not all of them. Some of these plugins do different jobs and many sites run more than one. This page compares their popularity, not their features.
Where do these numbers come from?
WordPress.org publishes each plugin’s active install count and its position on the popular list. This site records both every day, along with per-day downloads and ratings, so the charts above show how the plugins have moved over time rather than a single day.