These 10 apps lead WordPress Plugin Directory's Columns category as of September 2026 — ranked by user rating, review count, and audit score, refreshed every 24 hours from the canonical WordPress marketplace listing.
Discover the top-rated columns apps available on WordPress Plugin Directory. Rankings based on user ratings, review count, and market performance.
This is the curated shortlist — the top-ranked columns apps. To browse every columns app on WordPress Plugin Directory, see the full Columns category.
This list ranks the top 10 WordPress apps classified under Columns by the source marketplace's own taxonomy — apps appear here only because WordPress Plugin Directory itself tags them in this category, not because of any AppRanks editorial decision. Within the category set, ranking uses a Bayesian-ish blend of average rating × natural log of review count: the formula is rating × ln(reviewCount + 1), so a high-rating-low-review app doesn't leapfrog an established listing on a single 5-star outlier. The blend favors apps that are both well-reviewed AND have an established user base.
AppRanks does not invent a proprietary score for public surfaces — the rank shown mirrors the marketplace's published category position exactly, scraped on a 12-24 hour refresh cycle from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing. The category lookup happens at request time and the page is cached at the edge for 1 hour to absorb traffic spikes; the underlying ranking data refreshes daily so the list stays accurate within one day of any source change. AppRanks does not editorially promote or demote apps based on advertiser or partnership status — the same blend formula applies uniformly across every app on this platform.
Ranks #1 in the WordPress Plugin Directory columns category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (2 reviews). Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Rescue Shortcodes holds a 5.0-star average across 2 reviews in the columns category.
Ranks #2 in the WordPress Plugin Directory columns category as a category-leading listing. An established review history (1,651 reviews) with a no-rating average. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Admin Columns holds a 4.9-star average across 1,651 reviews in the columns category.
Ranks #3 in the WordPress Plugin Directory columns category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 1 reviews — early-stage review volume. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Gallery Columns holds a 5.0-star average across 1 reviews in the columns category.
Holds position #4 in the WordPress Plugin Directory columns category as a mixed-rating listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (0 reviews). Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Currently sits at #5 in the WordPress Plugin Directory columns category as a mixed-rating listing. An early-stage review volume (16 reviews) with a no-rating average. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Holds position #6 in the WordPress Plugin Directory columns category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 4 reviews — early-stage review volume. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Currently sits at #7 in the WordPress Plugin Directory columns category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (13 reviews). AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Holds position #8 in the WordPress Plugin Directory columns category as a category-leading listing. An early-stage review volume (2 reviews) with a no-rating average. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Currently sits at #9 in the WordPress Plugin Directory columns category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 5 reviews — early-stage review volume. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Holds position #10 in the WordPress Plugin Directory columns category as a well-rated listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (8 reviews). Source: WordPress Plugin Directory's own published category position.
Same data as the ranked cards, condensed into a sortable-by-eye grid: rating × review depth × pricing tier across the top 10 columns apps on WordPress Plugin Directory.
| # | App | Rating | Reviews | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rescue Shortcodes | 5.0★ | 2 | — |
| 2 | Admin Columns | 4.9★ | 1,651 | — |
| 3 | Gallery Columns | 5.0★ | 1 | — |
| 4 | Amazing Portfolio | 0.0★ | 0 | — |
| 5 | Three Column Screen Layout | 3.8★ | 16 | — |
| 6 | WPC Admin Columns | 5.0★ | 4 | — |
| 7 | Posts Columns Manager | 5.0★ | 13 | — |
| 8 | Add Dashboard Columns | 5.0★ | 2 | — |
| 9 | Easy Widget Columns | 5.0★ | 5 | — |
| 10 | Widgets in Columns | 4.4★ | 8 | — |
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Methodology details: /glossary/audit-score · /about.
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