Donation Thermometer vs GiveWP (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 GiveWP at #1. GiveWP leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. 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.
GiveWP
GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform
Accept donations and begin fundraising with GiveWP, the highest rated WordPress donation plugin for online giving.
Who leads on what
GiveWP leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
GiveWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in Donation Plugins.
GiveWP has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Donation Thermometer has 12, GiveWP has 707. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
GiveWP has more reviews behind its score: 707 against 12.
GiveWP was updated more recently, on September 3, 2026; Donation Thermometer on August 18, 2026.
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
Donation Thermometer does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
GiveWP
Pick GiveWP if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Donation Thermometer vs GiveWP side by side
| Donation Thermometer | GiveWP | |
|---|---|---|
| Donation Plugins ranking | #6 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 12 | 707 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 104,757 | 12,308,878 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 18, 2026 | Sep 3, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 5, 2012 | Apr 7, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.2 | 7.4 |
| 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
GiveWP 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 GiveWP can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Donation Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Donation Thermometer vs GiveWP: common questions
Is Donation Thermometer better than GiveWP?
GiveWP leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. GiveWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in Donation Plugins.
Which has more users, Donation Thermometer or GiveWP?
GiveWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #6 in Donation Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Donation Thermometer or GiveWP?
GiveWP has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Donation Thermometer and GiveWP free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Donation Thermometer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. GiveWP may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Donation Thermometer and GiveWP
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Charitable
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Better Payment
5,000+ installs · 4.6 from 14 reviews
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Paymattic
3,000+ installs · 4.8 from 44 reviews
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7,000+ installs · 4.9 from 99 reviews
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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.