GiveWP 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: GiveWP at #1 and Donations via PayPal at #5. GiveWP leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
GiveWP
GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform
Accept donations and begin fundraising with GiveWP, the highest rated WordPress donation plugin for online giving.
Donations via PayPal
Easy, simple setup to add a PayPal Donation button as a Widget or with a shortcode.
Who leads on what
GiveWP leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
GiveWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in Donation Plugins.
GiveWP has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: GiveWP has 707, Donations via PayPal has 27. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
GiveWP has more reviews behind its score: 707 against 27.
GiveWP was updated more recently, on September 3, 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.
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.
Donations via PayPal
Donations via PayPal 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 vs Donations via PayPal side by side
| GiveWP | Donations via PayPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Donation Plugins ranking | #1 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 707 | 27 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 12,308,878 | 988,933 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 3, 2026 | Aug 17, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 7, 2015 | May 8, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
GiveWP 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 GiveWP nor Donations via PayPal can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Donation Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
GiveWP vs Donations via PayPal: common questions
Is GiveWP better than Donations via PayPal?
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 #5 in Donation Plugins.
Which has more users, GiveWP or Donations via PayPal?
GiveWP ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in Donation Plugins.
Which is rated higher, GiveWP or Donations via PayPal?
GiveWP has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are GiveWP and Donations via PayPal free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. GiveWP may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Donations via PayPal may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to GiveWP and Donations via PayPal
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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