Column Shortcodes vs Genesis Widget Column Classes (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Genesis Widget Column Classes
6.0K+ 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 6.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Column Shortcodes has accumulated 894K+ total downloads while Genesis Widget Column Classes has 91K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Column Shortcodes | Genesis Widget Column Classes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ◄ | 4.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 134 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 60K+ | ◄ | 6.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 894K+ | ◄ | 91K+ |
| 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+ | 3.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.2.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.0.1 | 1.3.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Column Shortcodes
Genesis Widget Column Classes
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Column Shortcodes averaged approximately 37 daily downloads while Genesis Widget Column Classes averaged 5.
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 Widget Column Classes Reviews
More trouble than it’s worth
Tried using thirds will not work on my theme the %’s are all wrong, pointless margin left makes the grid look out of place. Easier to write your own CSS.
Simple and Beautiful
Such a simple thing to add column classes to widget, but it makes working with genesis themes so much easier. Haven’t come across any bugs either, it just work. Thanks for the great plugin!
Super Plugin with Stellar Support
A great plugin that works seamlessly in the background to give your site that polished look. Stellar Support by Jory Hogeveen when you need it too!
More Column Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Column Shortcodes and Genesis Widget Column Classes
Make entire columns, sections and containers clickable in Elementor — improve navigation and user experience with just one link.
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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.
Adds a sortable column to the posts and pages admin list with the word count of each page/post.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.