Creating tables in WordPress can be a tedious task, especially if you need advanced functionality like sorting, filtering, calculations, and more. Fortunately, there are some excellent WordPress table plugins available to make the process much easier.
In this detailed guide, we’ll be comparing the top 8 WordPress table plugins on the market right now. For each plugin, we’ll look at:
- Key features
- Pricing/licensing
- Pros and cons
- Ideal use cases
By the end, you’ll know exactly which plugin fits your needs and budget. Let’s dive in!
1. wpDataTables – Best Overall
Key Features:
- Create and edit tables manually or import from CSV/Excel files
- Calculated columns (formulas)
- Filtering, searching and sorting
- Frontend and inline editing
- Charts and graphs from table data
- Data validation and conditional formatting
- Responsive tables
- Access permissions
Pricing:
- Free version available
- Premium version starts at $59 per year
Pros
- Extremely powerful with a wide range of features
- Excellent support and documentation
- Works perfectly with most WordPress themes
- Easy to get started but also advanced customization available
Cons
- Some users may find the interface confusing initially
- Premium pricing is relatively high
Verdict:
wpDataTables is hands-down the most full-featured WordPress table plugin available. It comes packed with everything you could possibly need, from basic tables to advanced charts, graphs, forms and frontend editing.
The free version is quite generous, but to unlock the full potential you’ll need a premium license. Still, for most users this will easily be worth the price due to the power of the features available.
For almost any table-related need, wpDataTables will have you covered. Highly recommended.
Ideal For: Businesses, agencies, advanced users
2. TablePress – Best Free Option
Key Features:
- Unlimited tables
- Import from CSV files
- Frontend and backend editing
- Row highlighting
- Alternate row background colors
- Sorting
- Pagination
Pricing:
- 100% Free
Pros:
- Very simple and easy to use
- No coding skills required
- Solid free option with good feature set
- Excellent for basic tables
Cons:
- Requires some manual formatting for complex tables
- Lacks advanced table features
Verdict:
TablePress is clearly the best 100% free table plugin. It strikes a good balance between simplicity and features, giving you everything you need for basic tables without complicating things too much.
Despite being free, TablePress doesn’t feel underpowered. You have unlimited tables, sorting, filtering, and other standard options. It just lacks some of the more complex features like calculations or charts.
For bloggers and small businesses needing basic tables without spending money, TablePress is a fantastic choice. But if you need advanced functionality, a premium plugin is still recommended.
Ideal For: Bloggers, small business, beginners
3. WP Table Builder – Best Drag & Drop Editor
Key Features:
- Drag and drop table editor
- Pre-built table templates
- Insert images, icons and buttons
- Sorting and filtering
- WordPress block for Gutenberg
- Responsive tables
Pricing:
- Free and premium versions available
- Premium pricing starts at $25 per year
Pros:
- Intuitive drag and drop builder
- Helpful table templates for quick setup
- Lightweight yet still full-featured
- Integrates nicely with WordPress
Cons:
- Free version is somewhat limited
- Formatting options not as extensive as other plugins
Verdict:
WP Table Builder strikes an excellent balance between ease of use and features. Most users can create an attractive, functional table in just minutes with the drag and drop editor.
With built-in templates and styles, you don’t need any design skills to build great-looking tables. Sorting, filtering, responsiveness and other key table features are also handled automatically.
Due to the intuitive interface, WP Table Builder is extremely beginner friendly. But advanced users may still wish for more customization and options compared to wpDataTables or TablePress.
Still, for quickly whipping up tables in WordPress, no other plugin beats WP Table Builder’s usability. And the affordable pricing tiers make the premium features very accessible for almost any budget.
Ideal For: Bloggers, small business, simplicity
4. Ninja Tables – Best for Developers
Key Features:
- Unlimited rows and columns
- Sorting and filtering
- Import and export data
- Responsive layouts
- Developer-friendly with REST API
- WooCommerce integration
Pricing:
- Free and premium licenses available
- Premium pricing starts at $69 per year
Pros:
- Very fast table rendering
- Quality coding and optimization
- Advanced customization via hooks and filters
- Solid documentation for developers
Cons:
- Interface not as intuitive as other options
- Steeper learning curve
Verdict:
Ninja Tables is built from the ground up for speed, performance and developer flexibility. For that reason, it’s ideal for tech-savvy users or developers needing deeper access for customization.
The downside to this focus is that the interface and ease of use suffers a bit. Expect a much steeper learning curve compared to WP Table Builder or TablePress. Casual users may find it frustrating.
However, Ninja Tables code quality and rendering speed is truly superb. For developers, one-of-a-kind table solutions can be built easily through the available filters and actions.
For most users, something like wpDataTables may still be an easier choice. But developers who really know WordPress will appreciate what Ninja Tables offers.
