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Column Shortcodes vs Meks Flexible Shortcodes (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

Column Shortcodes

Column Shortcodes

4.8(134)

60K+ active installs

Free

Updated 3 years ago
View Column Shortcodes
VS
Meks Flexible Shortcodes

Meks Flexible Shortcodes

4.2(10)

10K+ active installs

Free

Updated 9 months ago
View Meks Flexible Shortcodes

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 Meks Flexible Shortcodes has 448K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.8/5Column Shortcodes
◄
Meks Flexible Shortcodes4.2/5
Total Reviews
134Column Shortcodes
◄
Meks Flexible Shortcodes10
Active Installs
60K+Column Shortcodes
◄
Meks Flexible Shortcodes10K+
Total Downloads
894K+Column Shortcodes
◄
Meks Flexible Shortcodes448K+
Support Resolution
N/AColumn Shortcodes
Meks Flexible ShortcodesN/A
Last Updated
3 years agoColumn Shortcodes
►
Meks Flexible Shortcodes9 months ago
First Released
2012Column Shortcodes
Meks Flexible Shortcodes2014
Age
14 yearsColumn Shortcodes
Meks Flexible Shortcodes12 years
WP Requires
4.8+Column Shortcodes
Meks Flexible Shortcodes3.5+
PHP Requires
false+Column Shortcodes
Meks Flexible Shortcodesfalse+
Business Model
FreeColumn Shortcodes
Meks Flexible ShortcodesFree
Latest Version
1.0.1Column Shortcodes
Meks Flexible Shortcodes1.3.8

Rating Breakdown

Column Shortcodes

4.8/5(134 reviews)
5
91%
4
2%
3
1%
2
2%
1
3%

Meks Flexible Shortcodes

4.2/5(10 reviews)
5
80%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
20%

Recent Reviews

Column Shortcodes Reviews

by hmschiefer

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

by Viktor Jenerál

Perfect

Perfect plugin! Thanks a lot.

by maruska

Easy to use

Simple and easy to use, that is the reason I like it.

Meks Flexible Shortcodes Reviews

by azlivin008

Doesn’t work

Tried to insert shortcodes into Blocks and Contact Form 7 (have shortcode enable installed). Nothing shows up anywhere. Zippo, nada.

by Sir-Peter

No support

I am waiting for a support answer, but do not receive any. So how on earth can anyone recommend the company, software or anything from MEKS? This topic was modified 4 years, 9 months ago by Si

by paulvansann

Best shortcode plugin

Nice shortcode, and the best it’s free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Column Shortcodes or Meks Flexible Shortcodes more popular?
Column Shortcodes has 60K+ active installations while Meks Flexible Shortcodes has 10K+. Column Shortcodes is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Column Shortcodes or Meks Flexible Shortcodes?
Column Shortcodes has a 4.8/5 rating from 134 reviews, while Meks Flexible Shortcodes has a 4.2/5 rating from 10 reviews.
Are Column Shortcodes and Meks Flexible Shortcodes free?
Column Shortcodes is free and Meks Flexible Shortcodes is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Column Shortcodes or Meks Flexible Shortcodes?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Column Shortcodes was last updated 3 years ago and Meks Flexible Shortcodes was last updated 9 months ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.