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Hide WP Toolbar

By Jeremy Saxey

Site Administration & Utilities / Site Health & Diagnostics

Hide WP Toolbar Review - In-Depth Analysis

Easily hide or show the front-end WordPress Admin Toolbar with a click of a button.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.82/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 13+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

5 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Easily hide or show the front-end WordPress Admin Toolbar with a click of a button. The plugin adds a special button to the right side of the WordPress Admin Toolbar that only displays when you are outside the admin area of WordPress on the front-end. Clicking it will make the admin bar slide off the page to the top left corner, leaving only the hide/show button visible.

Clicking the button again will restore the Toolbar to its original position. The shown/hidden position is remembered between page visits so that it can be kept hidden away until you are ready to bring it back.

There are no options or configuration. Just install and activate the plugin. When you exit the admin area, you will see the button to the far right of the Toolbar.

I actually like the WordPress Toolbar. It is a convenient way to go back and forth from the admin area to the public website. However, when I am doing design modifications for a theme, the Toolbar can be visually distracting. I wanted a quick way to hide the WordPress Toolbar when needed, but otherwise keep it around.

This plugin is on Github. Submit a pull request if you would like to contribute.

Comparing to Alternatives

Hide WP Toolbar is a specialized plugin designed to hide the WordPress admin toolbar efficiently. It has several alternatives that offer similar functionality with varying features.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and efficient functionality focused on hiding the admin toolbar.
Highly rated with a 4.9 out of 5 stars from users.
Lightweight and easy to use without unnecessary complexity.
Allows users to preview their website without logging out.
Quick installation and setup process.

Weaknesses

Known medium severity security vulnerability with no current fix.
Does not save toolbar state between page refreshes as noted by some users.
Restore button functionality issues reported by users.
Lacks advanced customization options compared to some alternatives.

User Sentiment Analysis

User reviews are overwhelmingly positive with 92.3% giving 5 stars and the remainder 4 stars. There are no 1 or 2 star reviews, indicating strong satisfaction overall.

Positive highlights

"Right on – job done fast and efficiently!" - danielepais
"Perfect." - ianstudio
"Thank you – excellent and useful!" - raoulunger
"Very good plugin, I can preview my website in detail without logging out." - diegoamorin
"Almost perfect." - Eric (noting minor issue with toolbar state saving)

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Toolbar state is not saved between page refreshes, requiring repeated clicks.
Restore button icon is broken and does not function as expected.
Security vulnerability related to missing authorization remains unpatched.
Limited feature set without advanced customization options.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a straightforward and lightweight plugin to hide the WordPress admin toolbar quickly and efficiently without needing advanced features.

Not ideal for

Users who require robust security assurances or advanced toolbar customization options, or those who need the toolbar state to persist across sessions.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides the core functionality of hiding the WordPress admin toolbar effectively with no cost.

Final Verdict

Hide WP Toolbar excels in delivering a simple and effective solution for hiding the WordPress admin toolbar, earning high praise from users for its ease of use and reliability. Its free availability makes it an attractive choice for users who want a no-fuss plugin to manage the admin toolbar visibility.

However, the presence of a medium severity security vulnerability with no current fix and minor usability issues such as the toolbar state not being saved and a broken restore button icon are notable drawbacks. Users prioritizing security or advanced features may want to consider alternatives.