Head-to-head · October 2026
Add Dashboard Columns vs Restore Columns
Add Dashboard Columns comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Restore Columns.
Restore Columns
In WordPress 3.8, the setting that controlled the number of displayed columns was removed from the «Screen…
| Metric | Add Dashboard Columns | Restore Columns |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 400+ | 60+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 111 | 63 |
| Download trend | +38.8% | +53.7% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Reviews | 2 | 4 |
| Health score | 34/100 | 31/100 |
| Last updated | 6 years ago | 7 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 5.5.23 | WP 5.4.24 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.3+ | 5.3+ |
| First released | Feb 2014 | Jul 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Add Dashboard ColumnsRestore Columns
Choose Add Dashboard Columns if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score.
- 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 Restore Columns if…
You care most about download trend and reviews.
- Small user base (60+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 6 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.4 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: admin dashboard dashboard columns
FAQ
Add Dashboard Columns vs Restore 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 Restore Columns?
Add Dashboard Columns comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Restore Columns. Choose Add Dashboard Columns if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and health score. Choose Restore Columns if you care most about download trend and reviews.
Is Add Dashboard Columns more popular than Restore Columns?
Add Dashboard Columns is the more popular of the two with 400+ active installs, compared with 60+ for Restore Columns.
Can I use Add Dashboard Columns and Restore Columns together?
Both plugins cover admin, 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 Restore 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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