Genesis Columns Advanced
by Nick Diego · Uncategorized
Also makes 4 other plugins · 104K+ installs across the portfolio →
Adds shortcodes to easily create up to 42 different columned layouts.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
C 62/100
Stale · Likely abandoned
Active installs
10K+
≈15K estimated
Momentum
+38%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: “columns”, “genesis” and “genesis framework” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
62 health vs 58 average across 25,752 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →7.1%
of downloads still active
At least 10K of 140.5K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,772 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
Removal-risk signals
36/100Maintenance and integrity signals that tend to precede a WordPress.org removal. Not an official status, a heads-up to act.
- Not actively maintained. No update in about 2 years.
- Falling behind WordPress. Tested up to WordPress 6.1.16.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Room to improve
Most to gain: Update recency
Updated 861 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.1.16; the current branch is 6.8
4.8★ over 25 reviews, smoothed to 4.33★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
To rank higher: Last updated 861 days ago — ship an update; wp.org decays a listing's search weight after ~180 days.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
37
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.2
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
17%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.3
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| genesiswp your tag | #8 | #8 | 0 |
| genesis columns | #9 | #15 | down 1 |
| genesis columns shortcode | #6 | #10 | down 1 |
| columns your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| genesis your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| genesis framework your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| shortcode your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
6 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 3 listed. 3 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 4 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- “columns”, “genesis” and “genesis framework” aren't earning a slot. You list them, but you're not in the first 24 results for those searches. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so free the slot for a search you can win.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 16.3K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
No release in a yearHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
0
releases in the last 12 months
2.4y ago
latest release · v2.0.5 · 23 Jun 2024
12
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 99% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “10K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 4 years ago; the previous band took 4.8 years to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 20 Jun 2020
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ aga24423.7y ago
I was using a different plugin before. I had a lot of problems. but now i am using this plugin. It takes up very little space. I recommend it to those who use classic editors.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mediafluent7.2y ago
I’m sure it’s awesome for classic editor but would be even more awesome if it worked with Gutenberg which it does not even though the plugin is compatible with newest version of WP.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ eir3apps7.7y ago
Very useful!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ melissabushwaykeyser8.5y ago
I set up this plugin for my services page, and it works great! I first tried to do the coding myself, but that’s not my strength, and chose to use this instead. Very easy to use, and support quickly answered and resolved the one problem I had (a spacing confusion).
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ SK8.7y ago
Good plugin, makes the task for column widths quick and simple. Rather than typing classes for text widgets, and wondering what to do with other widgets, simply use this plugin. I recommend it. Also, the author is responsive to queries posted on these support forums, which can often be quite important for these sorts of plugins.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ drdrerde8.9y ago
Does exactly what I want and more. Nick (the developer) is VERY responsive and helpful.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ rubyslipper9.0y ago
This is just what I needed in order to make my pages work well across a variety of devices and screen sizes. And when I ran into a question, support answered me lickety split. I will be using this on all my Genesis sites!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Tarmo9.2y ago
Nice and simple.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 2.0.5 Fixed PHP 8.0+ deprecation error (Thanks i4nd90) 2.0.5
- — Version 2.0.4 Fixed potential security issues (Thanks WPScan) 2.0.4
- — Version 2.0.3 Fixed bug with incorrect column widths (Thanks fourlightsweb) 2.0.3
- — Version 2.0.2 Added default styling to columns-container shortcode to fix styling bug 2.0.2
- — Version 2.0.1 Fixed bug with missing styles for the vertical-spacer shortcode (Thanks DanaE23!) 2.0.1
- — Version 2.0.0 Complete plugin overhaul to comply with WP standards Plugin is now fully translatable Plugin is now completely standalone, does not require the Genesis Framework Added brand new UI for the TinyMCE popup Added fifths Adde 2.0.0
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceThe 1 disclosed vulnerability is patched in the current version (2.0.5). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Genesis Columns Advanced <= 2.0.3 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Shortcode ↗2022-12-29 CVE-2022-4706 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 2.0.3 Patched in 2.0.4
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.1.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 7 languages, 7 at 90% or more
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
7 of 8 pass · checked 29 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Adds shortcodes to easily create up to 42 different columned layouts."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 4 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 4 of 4 read like questions a user would type.
- ✓ Names who it is for Names its audience or use cases ("built for", "if you have").
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Gutenberg, Block editor.
- ! Headings and lists 1 heading and 1 list; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,805 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "genesiswp" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2022-11-18 20K+ → 10K+ down after 1741 days in tier
- 2018-02-11 10K+ → 20K+ up after 548 days in tier
- 2016-08-12 8K+ → 10K+ up after 90 days in tier
- 2016-05-14 3K+ → 8K+ up after 251 days in tier
- 2015-09-06 2K+ → 3K+ up after 23 days in tier
- 2015-08-14 900+ → 2K+ up after 122 days in tier
- 2015-04-14 400+ → 900+ up
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Column Shortcodes 60K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags D -
Genesis eNews Extended 40K+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags A -
Genesis Simple Hooks 20K+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags B -
Genesis Connect for WooCommerce 10K+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags B -
Genesis Simple Sidebars 10K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags B -
Genesis Featured Page Advanced 7K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags C
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Genesis Columns Advanced into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/genesis-columns-advanced" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Genesis Columns Advanced — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Genesis Columns Advanced: 10K+ active installs, 4.8★ (25 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/genesis-columns-advanced
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