Donation Thermometer vs Paymattic (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 Paymattic at #8. Paymattic 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.
Paymattic
Paymattic – Secure, Simple Payment & Donation with Subscription Payments, Recurring Donations, Customer Management
Create payment form, donate button to accept payments and donations. Manage subscription payment, recurring donation with customer/donor management.
Who leads on what
Paymattic leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Donation Thermometer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Donation Plugins.
Paymattic has more users: 3,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Donation Thermometer has 12, Paymattic has 44. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Paymattic has more reviews behind its score: 44 against 12.
Paymattic was updated more recently, on August 20, 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
Pick Donation Thermometer if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them.
Paymattic
Pick Paymattic if 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 Paymattic side by side
| Donation Thermometer | Paymattic | |
|---|---|---|
| Donation Plugins ranking | #6 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.4 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 12 | 44 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Total downloads | 104,757 | 174,021 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 18, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 5, 2012 | Feb 15, 2019 |
| 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
Paymattic 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 Paymattic can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Donation Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Donation Thermometer vs Paymattic: common questions
Is Donation Thermometer better than Paymattic?
Paymattic leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Donation Thermometer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Donation Plugins.
Which has more users, Donation Thermometer or Paymattic?
Donation Thermometer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Donation Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Donation Thermometer or Paymattic?
Paymattic has more users: 3,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Donation Thermometer and Paymattic free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Donation Thermometer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Paymattic may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Donation Thermometer and Paymattic
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.