Donation Thermometer vs Donations via PayPal (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 Donations via PayPal at #5. Donations via PayPal leads on 3 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.
Donations via PayPal
Easy, simple setup to add a PayPal Donation button as a Widget or with a shortcode.
Who leads on what
Donations via PayPal leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Donations via PayPal ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in Donation Plugins.
Donations via PayPal has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Donation Thermometer has 12, Donations via PayPal has 27. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Donations via PayPal has more reviews behind its score: 27 against 12.
Donation Thermometer was updated more recently, on August 18, 2026; Donations via PayPal on August 17, 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
Pick Donation Thermometer if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Donations via PayPal
Pick Donations via PayPal if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Donation Thermometer vs Donations via PayPal side by side
| Donation Thermometer | Donations via PayPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Donation Plugins ranking | #6 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 12 | 27 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 104,757 | 988,933 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 18, 2026 | Aug 17, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 5, 2012 | May 8, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| 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
Donations via PayPal 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 Donations via PayPal can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Donation Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Donation Thermometer vs Donations via PayPal: common questions
Is Donation Thermometer better than Donations via PayPal?
Donations via PayPal leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Donations via PayPal ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in Donation Plugins.
Which has more users, Donation Thermometer or Donations via PayPal?
Donations via PayPal ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in Donation Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Donation Thermometer or Donations via PayPal?
Donations via PayPal has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Donation Thermometer and Donations via PayPal free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Donation Thermometer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Donations via PayPal may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Donation Thermometer and Donations via PayPal
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Donation Plugins comparisons
- Better Payment vs Donation Thermometer
- Better Payment vs Donations via PayPal
- Charitable vs Donation Thermometer
- Charitable vs Donations via PayPal
- Donation Thermometer vs Donorbox
- Donation Thermometer vs Accept Donations with PayPal & Stripe
- Donation Thermometer vs GiveWP
- Donation Thermometer vs Donation Platform for WooCommerce
- Donation Thermometer vs Stripe Payment Forms by WP Full Pay
- Donation Thermometer vs Paymattic
- Donorbox vs Donations via PayPal
- Accept Donations with PayPal & Stripe vs Donations via PayPal
Weekly · free
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.