Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) vs Meta Shortcode (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 10). Both are free WordPress plugins. Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) has accumulated 69M+ total downloads while Meta Shortcode has 838.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) | Meta Shortcode | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ◄ | N/A |
| Total Reviews | 1,428 | ◄ | 0 |
| Active Installs | 2.0M+ | ◄ | 10 |
| Total Downloads | 69M+ | ◄ | 838 |
| Support Resolution | 43% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 6 days ago | ◄ | 5 years ago |
| First Released | 2011 | 2020 | |
| Age | 15 years | 6 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.2+ | 2.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 6.8.0 | 0.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®)
Meta Shortcode
Download Trends
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 Shortcode Reviews
No reviews yet
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) and Meta Shortcode
Get the Official Meta for WooCommerce plugin for powerful ways to help grow your business.
This is a very simple SEO plugin. You can easily set and customize meta tags and OGP tags for each page.
All-in-one enhancement suite that improves WordPress & Advanced Custom Fields.
Easily redirect pages/posts or custom post types to another page/post or external URL by specifying the redirect URL and type (301, 302, 307, meta).
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 Shortcode more popular?
Which has better ratings — Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) or Meta Shortcode?
Are Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) and Meta Shortcode free?
Which plugin has better support — Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) or Meta Shortcode?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.