Variable Inspector vs WP Debugging
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
WP Debugging leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #1,749, ahead of Variable Inspector at #13,055. Over the last 7 days WP Debugging slipped 5 places and Variable Inspector climbed 52 places. WP Debugging has the largest install base, roughly 50× the next: 10K+ active installs against 200+ for Variable Inspector. Downloads this week: WP Debugging 976 and Variable Inspector 70. Ratings: Variable Inspector 5★ from 5 and WP Debugging 5★ from 21 reviews.
| Metric | Variable Inspector | WP Debugging |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #13,055 ▲ 52 | #1,749 ▼ 5 |
| Active installs | 200+ | 10K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 70 | 976 |
| Rating | 5★ (5) | 5★ (21) |
| Last updated | May 22, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| Current version | 2.7.1 | 2.12.6 |
| Best rank on record | #12,968 | #1,723 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Apr 2022 | Feb 2019 |
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, Variable Inspector or WP Debugging?
By active installs, WP Debugging: 10K+ sites run it against 200+ for Variable Inspector, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 18, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Variable Inspector or WP Debugging?
WP Debugging, at #1,749 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Variable Inspector at #13,055. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Variable Inspector or WP Debugging 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.