Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
| Add External Media | Admin Columns | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | — | — |
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | — | — |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed | — | — |
| Last updated | — | — |
| Metric | Add External Media | Admin Columns |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7 ★ | ★ 4.9 ★ |
| Total reviews | 3 | ★ 1.6k |
| Active installs | 100+ | 100,000+ |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Built for Shopify | — | — |
Admin Columns edges out Add External Media on rating (4.9★ vs 4.7★), but the gap is small enough that pricing fit and feature differentiation should drive the decision more than the headline number. Admin Columns has the larger user base (1,650 reviews vs 3), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. Add External Media's smaller cohort can be an advantage for niche workflows where the bigger app has accumulated bloat. Recommended by store size: small/early-stage merchants who need fast install and low risk should default to Admin Columns; mid-market and enterprise merchants with specific feature requirements should evaluate both — Add External Media's 3-review base may include the workflow context that matches your specific use case better than Admin Columns's broader-but-shallower coverage. This verdict is generated from the live marketplace data on this page — rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position all refresh from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing every 24 hours. AppRanks does not accept payment to influence comparison outcomes; the methodology is documented on the About page and applies identically to every pair on the site.
Read each app's audit: Add External Media audit • Admin Columns audit
| Keyword | Add External Media | Admin Columns |
|---|---|---|
| faq | Not ranked | #206 |
| feedback form | Not ranked | #281 |
Admin Columns has the higher average rating (4.9★ from 1,650 reviews) compared to Add External Media (4.7★ from 3 reviews). Both are tracked daily by AppRanks, so the figures here update each refresh cycle.
It depends on what you're optimizing for. Add External Media fits better if you prioritize broader integrations; Admin Columns is the call if you need the higher-rated option. Read both apps' detail pages on AppRanks for the full feature breakdown, install counts, and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the WordPress Plugin Directory marketplace. Admin Columns has more onboarding documentation maturity (1,650 reviews vs 3), which usually translates to better-tested setup wizards and quicker time-to-value. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly — read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for merchant-reported install experience.
Add External Media typically suits early-stage and growth-mode stores based on its review-base composition (3 reviews). Admin Columns aligns more with early-stage and growth-mode stores (1,650 reviews). Larger review bases generally mean the app has been load-tested at scale — relevant if you're processing high order volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Migration support varies by app and category. Add External Media and Admin Columns both publish their export options on their marketplace listing pages (or in their support docs); some apps offer one-click import from competitors, others require CSV. The fastest check: search "import from Add External Media" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
