Donation Thermometer vs Donorbox (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Donation Plugins top 10: Donation Thermometer at #6 and Donorbox at #9. They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Donation Thermometer
Displays a fully customisable thermometer for tracking donations or any other goal.
Donorbox
Donorbox – Free Recurring Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform
Donorbox is a powerful and secure donation management plugin for WordPress. We are the only donation plugin for WordPress that offers a fast feature-f …
Who leads on what
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Donation Thermometer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Donation Plugins.
Donorbox has more users: 8,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Donation Thermometer has 12, Donorbox has 34. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Donorbox has more reviews behind its score: 34 against 12.
Donation Thermometer was updated more recently, on August 18, 2026; Donorbox on June 30, 2025.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Donation Thermometer
Pick Donation Thermometer if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Donorbox
Pick Donorbox if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Donation Thermometer vs Donorbox side by side
| Donation Thermometer | Donorbox | |
|---|---|---|
| Donation Plugins ranking | #6 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 12 | 34 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 8,000+ |
| Total downloads | 104,757 | 151,918 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 18, 2026 | Jun 30, 2025 |
| First published | Apr 5, 2012 | Jan 10, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 6.8.8 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Donation Thermometer ratings
Donorbox ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Donation Thermometer nor Donorbox can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Donation Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Donation Thermometer vs Donorbox: common questions
Is Donation Thermometer better than Donorbox?
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Donation Thermometer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Donation Plugins.
Which has more users, Donation Thermometer or Donorbox?
Donation Thermometer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Donation Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Donation Thermometer or Donorbox?
Donorbox has more users: 8,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Donation Thermometer and Donorbox free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Donation Thermometer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Donorbox may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Donation Thermometer and Donorbox
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.