Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) vs Meta Box (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, Meta Box has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 162 reviews) while Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) leads in active installations (2.0M+ vs 500K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) has accumulated 69M+ total downloads while Meta Box has 23M+. Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) has a higher support resolution rate (43% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) | Meta Box | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 1,428 | ◄ | 162 |
| Active Installs | 2.0M+ | ◄ | 500K+ |
| Total Downloads | 69M+ | ◄ | 23M+ |
| Support Resolution | 43% | ◄ | 0% |
| Last Updated | 5 days ago | ◄ | 5 days ago |
| First Released | 2011 | 2011 | |
| Age | 15 years | 15 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.2+ | 6.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 6.8.0 | 5.11.4 |
Rating Breakdown
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®)
Meta Box
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) averaged approximately 56,756 daily downloads while Meta Box averaged 14,518.
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
Meta Box Reviews
Does everything without taking much space
I love this as an alternative to ACF – it’s much more intuitive and takes a healthier modular approach; much more adaptable when working with various frameworks and much better gui for the non technic
Best Performance and works with Breakdance Visual Builder
The performance is impressive, and the plugin is constantly maintained. It’s especially nice that it works seamlessly with Breakdance Visual Builder. Thanks to sample code from Metabox (thanks for the
Outstanding Plugin and Incredible Support!
MetaBox has been a game-changer for my WordPress development workflow. The usability is intuitive and highly functional — everything just makes sense and works seamlessly. What truly sets MetaBox
More Custom Fields Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) and Meta Box
Checkout Field Editor (Checkout Manager) for WooCommerce – The best WooCommerce checkout manager plugin to manage WooCommerce checkout fields.
Take control of your WordPress admin list tables. Add, remove, and reorder columns for posts, users, media, and more - no coding needed.
Pods is a framework for creating, managing, and deploying customized content types and fields for any project.
All-in-one enhancement suite that improves WordPress & Advanced Custom Fields.
The best WooCommerce checkout manager. Edit, remove or add checkout fields. Customize WooCommerce checkout with this checkout field customizer.
Secure Custom Fields boosts content management with custom fields and options. It deactivates Advanced Custom Fields to prevent duplicate code errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) or Meta Box more popular?
Which has better ratings — Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) or Meta Box?
Are Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) and Meta Box free?
Which plugin has better support — Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) or Meta Box?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.