Donations via PayPal vs Donation Platform for WooCommerce (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: Donations via PayPal at #5 and Donation Platform for WooCommerce at #4. They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Donations via PayPal
Easy, simple setup to add a PayPal Donation button as a Widget or with a shortcode.
Donation Platform for WooCommerce
Donation Platform for WooCommerce: Fundraising & Donation Management
Open source donation system for your fundraising that supports recurring donations and more
Who leads on what
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.
Donation Platform for WooCommerce ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #5 in Donation Plugins.
Donations via PayPal has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 7,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Donations via PayPal has 27, Donation Platform for WooCommerce has 99. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Donation Platform for WooCommerce has more reviews behind its score: 99 against 27.
Donations via PayPal was updated more recently, on August 17, 2026; Donation Platform for WooCommerce on August 16, 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.
Donations via PayPal
Pick Donations via PayPal if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Donation Platform for WooCommerce
Pick Donation Platform for WooCommerce if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Donations via PayPal vs Donation Platform for WooCommerce side by side
| Donations via PayPal | Donation Platform for WooCommerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Donation Plugins ranking | #5 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.9 |
| Reviews | 27 | 99 |
| Active installs | 20,000+ | 7,000+ |
| Total downloads | 988,933 | 88,234 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 17, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 |
| First published | May 8, 2009 | Oct 9, 2021 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.1 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Donations via PayPal ratings
Donation Platform for WooCommerce 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 Donations via PayPal nor Donation Platform for WooCommerce can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Donation Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Donations via PayPal vs Donation Platform for WooCommerce: common questions
Is Donations via PayPal better than Donation Platform for WooCommerce?
They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Donation Platform for WooCommerce ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #5 in Donation Plugins.
Which has more users, Donations via PayPal or Donation Platform for WooCommerce?
Donation Platform for WooCommerce ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #5 in Donation Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Donations via PayPal or Donation Platform for WooCommerce?
Donations via PayPal has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 7,000+.
Are Donations via PayPal and Donation Platform for WooCommerce free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Donations via PayPal may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Donation Platform for WooCommerce may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Donations via PayPal and Donation Platform for WooCommerce
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.