Column Shortcodes vs Genesis Columns Advanced (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Genesis Columns Advanced
10K+ 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 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Column Shortcodes has accumulated 894K+ total downloads while Genesis Columns Advanced has 137K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Column Shortcodes | Genesis Columns Advanced | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.8/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 134 | ◄ | 25 |
| Active Installs | 60K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 894K+ | ◄ | 137K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 years ago | ► | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2012 | 2015 | |
| Age | 14 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.8+ | 3.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.0.1 | 2.0.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Column Shortcodes
Genesis Columns Advanced
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Column Shortcodes averaged approximately 37 daily downloads while Genesis Columns Advanced averaged 9.
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.
Genesis Columns Advanced Reviews
quite successful
I was using a different plugin before. I had a lot of problems. but now i am using this plugin. It takes up very little space. I recommend it to those who use classic editors.
Needs update for Gutenberg
I’m sure it’s awesome for classic editor but would be even more awesome if it worked with Gutenberg which it does not even though the plugin is compatible with newest version of WP.
Great
Very useful!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Column Shortcodes or Genesis Columns Advanced more popular?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.