ACF: Better Search vs Admin Columns for ACF Fields (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

ACF: Better Search

ACF: Better Search

4.9(164)

40K+ active installs

Free

Updated 3 months ago
View ACF: Better Search
VS
Admin Columns for ACF Fields

Admin Columns for ACF Fields

4.9(20)

9.0K+ active installs

Free

Updated 1 year ago
View Admin Columns for ACF Fields

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, ACF: Better Search has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 164 reviews) and leads in active installations (40K+ vs 9.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. ACF: Better Search has accumulated 814K+ total downloads while Admin Columns for ACF Fields has 52K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.9/5ACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF Fields4.9/5
Total Reviews
164ACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF Fields20
Active Installs
40K+ACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF Fields9.0K+
Total Downloads
814K+ACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF Fields52K+
Support Resolution
0%ACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF FieldsN/A
Last Updated
3 months agoACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF Fields1 year ago
First Released
2016ACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF Fields2019
Age
10 yearsACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF Fields7 years
WP Requires
5.0+ACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF Fields4.6+
PHP Requires
7.0+ACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF Fields5.6.2+
Business Model
FreeACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF FieldsFree
Latest Version
4.4.1ACF: Better Search
Admin Columns for ACF Fields0.3.2

Rating Breakdown

ACF: Better Search

4.9/5(164 reviews)
5
95%
4
3%
3
1%
2
1%
1
1%

Admin Columns for ACF Fields

4.9/5(20 reviews)
5
90%
4
5%
3
5%
2
0%
1
0%

Recent Reviews

ACF: Better Search Reviews

by mkdes

Great, works perfectly

Great, works perfectly. Fast.

by wu-wei

Has worked without fail for years

Thanks for the super useful plugin, with the perfect amount of easy to configure flexibility. I don’t recall ever having an issue and I appreciate that it doesn’t spam the dashboard with noise.

Amazing Plugin!!

This plugin has been instrumental in allowing us to customize our posts by category which has improved our website immensely. The custom posts have made our content creation much more streamlined and

Admin Columns for ACF Fields Reviews

by WhiteX3

Perfect! No need for Admin Columns Pro

I just wanted to say big thanks to the developer for this useful plugin. This was so easy to do. I was considering Admin Columns Pro but I honestly don’t need any of those extras – just to show relate

by matutino

Works like a charm

It does what it promises, recommended!

by MaryMak

Adds toggle – super easy

This was so quick to add and very helpful to see certain fields in the admin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ACF: Better Search or Admin Columns for ACF Fields more popular?
ACF: Better Search has 40K+ active installations while Admin Columns for ACF Fields has 9.0K+. ACF: Better Search is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — ACF: Better Search or Admin Columns for ACF Fields?
ACF: Better Search has a 4.9/5 rating from 164 reviews, while Admin Columns for ACF Fields has a 4.9/5 rating from 20 reviews.
Are ACF: Better Search and Admin Columns for ACF Fields free?
ACF: Better Search is free and Admin Columns for ACF Fields is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — ACF: Better Search or Admin Columns for ACF Fields?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
ACF: Better Search was last updated 3 months ago and Admin Columns for ACF Fields was last updated 1 year ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.