If you’re building a WordPress site that handles large sets of data, statistics, tables, or reports, you already know one thing: WordPress doesn’t handle complex tables and charts out of the box. You can try pasting Excel tables or creating HTML tables manually — but as the data grows or becomes dynamic, this approach quickly breaks down. Enter wpDataTables, the industry-leading WordPress plugin for creating responsive, searchable, and interactive tables and charts. Whether you’re building financial dashboards, product comparison pages, employee directories, or business reports, this plugin provides a visual, flexible, and scalable way to present your data.
In this review, we’ll explore:
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What wpDataTables is and who it’s for
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Key features and integrations
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Chart types, data sources, and responsiveness
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Advanced functions like filtering, editing, and front-end submissions
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Real-world use cases
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Pros, cons, pricing, and final verdict
Let’s dive into why wpDataTables is trusted by over 70,000 WordPress websites around the world.
What is wpDataTables?
wpDataTables is a premium WordPress plugin that allows you to create dynamic tables and charts directly from your WordPress dashboard. Built for users who want to manage and display structured data on their site, it supports:
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Tables from manual input
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Tables from Google Sheets, Excel, MySQL, CSV, JSON, or XML
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Interactive charts with Highcharts, Google Charts, and Chart.js
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Filtering, sorting, pagination, conditional formatting
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Front-end editing and table editing forms
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Integration with Gravity Forms, Forminator, and other data plugins
What sets wpDataTables apart is its balance between power and usability. You don’t need to be a developer to build complex visual tables — but if you are, you’ll find support for SQL queries, database integration, and server-side processing.
Who Should Use wpDataTables?
wpDataTables is ideal for:
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Financial and accounting firms
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Data analysts and dashboard builders
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Product managers managing comparison tables
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HR teams managing employee directories
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Real estate agents showcasing listings
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WooCommerce store owners creating spec tables
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Course creators presenting student data
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Researchers sharing statistics or academic data
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Agencies building client reports or white-label dashboards
Whether you’re a content creator, developer, or business owner, wpDataTables helps you display large or complex data in a beautiful and functional way.
Key Features of wpDataTables
Let’s break down the core capabilities that make wpDataTables stand out from other data table plugins.
1. Multiple Data Sources Supported
You can create tables from:
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Manual input (like a spreadsheet)
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Excel (.xlsx, .xls)
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CSV or TXT
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Google Sheets
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MySQL or external database queries
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JSON or XML feeds
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PHP array or custom hooks
This makes it easy to import, sync, or automate data without rewriting it.
You can also create live tables that update automatically when the source changes — great for reports or dashboards.
2. Advanced Table Features
Once your table is created, wpDataTables gives you full control over how it behaves:
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Pagination and lazy loading
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Column sorting
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Row and column filtering
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Searchable fields
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Conditional formatting (color rows or cells based on values)
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Row grouping
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Column visibility toggling
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Row expansion for hidden content
You can style headers, alternate row colors, add tooltips, and even highlight data trends based on thresholds or categories.
3. Charts and Graphs Integration
wpDataTables integrates with the top three JavaScript charting libraries:
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Google Charts
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Highcharts
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Chart.js
From your data table, you can instantly generate:
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Bar and column charts
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Pie and donut charts
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Line and area graphs
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Scatter plots
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Bubble charts
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Gauges and timelines
Charts are responsive by default and can be styled using visual settings — no coding required.
This allows you to build dynamic dashboards with sortable tables and synchronized charts on the same page.
4. Front-End Table Editing and Forms
With wpDataTables Pro, you can make your tables editable from the frontend.
Use cases include:
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User-submitted reports
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Student databases
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Employee directories
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Review or comment logs
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Volunteer applications
You can define user roles, validate inputs, restrict access, and link tables with Gravity Forms or Forminator to build full CRUD systems (Create, Read, Update, Delete).
5. Excel-like Spreadsheet Editor
The spreadsheet-like editor mimics Excel or Google Sheets:
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Click-to-edit cells
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Inline formula support
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Undo/redo changes
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Cell formatting and dropdowns
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Toolbar UI for text and alignment
This is especially helpful for admins who want spreadsheet control inside WordPress.
6. Server-Side Processing for Large Tables
If you have a table with thousands or millions of rows, wpDataTables uses server-side processing to load only what’s needed.
