diff --git a/api/wakatime.js b/api/wakatime.js
index 4b9ce1f8404fe..86c26b8104dbd 100644
--- a/api/wakatime.js
+++ b/api/wakatime.js
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ export default async (req, res) => {
     border_color,
     display_format,
     disable_animations,
+    ordering,
   } = req.query;
 
   res.setHeader("Content-Type", "image/svg+xml");
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@ export default async (req, res) => {
         langs_count,
         display_format,
         disable_animations: parseBoolean(disable_animations),
+        ordering,
       }),
     );
   } catch (err) {
@@ -126,4 +128,4 @@ export default async (req, res) => {
       }),
     );
   }
-};
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
index 00eb0a135d9c9..b2a3d485d75ea 100644
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -657,6 +657,7 @@ You can customize the appearance and behavior of the WakaTime stats card using t
 | `api_domain` | Sets a custom API domain for the card, e.g. to use services like [Hakatime](https://github.com/mujx/hakatime) or [Wakapi](https://github.com/muety/wakapi) | string | `wakatime.com` |
 | `display_format` | Sets the WakaTime stats display format. Choose `time` to display time-based stats or `percent` to show percentages. | enum | `time` |
 | `disable_animations` | Disables all animations in the card. | boolean | `false` |
+| `ordering` | Only effective when `layout=compact`. Sets the ordering algorithm for the languages in a two-column layout. `horizontal` alternates items left and right (zig-zag pattern), while `vertical` fills the left column first, then the right column. | enum | `horizontal` |
 
 ### Demo
 
@@ -915,4 +916,4 @@ Thanks! :heart:
 
 Contributions are welcome! <3
 
-Made with :heart: and JavaScript.
+Made with :heart: and JavaScript.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/cards/wakatime.js b/src/cards/wakatime.js
index 64ded83d41692..fd78fec371c88 100644
--- a/src/cards/wakatime.js
+++ b/src/cards/wakatime.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 // @ts-check
-
 import { Card } from "../common/Card.js";
 import { createProgressNode } from "../common/createProgressNode.js";
 import { I18n } from "../common/I18n.js";
@@ -90,23 +89,46 @@ const createCompactLangNode = ({ lang, x, y, display_format }) => {
  * @param {number} args.y The y position of the language node.
  * @param {"time" | "percent"} args.display_format The display format of the language node.
  * @param {number} args.card_width Width in px of the card.
+ * @param {number} args.lineHeight The line height for spacing.
+ * @param {"horizontal" | "vertical"} args.ordering The ordering of the languages.
  * @returns {string[]} The language text node items.
  */
-const createLanguageTextNode = ({ langs, y, display_format, card_width }) => {
+const createLanguageTextNode = ({ langs = [], y, display_format, card_width = 495, lineHeight = 25, ordering = "horizontal" }) => {
   const LEFT_X = 25;
   const RIGHT_X_BASE = 230;
   const rightOffset = (card_width - DEFAULT_CARD_WIDTH) / 2;
   const RIGHT_X = RIGHT_X_BASE + rightOffset;
 
-  return langs.map((lang, index) => {
-    const isLeft = index % 2 === 0;
-    return createCompactLangNode({
-      lang,
-      x: isLeft ? LEFT_X : RIGHT_X,
-      y: isLeft ? 12.5 * index + y : 12.5 + 12.5 * index,
-      display_format,
+  if (ordering === "horizontal") {
+    return langs.map((lang, index) => {
+      const row = Math.floor(index / 2);
+      const col = index % 2;
+      return createCompactLangNode({
+        lang,
+        x: col === 0 ? LEFT_X : RIGHT_X,
+        y: y + lineHeight * row,
+        display_format,
+      });
     });
-  });
+  }
+
+  else if (ordering === "vertical") {
+    const halfLength = Math.ceil(langs.length / 2);
+
+    return langs.map((lang, index) => {
+      const inLeft = index < halfLength;
+      const col = inLeft ? 0 : 1;
+      const row = inLeft ? index : index - halfLength;
+      return createCompactLangNode({
+        lang,
+        x: col === 0 ? LEFT_X : RIGHT_X,
+        y: y + lineHeight * row,
+        display_format,
+      });
+    });
+  }
+
+  return [];
 };
 
 /**
@@ -264,6 +286,7 @@ const renderWakatimeCard = (stats = {}, options = { hide: [] }) => {
     border_color,
     display_format = "time",
     disable_animations,
+    ordering = "horizontal",
   } = options;
 
   const normalizedWidth = normalizeCardWidth({ value: card_width, layout });
@@ -319,7 +342,7 @@ const renderWakatimeCard = (stats = {}, options = { hide: [] }) => {
   // RENDER COMPACT LAYOUT
   if (layout === "compact") {
     let width = normalizedWidth - 5;
-    height = 90 + Math.round(filteredLanguages.length / 2) * 25;
+    height = 90 + Math.round(filteredLanguages.length / 2) * lheight;
 
     // progressOffset holds the previous language's width and used to offset the next language
     // so that we can stack them one after another, like this: [--][----][---]
@@ -359,6 +382,8 @@ const renderWakatimeCard = (stats = {}, options = { hide: [] }) => {
               langs: filteredLanguages,
               display_format,
               card_width: normalizedWidth,
+              lineHeight: lheight,
+              ordering,
             }).join("")
           : noCodingActivityNode({
               // @ts-ignore
@@ -474,4 +499,4 @@ const renderWakatimeCard = (stats = {}, options = { hide: [] }) => {
 };
 
 export { renderWakatimeCard };
-export default renderWakatimeCard;
+export default renderWakatimeCard;
\ No newline at end of file