Sometimes you don't need to track errors. You just need to peek under the hood and see what's going on. Debug This is built for exactly that. It gives you dozens of inspection reports about your WordPress installation from the front-end admin bar. WP Debug Toolkit takes a different approach, focusing on real-time error monitoring, crash recovery, and database performance.

In this article, we'll compare WP Debug Toolkit and Debug This across their error tracking, database insights, site monitoring, inspection, interface, and pricing. Let's see how they compare.

Error Tracking and Log Management

Feature	WP Debug Toolkit	Debug This
One-Click WP_DEBUG Toggle	✅	❌
Real-Time PHP Error Display	✅	❌
Error Severity Categorization	✅	❌
Component Attribution (Plugin/Theme/Core)	✅	❌
Advanced Search with Operators (+/-)	✅	❌
Filter by Error Level Toggle	✅	❌
Integrated File Viewer with Code Highlighting	✅	❌
Copy/Export Logs (CSV, JSON)	✅	❌
Auto-Refresh for Live Monitoring	✅	❌
Historical Log Storage	✅	❌
Crash-Resilient Access (Works During White Screen)	✅	❌
View WP Debug Log	❌	✅

Debug This includes a mode to view the raw WP debug log file, but that's the extent of its error tracking. It does not capture PHP errors in real time, categorize them by severity, or provide any filtering or search capabilities. It also does not manage WP_DEBUG constants for you.

WP Debug Toolkit automates debug mode setup, displays errors in real time with color-coded labels, offers advanced search and filtering, includes an integrated file viewer, and keeps a standalone app accessible even during a white screen.

Database Query Performance and Insights

Feature	WP Debug Toolkit	Debug This
Full SQL Query Tracking	✅	✅
Component Attribution (Plugin/Theme/Core)	✅	❌
Slow Query Detection with Custom Threshold	✅	❌
N+1 Query Pattern Detection	✅	❌
Query Complexity Scoring (1 to 10)	✅	❌
Real-Time Query Monitoring Dashboard	✅	❌
File-Based Storage (JSON on Disk)	✅	❌
Query Export (CSV, JSON)	✅	❌
Historical Query Data	✅	❌
SAVEQUERIES Must Be Manually Enabled	❌	✅

Debug This can display saved queries for the current request, but only if SAVEQUERIES is manually enabled in wp-config.php. It shows the raw query data without any analysis, filtering, component attribution, or slow query highlighting.

WP Debug Toolkit includes a full Query Viewer that automatically tracks every SQL query, attributes each to its source, assigns complexity scores, detects N+1 patterns, and stores everything as JSON files on disk so monitoring doesn't add load to your database.

Site Monitoring and Proactive Alerts

Feature	WP Debug Toolkit	Debug This
Automated Email Alerts on Error	✅	❌
Crash Recovery System	✅	❌
Emergency Memory Protection	✅	❌
Dual-Channel Mail Delivery (WP Mail + PHP Fallback)	✅	❌
Rate Limiting for Email Alerts	✅	❌
White-Labeled Email Templates	✅	❌
Admin Bar Indicator	✅	✅

Debug This adds a menu item to the front-end admin bar, but it provides no monitoring or alerting features. It's an on-demand inspection tool, not a monitoring solution.

WP Debug Toolkit includes a full Site Monitor with automated email alerts, emergency memory protection, dual-channel mail delivery, and white-labeled templates for agencies managing client sites.

Site Inspection and Reporting

Feature	WP Debug Toolkit	Debug This
Current WP_Query Object	❌	✅
Blog Info and Options	❌	✅
Filters and Actions	❌	✅
Image Sizes	❌	✅
Globals and Constants	❌	✅
Menus	❌	✅
Object Cache Stats	❌	✅
Rewrite Rules	❌	✅
PHP and Server Information	❌	✅
Post Attachments	❌	✅
Post Types	❌	✅
Shortcodes	❌	✅
Sidebars and Widgets	❌	✅
Taxonomies and Terms	❌	✅
WP Cron Schedules and Jobs	❌	✅

This is where Debug This excels. It offers around 60 inspection modes that give you a deep look into nearly every aspect of your WordPress installation. From the front-end admin bar, you can view the current WP_Query object, all registered filters and actions, rewrite rules, cron schedules, shortcodes, post types, taxonomies, and much more. It also supports custom debug modes through extensions, making it a flexible inspection tool for developers.

