Donations via PayPal 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: Donations via PayPal at #5 and FundEngine at #13. Donations via PayPal leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. 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.
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
Donations via PayPal leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
Donations via PayPal ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #13 in Donation Plugins.
Donations via PayPal has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Donations via PayPal has 27, FundEngine has 22. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Donations via PayPal has more reviews behind its score: 27 against 22.
FundEngine was updated more recently, on August 20, 2026; Donations via PayPal on August 17, 2026.
Donations via PayPal was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 1,584 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.
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, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
FundEngine
Pick FundEngine if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Donations via PayPal vs FundEngine side by side
| Donations via PayPal | FundEngine | |
|---|---|---|
| Donation Plugins ranking | #5 | #13 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 27 | 22 |
| Active installs | 20,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 991,273 | 70,683 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 1,584 | 813 |
| Last updated | Aug 17, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | May 8, 2009 | Aug 27, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Donations via PayPal 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 Donations via PayPal nor FundEngine can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Donation Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Donations via PayPal vs FundEngine: common questions
Is Donations via PayPal better than FundEngine?
Donations via PayPal leads on 4 of the 6 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 #13 in Donation Plugins.
Which has more users, Donations via PayPal or FundEngine?
Donations via PayPal ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #13 in Donation Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Donations via PayPal or FundEngine?
Donations via PayPal has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Donations via PayPal and FundEngine free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Donations via PayPal may also sell a paid version or add-ons. FundEngine may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Donations via PayPal and FundEngine
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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