Meta Box vs Custom Meta Field (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
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 10). Both are free WordPress plugins. Meta Box has accumulated 23M+ total downloads while Custom Meta Field has 604.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Meta Box | Custom Meta Field | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ◄ | N/A |
| Total Reviews | 162 | ◄ | 0 |
| Active Installs | 500K+ | ◄ | 10 |
| Total Downloads | 23M+ | ◄ | 604 |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 6 days ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2011 | 2024 | |
| Age | 15 years | 2 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.5+ | 4.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 5.11.4 | 1.0.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Meta Box
Custom Meta Field
Download Trends
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 Meta Field Reviews
No reviews yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.