LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… vs Admin 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, Admin Columns has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 1,650 reviews) while LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… leads in active installations (500K+ vs 100K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… has accumulated 19M+ total downloads while Admin Columns has 3.1M+. Admin Columns has a higher support resolution rate (100% vs 50%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… | Admin Columns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 860 | ► | 1,650 |
| Active Installs | 500K+ | ◄ | 100K+ |
| Total Downloads | 19M+ | ◄ | 3.1M+ |
| Support Resolution | 50% | ► | 100% |
| Last Updated | 2 weeks ago | ► | 4 days ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Age | 16 years | 15 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.7+ | 5.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.1+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free + Premium | |
| Latest Version | 2.6.20 | 7.0.14 |
Rating Breakdown
LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming…
Admin Columns
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… averaged approximately 1,064 daily downloads while Admin Columns averaged 2,066.
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
Admin Columns Reviews
Great plugin
Simply great!
Nice to see what you want to see
I’m not sure why this isn’t something available by default without the need for a plugin. But since it isn’t, it is nice to be able to add it back in where it belongs.
Top
Très bon plugin
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Admin Columns more popular?
Which has better ratings — LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… or Admin Columns?
Are LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming… and Admin Columns free?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.