PluginSift

Meta Box vs Handy Custom Fields (2026)

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

Meta Box

Meta Box

4.8(162)

500K+ active installs

Free

Updated 5 days ago
View Meta Box
VS
Handy Custom Fields

Handy Custom Fields

0(0)

0 active installs

Free

Updated 6 years ago
View Handy Custom Fields

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, Meta Box has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 162 reviews) and leads in active installations (500K+ vs 0). Both are free WordPress plugins. Meta Box has accumulated 23M+ total downloads while Handy Custom Fields has 1.0K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.8/5Meta Box
◄
Handy Custom FieldsN/A
Total Reviews
162Meta Box
◄
Handy Custom Fields0
Active Installs
500K+Meta Box
◄
Handy Custom Fields0
Total Downloads
23M+Meta Box
◄
Handy Custom Fields1.0K+
Support Resolution
0%Meta Box
Handy Custom FieldsN/A
Last Updated
5 days agoMeta Box
◄
Handy Custom Fields6 years ago
First Released
2011Meta Box
Handy Custom Fields2019
Age
15 yearsMeta Box
Handy Custom Fields7 years
WP Requires
6.5+Meta Box
Handy Custom Fields2.1+
PHP Requires
7.4+Meta Box
Handy Custom Fieldsfalse+
Business Model
FreeMeta Box
Handy Custom FieldsFree
Latest Version
5.11.4Meta Box
Handy Custom Fields1.1

Rating Breakdown

Meta Box

4.8/5(162 reviews)
5
91%
4
5%
3
1%
2
1%
1
2%

Handy Custom Fields

0/5(0 reviews)
5
0%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%

Recent Reviews

Meta Box Reviews

by jameshgordy

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

by alamea

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

by zentyx

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

Handy Custom Fields Reviews

No reviews yet

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Meta Box or Handy Custom Fields more popular?
Meta Box has 500K+ active installations while Handy Custom Fields has 0. Meta Box is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Meta Box or Handy Custom Fields?
Meta Box has a 4.8/5 rating from 162 reviews, while Handy Custom Fields has a 0/5 rating from 0 reviews.
Are Meta Box and Handy Custom Fields free?
Meta Box is free and Handy Custom Fields is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Meta Box or Handy Custom 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?
Meta Box was last updated 5 days ago and Handy Custom Fields was last updated 6 years ago.

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