CMB2 vs Core Settings (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, CMB2 has a higher user rating (5/5 from 91 reviews) and leads in active installations (300K+ vs 10). Both are free WordPress plugins. CMB2 has accumulated 5.0M+ total downloads while Core Settings has 1.2K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | CMB2 | Core Settings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | ◄ | N/A |
| Total Reviews | 91 | ◄ | 0 |
| Active Installs | 300K+ | ◄ | 10 |
| Total Downloads | 5.0M+ | ◄ | 1.2K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 years ago | ◄ | 5 years ago |
| First Released | 2014 | 2018 | |
| Age | 12 years | 8 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.8.0+ | 2.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.11.0 | 1.01 |
Rating Breakdown
CMB2
Core Settings
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
CMB2 Reviews
Super useful!
Thank you for your hard work!One of the best plugin for developers. Simple and effective.
Simple and free and much better than advance custom fields
Simple and free and much better than advance custom fields
Powerfull
Powerfull, Simple and Clean
Core Settings Reviews
No reviews yet
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as CMB2 and Core Settings
Import your demo content, widgets and theme settings with one click. Theme authors! Enable simple theme demo import for your users.
Theme Options UI Builder for WordPress. A simple way to create & save Theme Options and Meta Boxes for free or premium themes.
Astra theme customizer offers several settings for header/footer layout, sidebar and blog designs, colors, backgrounds, typography and much more.
Catch Themes Demo Import is a simple and easy-to-use demo importer WordPress plugin that allows you to import the theme demo data Based on One Click D …
Easily create custom variables that can be accessed globally in Wordpress and PHP. Retrieval of information is extremely fast, with no database calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CMB2 or Core Settings more popular?
Which has better ratings — CMB2 or Core Settings?
Are CMB2 and Core Settings free?
Which plugin has better support — CMB2 or Core Settings?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.