Meta Box vs Custom Fields for Gutenberg (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Custom Fields for Gutenberg
1.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Custom Fields for Gutenberg has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 17 reviews) while Meta Box leads in active installations (500K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Meta Box has accumulated 23M+ total downloads while Custom Fields for Gutenberg has 57K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Meta Box | Custom Fields for Gutenberg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ► | 4.9/5 |
| Total Reviews | 162 | ◄ | 17 |
| Active Installs | 500K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 23M+ | ◄ | 57K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 5 days ago | ◄ | 1 week ago |
| First Released | 2011 | 2018 | |
| Age | 15 years | 8 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.5+ | 4.7+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 5.6.20+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 5.11.4 | 2.4.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Meta Box
Custom Fields for Gutenberg
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Meta Box averaged approximately 14,518 daily downloads while Custom Fields for Gutenberg averaged 12.
Recent Reviews
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
Custom Fields for Gutenberg Reviews
Very helpful. Thanks!
Just what I needed.
Good plugin by a top dev
This plugin does one thing and does it well. This is how all plugins should be!
Does as It Says
Does exactly as it says. Thanks very much for making this, @specialk.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Meta Box or Custom Fields for Gutenberg more popular?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.