SimpleTOC vs wpDataTables (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Table Plugins top 10: SimpleTOC at #12 and wpDataTables at #2. wpDataTables leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
SimpleTOC
SimpleTOC – Table of Contents Block
SEO-friendly Table of Contents Gutenberg block. No JavaScript or CSS by default.
wpDataTables
wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin
The best WordPress table plugin. Create responsive, and searchable tables and charts from Excel (.xlsx, .xls or .ods), CSV, XML, JSON, and PHP.
Who leads on what
wpDataTables leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
wpDataTables ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Table Plugins.
wpDataTables has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
SimpleTOC is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 77 reviews, against 4.5 from 449 reviews.
wpDataTables has more reviews behind its score: 449 against 77.
wpDataTables was updated more recently, on October 14, 2026; SimpleTOC on October 3, 2026.
wpDataTables was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 29,734 times against 13,251.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
SimpleTOC
Pick SimpleTOC if the review score matters most to you.
wpDataTables
Pick wpDataTables if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, 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.
SimpleTOC vs wpDataTables side by side
| SimpleTOC | wpDataTables | |
|---|---|---|
| Table Plugins ranking | #12 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 77 | 449 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 60,000+ |
| Total downloads | 634,120 | 2,804,445 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 13,251 | 29,734 |
| Last updated | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| First published | Apr 14, 2020 | Nov 30, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.3 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
SimpleTOC ratings
wpDataTables 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 SimpleTOC nor wpDataTables can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Table Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
SimpleTOC vs wpDataTables: common questions
Is SimpleTOC better than wpDataTables?
wpDataTables leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. wpDataTables ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Table Plugins.
Which has more users, SimpleTOC or wpDataTables?
wpDataTables ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #12 in Table Plugins.
Which is rated higher, SimpleTOC or wpDataTables?
wpDataTables has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are SimpleTOC and wpDataTables free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. SimpleTOC may also sell a paid version or add-ons. wpDataTables is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to SimpleTOC and wpDataTables
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.