Xdebug vs UDB

Xdebug8.6Visit UDB8.0Visit

Higher score Xdebug #5 in Debuggers 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Xdebug

vs

UDB #10 in Debuggers 8.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Undo

• Xdebug fits best

  PHP web application debugging

• UDB fits best

  Linux C/C++ reverse debugging

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Side by side

Feature	Xdebug 8.6/10 Visit ↗	UDB 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.6	8.0
Ranking	#5 in Debuggers	#10 in Debuggers
Best for	PHP web application debugging	Linux C/C++ reverse debugging
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	£200/user/yr	—
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted	Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux	Linux
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Email, Community, Docs
Integrations	6 integrations	4 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Xdebug 3/5 · UDB 5/5
Remote debugging	✓	✓
Conditional breakpoints	✓	✓
Exception breakpoints	✓	✓
Time-travel debugging	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Core dump debugging	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Supported languages	PHP	C, C++
Target platforms	Linux, macOS, Windows, web/CLI PHP environments	Linux
Our review
Pros	Interactive and remote debugging with conditional and exception breakpoints Profiling, tracing, stack traces, and code coverage in one PHP extension Works with Visual Studio Code, PhpStorm, Eclipse, and other listed tools	Replays recorded execution forward or backward Supports core dumps, remote debugging, and GDB compatibility Integrates with VS Code, CLion, Eclipse, and Emacs
Cons	Focused on PHP rather than multi-language debugging Advanced support requires a paid annual subscription The Community plan provides low issue priority and Stack Overflow support	Supports Linux rather than multiple operating systems No general free plan for ongoing use Enterprise package pricing requires contacting sales
Our verdict	Xdebug is an open-source PHP extension for developers who need more than basic error messages. It supports interactive step debugging through an IDE or editor, remote debugging connections, conditional and exception breakpoints, enhanced… Read the review →	UDB is an interactive debugger for developers working with Linux C and C++ applications. Its central capability is recorded program history: developers can replay execution forward or backward while inspecting variables and memory. It also… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Xdebug — where it wins

  • Interactive and remote debugging with conditional and exception breakpoints
  • Profiling, tracing, stack traces, and code coverage in one PHP extension
  • Works with Visual Studio Code, PhpStorm, Eclipse, and other listed tools

  Where it doesn't

  • Focused on PHP rather than multi-language debugging
  • Advanced support requires a paid annual subscription
  • The Community plan provides low issue priority and Stack Overflow support

• UDB — where it wins

  • Replays recorded execution forward or backward
  • Supports core dumps, remote debugging, and GDB compatibility
  • Integrates with VS Code, CLion, Eclipse, and Emacs

  Where it doesn't

  • Supports Linux rather than multiple operating systems
  • No general free plan for ongoing use
  • Enterprise package pricing requires contacting sales

• Xdebug8.6/10 · Free plan

  A focused PHP debugger with remote sessions, profiling, tracing, and coverage analysis.

  Visit XdebugFull verdict →
• UDB8.0/10 · Pricing on request

  A Linux C/C++ debugger built around recorded forward and reverse execution.

  Visit UndoFull verdict →