Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) vs Genesis Custom Blocks (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®)
2.0M+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 1,428 reviews) and leads in active installations (2.0M+ vs 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) has accumulated 69M+ total downloads while Genesis Custom Blocks has 176K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) | Genesis Custom Blocks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 1,428 | ◄ | 21 |
| Active Installs | 2.0M+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 69M+ | ◄ | 176K+ |
| Support Resolution | 43% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 5 days ago | ► | 4 days ago |
| First Released | 2011 | 2020 | |
| Age | 15 years | 6 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.2+ | 6.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 6.8.0 | 1.7.2 |
Rating Breakdown
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®)
Genesis Custom Blocks
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) averaged approximately 56,756 daily downloads while Genesis Custom Blocks averaged 179.
Recent Reviews
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) Reviews
Must Have Tool
One of the best plugins I’ve used. Makes custom fields super easy to manage. Works smoothly and is very flexible. tnx to devs, really helped in my projects 👍
Flexible Fields Tool
ACF really helps when adding custom fields to posts n pages. Setup is pretty simple and very flexible. Took a little time to learn at first, but works great once you get used to it. Tnkz devs.
I just want to display the content
The back-end set up is great and clearly this is a powerful plugin. However, this plugin requires either the paid version or custom PHP theme to display the content on the front end! There are no bloc
Genesis Custom Blocks Reviews
Works Well, Good Documentation
I’ve been using this plugin for clients for a couple of years. It’s well documented, and the tools work and are easy to work with, if you have PHP chops, that is. I love this plugin.
Good Plugin
Plugin works very well, thank you.
Exactly What I Needed but the Pro Pricing is Stupid
This is exactly what I needed. I can make my own Gutenberg blocks with JS, PHP, and HTML without having to learn Node.js, React, and Redux (really WordPress?). I plan on learning these, but need a s
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) or Genesis Custom Blocks more popular?
Which has better ratings — Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) or Genesis Custom Blocks?
Are Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) and Genesis Custom Blocks free?
Which plugin has better support — Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) or Genesis Custom Blocks?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.