As a WordPress developer or site owner, having the right debugging tools can make a world of difference when it comes to troubleshooting issues and optimizing your website. In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best free WordPress debugging plugins for 2025 that will help you identify and resolve problems quickly and efficiently.
1. Query Monitor
Query Monitor is a powerful and versatile debugging plugin that provides a wealth of information about your WordPress site’s performance. It’s an essential tool for developers looking to optimize database queries, track PHP errors, and monitor various aspects of their websites.
Key features:
- Database query analysis
- PHP error tracking
- Hook and action debugging
- Performance profiling
- HTTP API call monitoring
Query Monitor stands out for its user-friendly interface and the ability to filter information by plugin, theme, or function. This makes it easier to pinpoint the source of performance issues or errors.
2. Debug Bar
Debug Bar is a simple yet effective debugging plugin that adds a debug menu to the WordPress admin bar. It provides quick access to important debugging information without cluttering your admin interface.
Key features:
- PHP warnings and notices display
- Database queries overview
- Memory usage tracking
- Request and page generation time monitoring
Debug Bar is particularly useful for developers who want a quick overview of their site’s performance without diving into complex data. Its simplicity makes it an excellent choice for beginners and experienced developers alike.
3. Log Deprecated Notices
As WordPress evolves, some functions and features become deprecated. The Log Deprecated Notices plugin helps you stay on top of these changes by logging the use of deprecated functions, files, and function arguments.
Key features:
- Logs deprecated function calls
- Identifies outdated code
- Helps maintain compatibility with future WordPress versions
This plugin is invaluable for developers who want to ensure their themes and plugins remain compatible with the latest WordPress versions. By highlighting deprecated code, it allows you to update your projects proactively.
4. Debug This
Debug This is a comprehensive debugging plugin that provides a wide range of debugging tools accessible directly from the WordPress admin bar. It’s designed to make debugging easier for developers of all skill levels.
Key features:
- Over 80 debug views
- Custom debug views creation
- Easy access through admin bar
- Detailed information on various WordPress components
Debug This is particularly useful for developers who need to quickly access specific debugging information. Its extensive range of debug views covers almost every aspect of WordPress functionality.
5. WP Debugging
WP Debugging is a simple plugin that enables WordPress debug mode with a single click. It’s perfect for users who want to enable debugging without manually editing the wp-config.php file.
Key features:
- One-click debug mode activation
- Automatic creation of debug.log file
- Option to display errors on-screen
- Easy toggling of various debug settings
This plugin is ideal for users who are not comfortable editing core WordPress files but still need to enable debugging features. Its simplicity makes it accessible to beginners while still being useful for experienced developers.
6. Error Log Monitor
Error Log Monitor is a plugin that helps you keep track of errors logged by WordPress. It displays the most recent errors in your WordPress dashboard and can send email notifications when new errors occur.
Key features:
- Dashboard widget for recent errors
- Email notifications for new errors
- Customizable error display settings
- Support for custom error logs
This plugin is particularly useful for site administrators who want to stay informed about errors without constantly checking the error log. The email notification feature ensures you’re always aware of new issues as they arise.
7. Plugin Detective
Plugin Detective is an innovative debugging tool that helps you identify plugin conflicts. It uses an interactive process to systematically enable and disable plugins, helping you pinpoint which plugin is causing issues on your site.
Key features:
- Interactive troubleshooting process
- Automatic plugin conflict detection
- Easy-to-follow step-by-step guide
- Works even when your site is experiencing fatal errors
Plugin Detective is especially useful when you’re dealing with the dreaded “white screen of death” or other issues caused by plugin conflicts. Its user-friendly interface makes it accessible to users of all skill levels.
8. Debug Log Manager
Debug Log Manager simplifies the process of managing WordPress debug logs. It allows you to view, download, and clear debug logs directly from your WordPress dashboard.
Key features:
- Easy debug log viewing and management
- Option to enable/disable debugging
- Log file size monitoring
- Automatic log rotation
This plugin is particularly useful for developers who need to frequently check and manage debug logs. Its intuitive interface makes log management a breeze, even for those new to WordPress debugging.
9. Query Monitor Database Queries
Query Monitor Database Queries is a lightweight plugin that focuses specifically on monitoring and analyzing database queries. It’s perfect for developers looking to optimize their site’s database performance.
Key features:
- Detailed database query analysis
- Query time and memory usage tracking
- Duplicate query detection
- Slow query highlighting
This plugin is ideal for developers who need to dive deep into database performance issues. Its focused approach makes it easier to identify and resolve database-related problems.
10. WP Crontrol
While not strictly a debugging plugin, WP Crontrol is an invaluable tool for managing and debugging WordPress cron jobs. It allows you to view, edit, and create cron events, which can be crucial for identifying performance issues related to scheduled tasks.
Key features:
- Cron event management
- Custom cron interval creation
- Cron event testing
- Detailed cron job information display
WP Crontrol is particularly useful for developers working with plugins or themes that rely heavily on scheduled tasks. It can help identify issues with cron jobs that might be affecting site performance.
Conclusion
These 10 free WordPress debugging plugins offer a wide range of tools to help you identify and resolve issues on your WordPress site. Whether you’re a beginner just starting to explore WordPress development or an experienced developer looking to streamline your debugging process, there’s a plugin on this list that can help.
While these plugins are powerful tools, it’s important to use them responsibly. Always back up your site before making any significant changes, and consider using a staging environment for extensive debugging to avoid affecting your live site.
