Column Shortcodes vs Featured Category Widget (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Featured Category Widget
100 active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Column Shortcodes has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 134 reviews) and leads in active installations (60K+ vs 100). Both are free WordPress plugins. Column Shortcodes has accumulated 894K+ total downloads while Featured Category Widget has 29K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Column Shortcodes | Featured Category Widget | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ◄ | 4.2/5 |
| Total Reviews | 134 | ◄ | 5 |
| Active Installs | 60K+ | ◄ | 100 |
| Total Downloads | 894K+ | ◄ | 29K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 years ago | ◄ | 10 years ago |
| First Released | 2012 | 2012 | |
| Age | 14 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.8+ | 2.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.0.1 | 2.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Column Shortcodes
Featured Category Widget
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
Column Shortcodes Reviews
Basic column shortcode, I’m sure there are better ones out there.
I only use this because it’s what my client already had installed and they’ve been using it for years. When I asked why I can’t align content vertically within a column I was simply told, “it can’t do
Perfect
Perfect plugin! Thanks a lot.
Easy to use
Simple and easy to use, that is the reason I like it.
Featured Category Widget Reviews
No reviews yet
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Column Shortcodes and Featured Category Widget
Make entire columns, sections and containers clickable in Elementor — improve navigation and user experience with just one link.
Easily equalize the height of columns or any collection of elements.
With the ACF Columns plugin it is possible to arrange ACF fields in column groups in the post editor.
Turbo charge your posts admin for any custom post type with sortable filters and columns, and auto-registration of metaboxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.