Genesis Simple Sidebars vs Genesis Widget Column Classes (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Genesis Simple Sidebars
10K+ active installs
Free
Genesis Widget Column Classes
6.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Genesis Widget Column Classes has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 8 reviews) while Genesis Simple Sidebars leads in active installations (10K+ vs 6.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Genesis Simple Sidebars has accumulated 475K+ total downloads while Genesis Widget Column Classes has 91K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Genesis Simple Sidebars | Genesis Widget Column Classes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | ► | 4.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 27 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 6.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 475K+ | ◄ | 91K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2015 | |
| Age | 16 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.7.3+ | 3.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.2.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.2.3 | 1.3.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Genesis Simple Sidebars
Genesis Widget Column Classes
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Genesis Simple Sidebars averaged approximately 24 daily downloads while Genesis Widget Column Classes averaged 5.
Recent Reviews
Genesis Simple Sidebars Reviews
Works as Stated
On a Genesis site, Britlish.com, the plugin works exactly as described right out of the box.
Great, clean functionality
… but it seems to only support child pages in one layer (1. generation). Sub-sub-pages are not supported when “child pages” are clicked.
Doesn’t Work
You can create a sidebar, but it won’t get added to the page.
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!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.