This drastically improves speed and scalability for:
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Inventory systems
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CRM or employee databases
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Public datasets
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Member directories
Combined with caching and pagination, large datasets remain fast and responsive.
Chart Types and Visualization Options
With the integrated charting tools, you can visualize your data in nearly any format.
Chart Type | Description |
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Bar/Column | Compare categories side by side |
Pie/Donut | Show proportional breakdowns |
Line/Area | Trend data over time |
Scatter/Bubble | Compare multiple numeric variables |
Gauge | Display KPIs or progress indicators |
Timeline | Visualize schedules or sequential events |
Each chart can be styled with custom colors, tooltips, legends, axis labels, and animation effects.
You can also set charts to auto-update when table values change.
Real-World Use Cases
1. Financial Dashboards
Display revenue, expenses, KPIs, or budget data in sortable tables with bar and line graphs to match. Enable filters by department, month, or region.
2. Product Comparison Tables
Create sortable tables for features, pricing, specs, and availability. Add star ratings, images, and color formatting to highlight best options.
3. School and Student Management
Build student attendance tables, grade books, or course lists. Let teachers update records through editable fields or integrate with a front-end form.
4. Employee Directories
Allow HR to manage employee records, contacts, or training history. Create filterable lists by department or location with privacy restrictions.
5. Research Reports
Publish academic or statistical research using datasets from Excel, Google Sheets, or SQL. Visualize findings with custom charts and export options.
6. Travel or Real Estate Listings
Show dynamic property data or travel packages with filters by price, location, or availability. Add maps, photos, and booking buttons.
Integration with Other Plugins
wpDataTables integrates with several popular plugins:
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WooCommerce: Display product-related data or inventory dashboards
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Gravity Forms & Forminator: Populate and edit tables via form submissions
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Advanced Custom Fields (ACF): Show or edit custom post meta in table views
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WPML: Translate tables for multilingual sites
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Elementor & WPBakery: Add tables or charts using widgets or shortcodes
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REST API: Connect to external sources for live data
Pros and Cons
Pros:
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Supports multiple data sources including Excel, Google Sheets, and SQL
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Fully responsive and mobile-friendly
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Editable tables with form integrations
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Advanced filtering, sorting, and styling tools
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Built-in chart creation from table data
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Server-side processing for large datasets
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Extensive documentation and support
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Regular updates and strong community trust
Cons:
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Some features are Pro-only (like editing and charts)
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Advanced configurations may require technical knowledge
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Not a replacement for full database management systems
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Initial learning curve for complex tables
Pricing Plans
wpDataTables is a premium plugin with tiered licenses:
Annual Plans:
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Basic (1 site): $69/year
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Pro (3 sites): $99/year
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Developer (Unlimited sites): $199/year
Lifetime Plans:
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Basic Lifetime: $249 one-time
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Pro Lifetime: $399
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Developer Lifetime: $599
All plans include:
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Access to core features and premium extensions
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Support and updates (for the license duration)
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Use of charts, editing tools, and integrations
A free version is available in the WordPress plugin repository, but it’s limited to basic table creation without charts or editing.
How wpDataTables Compares to Alternatives
Plugin | wpDataTables | TablePress | Ninja Tables | Visualizer Charts |
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Data Sources | Excel, SQL, CSV, JSON | Manual, CSV | CSV, Sheets | Manual, CSV |
Chart Support | Yes (3 engines) | No | Yes (Pro only) | Yes |
Editable Tables | Yes (Pro) | No | Limited | No |
Front-End Forms | Yes (Gravity/Forminator) | No | Limited | No |
Server Processing | Yes | No | Limited | No |
Responsive Design | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
wpDataTables is the most powerful all-in-one solution for WordPress users who want both tables and charts — especially with dynamic or external data.
Final Verdict: Is wpDataTables Worth It?
If your WordPress site needs to present data clearly — and that data needs to be filterable, responsive, editable, or visualized in a chart — then wpDataTables is absolutely worth the investment.
It replaces the need for spreadsheets, shortcodes, external chart plugins, and manually formatted HTML tables with a modern, scalable solution that just works.
Whether you’re a blogger presenting comparisons, a business showing reports, or a developer integrating SQL data, wpDataTables delivers the tools to manage your content like a pro.
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