PluginSift

Meta Box vs Custom Field Template (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
Custom Field Template

Custom Field Template

4(24)

30K+ active installs

Free

Updated 2 months ago
View Custom Field Template

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 30K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Meta Box has accumulated 23M+ total downloads while Custom Field Template has 1.2M+. Custom Field Template has a higher support resolution rate (0% vs 0%).

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.8/5Meta Box
◄
Custom Field Template4/5
Total Reviews
162Meta Box
◄
Custom Field Template24
Active Installs
500K+Meta Box
◄
Custom Field Template30K+
Total Downloads
23M+Meta Box
◄
Custom Field Template1.2M+
Support Resolution
0%Meta Box
Custom Field Template0%
Last Updated
5 days agoMeta Box
◄
Custom Field Template2 months ago
First Released
2011Meta Box
Custom Field Template2008
Age
15 yearsMeta Box
Custom Field Template18 years
WP Requires
6.5+Meta Box
Custom Field Template2.1+
PHP Requires
7.4+Meta Box
Custom Field Templatefalse+
Business Model
FreeMeta Box
Custom Field TemplateFree
Latest Version
5.11.4Meta Box
Custom Field Template2.7.7

Rating Breakdown

Meta Box

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

Custom Field Template

4/5(24 reviews)
5
67%
4
8%
3
0%
2
8%
1
17%

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

Custom Field Template Reviews

by edwinbradford

Actively maintained

I’ve been using Custom Field Template on my portfolio site for decades during which it has been actively maintained, as soon as WordPress core is updated, Custom Field Template is if necessary. I see

by aschlemmer

Useful since many years

very useful plugin This topic was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by aschlemmer.

by beloepero

The best

Exellent plugin

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Meta Box or Custom Field Template more popular?
Meta Box has 500K+ active installations while Custom Field Template has 30K+. Meta Box is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Meta Box or Custom Field Template?
Meta Box has a 4.8/5 rating from 162 reviews, while Custom Field Template has a 4/5 rating from 24 reviews.
Are Meta Box and Custom Field Template free?
Meta Box is free and Custom Field Template is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Meta Box or Custom Field Template?
As of April 2026, Meta Box has a 0% support resolution rate while Custom Field Template has a 0% rate.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Meta Box was last updated 5 days ago and Custom Field Template was last updated 2 months ago.

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