LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… vs Widgets in Columns (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming…
500K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Widgets in Columns has a higher user rating (4.4/5 from 8 reviews) while LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… leads in active installations (500K+ vs 200). Both are free WordPress plugins. LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… has accumulated 19M+ total downloads while Widgets in Columns has 14K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… | Widgets in Columns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ► | 4.4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 860 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 500K+ | ◄ | 200 |
| Total Downloads | 19M+ | ◄ | 14K+ |
| Support Resolution | 50% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 weeks ago | ◄ | 11 years ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Age | 16 years | 15 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.7+ | 3.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.1+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.6.20 | 0.2.4 |
Rating Breakdown
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming…
Widgets in Columns
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… Reviews
Not for the faint hearted or newbies
My isssue (which I’m currently waiting for help with)- is that it broke my Woocommerce/Divi Shop. The Maintenance Mode is still active on my Homepage even after deactivating Lightstart.I’m sure it wil
Installed Unwanted Plugins
The actual plugin I wanted to use worked fine but it installed two other plugins – an image optimization plugin and some other plugin called Otter. No prompts, notification or nothing. Very sketch.
Excellent Lightweight Easy to use
LightStart is a great addition to any WordPress site if you’re looking for a lightweight, reliable, and easy-to-use solution. It installs quickly, works smoothly without slowing down performance, and
Widgets in Columns Reviews
No reviews yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Widgets in Columns more popular?
Which has better ratings — LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Widgets in Columns?
Are LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… and Widgets in Columns free?
Which plugin has better support — LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Widgets in Columns?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.