WP Debug Toolkit focuses on error tracking, query monitoring, and crash recovery. It does not provide this kind of broad site inspection.

Interface and Ease of Use

Feature	WP Debug Toolkit	Debug This
One-Click Setup (No wp-config.php Editing)	✅	❌
Standalone Viewer App (Works Outside WordPress)	✅	❌
Front-End Admin Bar Integration	❌	✅
Tabbed Navigation	✅	❌
Keyboard Shortcuts	✅	❌
Integrated Code Editor with Line Highlighting	✅	❌
Custom URL for Viewer Access	✅	❌
Dark and Light Theme Switcher	✅	❌

Debug This lives entirely in the front-end admin bar. You hover over its menu item and select from dozens of inspection modes. It's simple and fast, but it requires the admin bar to be visible on the front-end, which may not be ideal for all sites.

WP Debug Toolkit runs a configuration wizard and provides a standalone viewer app with a custom URL, password protection, keyboard shortcuts, and both dark and light themes.

Performance Impact

Feature	WP Debug Toolkit	Debug This
File-Based Logging (No Database Overhead)	✅	❌
Automatic Log Cleanup by Age and Size	✅	❌
On-Demand Inspection (No Constant Overhead)	❌	✅
Plugin Footprint	Lightweight	Minimal

Debug This has a minimal footprint since it only runs when you actively click an inspection mode. There's no constant background monitoring or logging overhead.

WP Debug Toolkit uses file-based logging that stores query data as JSON on disk and includes automatic log cleanup to prevent storage from filling up.

Pricing

Plan	WP Debug Toolkit	Debug This
Free Version	❌	✅
100 Sites	$49/year	✅ (Free)
Unlimited Sites (Annual)	$99/year	✅ (Free)
Unlimited Sites (Lifetime)	$199 once	✅ (Free)

Debug This is a completely free and open source plugin. For developers who need quick, on-demand inspection of every aspect of their WordPress installation, it costs nothing.

WP Debug Toolkit starts at $49 per year for 100 sites, with an Unlimited Pro plan at $99 per year that includes crash recovery, automated alerts, database query monitoring, and the standalone viewer.

WP Debug Toolkit vs Debug This: Which Plugin Is Right for You?

These two plugins serve very different purposes. Debug This is an inspection tool. WP Debug Toolkit is a monitoring and crash recovery suite. Many developers use both.

Choose WP Debug Toolkit if:

• Real-time error monitoring with color-coded labels, search, and filtering matters to you.
• You need crash-resilient access to error logs. The standalone viewer works even during a white screen of death.
• Database query monitoring with N+1 detection, complexity scoring, and automatic component attribution is important.
• Automated email alerts, crash recovery, and emergency memory protection are part of your workflow.
• You manage client sites and want white-labeled reports and professional crash recovery tools.
• You prefer a complete, built-in feature set with a modern interface, keyboard shortcuts, and an integrated code viewer.
• You want file-based logging that doesn't add overhead to your database during monitoring.

Choose Debug This if:

• You need quick, on-demand inspection of your WordPress installation from the front-end admin bar.
• You want to view rewrite rules, cron jobs, shortcodes, post types, hooks, and dozens of other site details with one click.
• You don't need real-time error tracking, automated alerts, or crash recovery.
• You're comfortable manually enabling WP_DEBUG and SAVEQUERIES when needed.
• You want a free, lightweight inspection tool that extends easily with custom debug modes.
• Your workflow involves peeking under the hood during development rather than monitoring production sites.

Frequently Asked Questions: WP Debug Toolkit vs Debug This

How do I check WordPress error logs?

You can check WordPress error logs by enabling debug logging, reproducing the issue, and reviewing the debug.log file inside your site's /wp-content/ folder. A debugging plugin gives you a dashboard interface to view, search, and filter error logs without accessing server files directly. For more information, see How to Check WordPress Error Logs.

How do I debug issues in a WordPress plugin?

You can debug plugin issues by first confirming the plugin is involved, then using the right method for the symptom. Check error logs for PHP problems, use browser developer tools for JavaScript issues, and analyze database queries for performance problems. For more information, see How to Debug Issues in a WordPress Plugin.

How do I debug WordPress?

You can debug WordPress by tracing the visible problem back to its real cause. This means checking error logs, using browser developer tools, analyzing database queries, testing for plugin conflicts, or inspecting theme behavior. Different tools help with different parts of this process. For more information, see How to Debug WordPress.