Ideal For: Developers, programmers, speed focus
5. WP Sheet Editor – Best Google Sheets Integration
Key Features:
- Directly import and sync Google Sheets
- Charts and graphs
- 30+ chart types supported
- Mobile responsive tables
- Access permissions
- Sorting and filtering
Pricing:
- Free and paid licenses available
- Premium plans start at $69 per year
Pros:
- Seamless Google Sheets integration
- Interactive charts and graphs
- Simple spreadsheet-like interface
- Solid free version
Cons:
- Filtering and sorting limited in free version
- Slightly steeper learning curve
Verdict:
WP Sheet Editor stands out for its direct connectivity with Google Sheets, making it easy to create live, dynamic tables powered by your spreadsheet data.
From the familiar spreadsheet interface, you can instantly transform your sheets into beautiful, interactive tables and charts on your site. Useful for displaying frequently updated data.
Sorting, filtering and other key features are solid in the premium version. But the free plugin is still worthwhile for Google Sheets power users who value that seamless integration above anything else.
Those who don’t use Sheets may be better served by the superior all-rounder wpDataTables. But ultimately, WP Sheet Editor capably fills its niche for Sheets connectivity and simplicity.
Ideal For: Google Sheets users, dynamic data
6. Rank Math Tables – Best for SEO
Key Features:
- Integrates with Rank Math SEO plugin
- Auto-index tables for search engines
- Easy accessibility markup
- Responsive design
- Custom CSS classes
Pricing:
- 100% Free
Pros:
- Automatically indexes tables for better SEO
- Creates semantic markup for screen readers
- Lightweight and simple
- Made by well-known plugin developer
Cons:
- Requires Rank Math plugin
- Table features are quite basic
- Few import or export options
Verdict:
The Rank Math Tables plugin has a single focus: make your WordPress tables as search engine and accessibility friendly as possible. It handles these crucial tasks automatically in a no-hassle way.
By integrating directly with the Rank Math SEO plugin, your tables get indexed for search without extra effort. And with built-in schema markup, the contents also become easy for screen readers.
Obviously, you are somewhat limited by needing to run Rank Math already. And this plugin skimps on almost any advanced table functionality beyond the SEO/accessibility aspects.
But if those are your main concerns, Rank Math Tables streamlines the process effectively. It’s purpose-built to be a lightweight SEO enhancement and excels in that role.
Ideal For: SEO, accessibility
7. Advanced Gutenberg Tables – Best Free Block
Key Features:
- Gutenberg table block
- Custom row and column count
- Header and footer rows
- Text alignment options
- Responsive sizing
Pricing:
- 100% Free
Pros:
- Pure Gutenberg-based solution
- Very simple and intuitive
- Useful formatting options
- Actively developed
Cons:
- No advanced functionality
- Very limited compared to premium plugins
Verdict:
The Advanced Gutenberg Tables plugin does one thing: it enhances the basic table block in Gutenberg to add some helpful formatting options. Nothing more, nothing less.
But in sticking to that goal, it certainly succeeds at being an easy, user-friendly way to create tables from the Gutenberg editor with clearer structure.
Obviously almost all premium plugins go far beyond what this offers in functionality. But if you mainly just use Gutenberg already, the Advanced Tables block is a handy addition with some nice quality-of-life improvements.
Ideal For: Gutenberg users, simplicity
8. Data Tables Generator – Best Pricing Tables
Key Features:
- Pricing table templates
- Built in pricing calculator
- Image, icon and badge support
- Animation effects
- Responsive design
Pricing:
- Free and paid versions available
- Premium version $49 per year
Pros:
- Purpose-built for product/pricing tables
- Helpful calculator and templates
- Simple drag and drop builder
- Effective mobile responsiveness
Cons:
- Focus on pricing limits other table types
- Needs manual code for complex layouts
Verdict:
Data Tables Generator excels in the niche purpose it serves: no frills pricing & comparison tables for showcasing packages/products.
The pricing calculator and templates provide an effective shortcut for getting attractive tables online fast. And the responsiveness works better than most plugins reviewed here.
Obviously with such a tight focus, other plugins offer greater overall functionality. But for the specific use case of pricing/product tables, Data Tables Generator supplements a simple yet specialized solution.
Ideal For: Pricing tables, products
Conclusion – Best WordPress Table Plugin for You
When choosing the right WordPress table plugin, first identify your key needs and budget.
If you want maximum power and don’t mind premium pricing, wpDataTables is hard to beat. TablePress remains the top free choice.
For beginners seeking simplicity, WP Table Builder makes table building easy with it‘s smooth drag and drop editor. And developers should check out Ninja Tables for its speed and customization flexibility.
Finally, those with niche use cases like Google Sheets connectivity or pricing tables may wish to consider one of the specialized plugins that aim to solve those issues directly.
No matter your specific situation, this guide has hopefully helped you zero in on the best WordPress table plugin for your needs!
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