Admin Columns vs Pods (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Custom Field Plugins top 10: Admin Columns at #12 and Pods at #2. Admin Columns leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Admin Columns
Take control of your WordPress admin list tables. Add, remove, and reorder columns for posts, users, media, and more - no coding needed.
Pods
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields
Pods is a framework for creating, managing, and deploying customized content types and fields for any project.
Who leads on what
Admin Columns leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Custom Field Plugins.
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Admin Columns is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 1,652 reviews, against 4.8 from 418 reviews.
Admin Columns has more reviews behind its score: 1,652 against 418.
Admin Columns was updated more recently, on October 7, 2026; Pods on August 31, 2026.
Admin Columns was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 82,344 times against 13,233.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Admin Columns
Pick Admin Columns if the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Pods
Pick Pods if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them.
Admin Columns vs Pods side by side
| Admin Columns | Pods | |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Field Plugins ranking | #12 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 1,652 | 418 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 3,470,403 | 5,530,601 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 82,344 | 13,233 |
| Last updated | Oct 7, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 27, 2011 | Oct 8, 2008 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Admin Columns ratings
Pods ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Admin Columns nor Pods can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Custom Field Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Admin Columns vs Pods: common questions
Is Admin Columns better than Pods?
Admin Columns leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which has more users, Admin Columns or Pods?
Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Admin Columns or Pods?
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Admin Columns and Pods free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Admin Columns is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Pods may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Admin Columns and Pods
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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- Custom Field Template vs Pods
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