BlackBox Debug Bar

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

Directory rank vs rivals

wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 100% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Modeled within the band wp.org reports; tightens as we track daily.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price. A small install base leaves thin data to model from.

1. ★★★★★ jolanxbl

   5.0y ago

   The bar displays on the main site for people not signed in and visiting the site. Could not access the plugins section of WordPress to deactivate it; had to remove through File Manager. Status bar just sits at “Waiting for [site].com”

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ Anna Bansaghi

   8.3y ago

   Immediate feedback on a great majority of errors. Added a conditional red background to the Errors, and with this modification I have never miss even a notice anymore. Thank you very much!

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ Anonymous User 14198427

   11.6y ago

   Thank you for that tool! But I think, it’s very insecure, because you can also see every database query, even if you are not logged in. If a hacker is searching for your databases name, he might be very glad to find it so easy… :/

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ Andrew Schultz

   12.0y ago

   Wow, such a handy tool to have! So easy to view your debug information without it messing up all the formatting of your pages!

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ Aleksandar Urošević

   12.5y ago

   Simply – a must have! If your WP is slow, BlackBox will show you SQL queries and PHP errors. Also easy to debug on frontend.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ Chris

   12.8y ago

   I really love this plugin. In my mind every WordPress developer should have this one installed. It can point out errors, performance issues and in the end will increase the quality of your code!

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ Michael Cannon

   13.0y ago

   https://github.com/michael-cannon/blackbox-debug-bar

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ eugene.manuilov

   13.0y ago

   This is very useful plugin, which helps a lot in dev. But it has to be integrated within standard admin bar and should not overlay it.

   Read on wp.org ↗

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 7.2.16 · WP 5.2.4

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2026-08-31 80+ → 90+ up after 22 days in tier
2. 2026-08-09 90+ → 80+ down after 46 days in tier
3. 2026-06-24 80+ → 90+ up after 20 days in tier
4. 2026-06-04 90+ → 80+ down after 9 days in tier
5. 2026-05-26 80+ → 90+ up after 5 days in tier
6. 2026-05-21 90+ → 80+ down after 121 days in tier
7. 2026-01-20 80+ → 90+ up after 53 days in tier
8. 2025-11-28 90+ → 80+ down after 5 days in tier

Competes with

The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).

• Black Bar 500+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags A
• Dev Studio — installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags D
• Query Monitor 200K+ installs · 4.9★ · 1 shared tag B
• Freesoul Deactivate Plugins – Disable plugins on individual WordPress pages 8K+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A
• Fatal Error Notify 6K+ installs · 4.4★ · 1 shared tag B
• Debug Log Manager Tool 3K+ installs · 4.6★ · 1 shared tag A

Embed this report card

Drop a live Pulse card for BlackBox Debug Bar into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

BlackBox Debug Bar: 90+ active installs, 4.6★ (15 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/blackbox-debug-bar