Donation Thermometer vs FundEngine (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Donation Plugins top 10: Donation Thermometer at #7 and FundEngine at #13. Donation Thermometer leads on 4 of the 6 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.
FundEngine
FundEngine – Donation and Crowdfunding Platform
FundEngine - FundEngine is a fundraising and crowdfunding plugin with PayPal, Stripe, and WooCommerce payment support.
Who leads on what
Donation Thermometer leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
Donation Thermometer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #13 in Donation Plugins.
Donation Thermometer has more users: 2,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Donation Thermometer has 12, FundEngine has 22. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
FundEngine has more reviews behind its score: 22 against 12.
Donation Thermometer was updated more recently, on October 7, 2026; FundEngine on August 20, 2026.
Donation Thermometer was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 2,775 times against 813.
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, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
FundEngine
Pick FundEngine if you want the score backed by more reviews.
Donation Thermometer vs FundEngine side by side
| Donation Thermometer | FundEngine | |
|---|---|---|
| Donation Plugins ranking | #7 | #13 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 12 | 22 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 109,736 | 70,683 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 2,775 | 813 |
| Last updated | Oct 7, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 5, 2012 | Aug 27, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Donation Thermometer ratings
FundEngine 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 FundEngine can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Donation Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Donation Thermometer vs FundEngine: common questions
Is Donation Thermometer better than FundEngine?
Donation Thermometer leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Donation Thermometer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #13 in Donation Plugins.
Which has more users, Donation Thermometer or FundEngine?
Donation Thermometer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #7 against #13 in Donation Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Donation Thermometer or FundEngine?
Donation Thermometer has more users: 2,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Donation Thermometer and FundEngine free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Donation Thermometer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. FundEngine may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Donation Thermometer and FundEngine
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Donation Plugins comparisons
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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.