by wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin: A Complete Review
Data presentation is crucial for many websites—whether you’re displaying business analytics, user statistics, product comparisons, or survey results. Clean, interactive, and dynamic tables or charts help users understand complex data at a glance. This is where the wpDataTables plugin for WordPress becomes a game-changer. Known as one of the most powerful data management plugins, wpDataTables allows users to create highly customizable, responsive tables and charts with ease.
Developed by TMS-Plugins, wpDataTables brings the power of Excel-like data handling into the WordPress environment, offering a robust solution for non-coders and developers alike. With support for large datasets, responsive design, and integration with databases and file formats like Excel, CSV, JSON, and Google Sheets, this plugin suits a wide range of applications—from business dashboards to educational platforms.
What is wpDataTables?
wpDataTables is a premium WordPress plugin designed to help users create responsive tables and charts from various data sources. It enables dynamic filtering, sorting, pagination, and editing, making it an ideal choice for those who need to present structured data in an intuitive and interactive way.
The plugin caters to different industries and use cases, including:
- Business reporting
- Financial dashboards
- Scientific data presentation
- Educational progress tracking
- Product feature comparisons
- Custom price lists
- Scheduling and booking tables
Key Features
1. Responsive Tables
wpDataTables ensures that your tables and charts look great across all devices. The plugin automatically adjusts column widths, hides unnecessary content, and allows horizontal scrolling to preserve usability on mobile.
2. Multiple Data Sources
You can create tables from a wide range of sources, including:
- Excel (XLS, XLSX)
- CSV files
- Google Sheets
- MySQL queries
- JSON feeds
- XML files
- Serialized PHP arrays
This flexibility allows users to link external or real-time data without manually entering data each time.
3. Interactive Charts
The plugin supports several chart rendering libraries:
- Google Charts
- HighCharts
- Chart.js
- ApexCharts
You can generate pie charts, bar charts, line graphs, area charts, and more—automatically synced with your data tables.
4. Frontend Table Editing
With wpDataTables, you can allow users to edit tables directly from the frontend. This is perfect for applications like:
- Employee management systems
- CRM dashboards
- Attendance or grading records
- Inventory systems
Roles and permissions can be controlled to ensure only authorized users can edit or view certain content.
5. Advanced Filtering and Search
The plugin includes smart filters like:
- Dropdowns
- Checkbox filters
- Date range pickers
- Text search
This is particularly useful for users who want to sift through large volumes of data quickly and efficiently.
6. Conditional Formatting
You can highlight rows, columns, or individual cells based on specific conditions (e.g., sales above a certain value). This makes important trends or anomalies easy to spot at a glance.
7. MySQL Database Integration
wpDataTables allows you to directly query your WordPress database or any external MySQL database. This is powerful for developers who want to display real-time data without importing files.
8. Table Constructor Wizard
The intuitive wizard helps you create and style tables step-by-step. It’s user-friendly and requires no technical expertise.
9. Export & Print Options
Tables can be exported in multiple formats:
- Excel
- CSV
- Copy to clipboard
- Print-ready view
This makes it easy to share data with clients or team members offline.
10. Role-Based Access Control
Control who can view or edit specific tables based on WordPress user roles. This is essential for sites with restricted data, such as HR or admin dashboards.
Use Cases
1. Business Analytics Dashboards
Business owners and analysts can use wpDataTables to visualize KPIs, sales reports, employee performance metrics, and financial trends using charts and tables linked to live data.
2. Education and E-Learning
Teachers and instructors can track student performance, assignment scores, and attendance using editable tables with frontend input.
3. E-Commerce
Online store owners can create comparison tables for products, track inventory, or show pricing breakdowns with real-time filters.
4. Surveys and Research
Researchers can upload survey data (CSV or Excel) and present results using heatmaps, pie charts, and statistical tables, complete with filtering and analysis tools.
5. HR & Internal Management
HR teams can maintain employee records, track leave or attendance, and allow managers to make frontend edits without exposing sensitive data to all users.
Benefits of wpDataTables
✅ Saves Time and Reduces Errors
No need to code HTML tables or write custom CSS. The wizard and import tools automate table creation and formatting, minimizing manual input.
✅ Supports Large Datasets
wpDataTables can handle thousands of rows with ease, using server-side processing to maintain performance and load times.
✅ Customization Options
Designers can style tables to match site branding using built-in theme settings, or add custom CSS for more control.
✅ Developer-Friendly
Developers can use hooks, MySQL queries, and custom PHP to extend functionality. It integrates well with custom WordPress workflows.
✅ Excellent Documentation and Support
TMS-Plugins provides detailed guides, video tutorials, and a responsive support team to assist both beginners and advanced users.
Limitations
While wpDataTables is powerful, a few limitations to note include:
- Some advanced features are only available in the premium version.
- Complex table structures (nested headers or merged cells) are not always supported.
- HighCharts integration may require additional licensing for commercial use.
However, these limitations are minor when compared to the overall value the plugin offers.
Pricing
wpDataTables offers both free and premium versions.
- Free Version (Lite):
- Basic table creation
- CSV/Excel import
- Some charting options
- Limited styling
- Premium Version:
- Full frontend editing
- MySQL integration
- Advanced filtering
- More chart types and data sources
- Conditional formatting
- Role-based access control
- WooCommerce and Gravity Forms integration
Pricing varies depending on the license type (annual or lifetime) and the number of websites. Discounts are often available during major sales.
How to Use wpDataTables
- Install the Plugin
- Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “wpDataTables”, install and activate.
- Create a New Table
- Choose your data source: file upload, manual input, database query, or Google Sheet.
- Configure Columns
- Set data types (text, integer, float, date), enable sorting/filtering, and set column widths.
- Apply Formatting
- Choose table skin, enable responsive mode, and add custom CSS if needed.
- Publish
- Use the shortcode generated or insert using the Gutenberg block or Elementor widget.
Final Thoughts
wpDataTables is one of the most complete table and chart plugins available for WordPress. It bridges the gap between data management and visual presentation without requiring users to dive into code. With its advanced filtering, frontend editing, responsive charts, and multi-source support, it offers unmatched flexibility for websites that need to display structured data.
Whether you’re running a business dashboard, an educational platform, or a data-heavy e-commerce store, wpDataTables provides the tools you need to build clean, interactive, and user-friendly data displays. It’s a solid investment for anyone serious about data visualization on WordPress.
