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Grid Columns

By Justin Tadlock

Design & Themes / Page Builders & Visual Editors

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Grid Columns Review - In-Depth Analysis

Create columnized content easily with a simple shortcode. Use [column] to format your posts without complex setups.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.78/10

User Rating

4.8/5 (based on 22+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin has one function and one function only - to make columns. You use it by inputting content between [column] and [/column] within your post content editor or anywhere shortcodes are allowed.

Grid Columns was created to fix the problem in which many theme developers were adding 20+ column shortcodes to their themes for something that should be extremely simple and done with only a single shortcode.

If you need professional plugin support from me, the plugin author, you can access the support forums at Theme Hybrid, which is a professional WordPress help/support site where I handle support for all my plugins and themes for a community of 40,000+ users (and growing).

If you are a theme author, plugin author, or just a code hobbyist, you can follow the development of this plugin on its GitHub repository.

Yes, I do accept donations. If you want to buy me a beer or whatever, you can do so from my donations page. I appreciate all donations, no matter the size. Further development of this plugin is not contingent on donations, but they are always a nice incentive.

Comparing to Alternatives

Grid Columns is a straightforward plugin for creating grid layouts with minimal fuss. It competes with several other grid column plugins that offer varying levels of customization and responsiveness.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and easy to use with minimal setup.
High user satisfaction with a 4.8 rating.
No known security vulnerabilities.
Lightweight and efficient for basic grid needs.

Weaknesses

Lacks responsive design out of the box.
Limited options and customization features.
No free support or active author engagement.
Instructions can be difficult to locate and follow.

User Sentiment Analysis

User reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with 95.5% of ratings at 4 stars or higher and no negative reviews recorded. Users appreciate its simplicity and reliability.

Positive highlights

"Still works, won’t get any easier than this." — Reinar Svendsen
"Good basic functionality for items like restaurant menus." — Anonymous User
"Lightweight and straightforward to implement." — Multiple users

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Not responsive by default, requiring additional code for mobile compatibility.
Lack of free support and limited author responsiveness.
Limited customization options compared to alternatives.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a simple, no-frills grid column plugin that works reliably for basic layout needs without requiring advanced features or responsiveness.

Not ideal for

Those needing responsive design out of the box, extensive customization options, or active support from the plugin author.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers basic grid column functionality sufficient for simple layouts.

Final Verdict

Grid Columns excels as a lightweight and easy-to-use plugin for creating grid layouts, boasting high user satisfaction and no known security issues. Its simplicity is its main strength, making it ideal for users with straightforward needs.

However, the lack of responsiveness and limited support options may deter users seeking more advanced features or mobile-friendly designs. Alternatives may better serve those requiring these capabilities.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Grid Columns plugin.

column shortcode

content columns

grid columns

FAQ

Uzip the grid-columns.zip folder.
Upload the grid-columns folder to your /wp-content/plugins directory.
In your WordPress dashboard, head over to the Plugins section.
Activate Grid Columns.

You can find more detailed instructions in the plugin’s docs/readme.html file.

Everything is based on a grid. By default, this grid is “4”. So, you can set up four columns like so:

[column grid="4" span="1"]Some content[/column]  [column grid="4" span="1"]Some content[/column]  [column grid="4" span="1"]Some content[/column]  [column grid="4" span="1"]Some content[/column]

You’ll notice that each “span” is equal to the number of columns in the grid. So, if the span is “1”, it’s equal to one column. If the span is “2”, it’s equal to two columns. You can only have as many spans/columns as the grid allows. Therefore, grid="4" means you can only have four columns.