Head-to-head · October 2026
Add Dashboard Columns vs Dashboard Columns
Dashboard Columns comes out ahead, winning 5 of 6 head-to-head checks against Add Dashboard Columns.
Dashboard Columns
The option to change the number of columns of the main WordPress Dashboard was removed in WordPress 3.8 in…
| Metric | Add Dashboard Columns | Dashboard Columns |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 400+ | 1K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 111 | 270 |
| Download trend | +38.8% | +15.9% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 2 | 2 |
| Health score | 34/100 | 55/100 |
| Last updated | 6 years ago | 5 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 5.5.23 | WP 6.9.10 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.3+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Feb 2014 | Apr 2017 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Add Dashboard ColumnsDashboard Columns
Choose Add Dashboard Columns if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (400+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 5 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.5 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Dashboard Columns if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score.
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: columns dashboard dashboard columns widget
FAQ
Add Dashboard Columns vs Dashboard Columns: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 11, 2026
Which is better, Add Dashboard Columns or Dashboard Columns?
Dashboard Columns comes out ahead, winning 5 of 6 head-to-head checks against Add Dashboard Columns. Choose Add Dashboard Columns if you care most about download trend. Choose Dashboard Columns if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score.
Is Add Dashboard Columns more popular than Dashboard Columns?
Dashboard Columns is the more popular of the two with 1K+ active installs, compared with 400+ for Add Dashboard Columns.
Can I use Add Dashboard Columns and Dashboard Columns together?
Both plugins cover columns, dashboard and dashboard columns, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are Add Dashboard Columns and Dashboard Columns free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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