Head-to-head · October 2026
Dashboard Columns vs Restore Columns
Dashboard Columns comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Restore Columns.
Dashboard Columns
The option to change the number of columns of the main WordPress Dashboard was removed in WordPress 3.8 in…
Restore Columns
In WordPress 3.8, the setting that controlled the number of displayed columns was removed from the «Screen…
| Metric | Dashboard Columns | Restore Columns |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 1K+ | 60+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 270 | 63 |
| Download trend | +15.9% | +53.7% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Reviews | 2 | 4 |
| Health score | 55/100 | 31/100 |
| Last updated | 5 months ago | 7 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.9.10 | WP 5.4.24 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 5.3+ |
| First released | Apr 2017 | Jul 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Dashboard ColumnsRestore Columns
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)
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: dashboard dashboard columns screen options
FAQ
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, Dashboard Columns or Restore Columns?
Dashboard Columns comes out ahead, winning 5 of 7 head-to-head checks against Restore Columns. Choose 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 Dashboard Columns more popular than Restore Columns?
Dashboard Columns is the more popular of the two with 1K+ active installs, compared with 60+ for Restore Columns.
Can I use Dashboard Columns and Restore Columns together?
Both plugins cover dashboard, dashboard columns and screen options, 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 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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