Search Regex vs Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field (2026)

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

Search Regex

Search Regex

4.7(97)

100K+ active installs

Free

Updated 1 month ago
View Search Regex
VS
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field

Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field

4.5(22)

200 active installs

Free

Updated 10 years ago
View Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, Search Regex has a higher user rating (4.7/5 from 97 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 200). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search Regex has accumulated 2.4M+ total downloads while Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field has 18K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.7/5Search Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field4.5/5
Total Reviews
97Search Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field22
Active Installs
100K+Search Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field200
Total Downloads
2.4M+Search Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field18K+
Support Resolution
0%Search Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated FieldN/A
Last Updated
1 month agoSearch Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field10 years ago
First Released
2007Search Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field2012
Age
19 yearsSearch Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field14 years
WP Requires
6.5+Search Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field3.0+
PHP Requires
7.4+Search Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Fieldfalse+
Business Model
FreeSearch Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated FieldFree
Latest Version
3.4.1Search Regex
Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field1.7.7

Rating Breakdown

Search Regex

4.7/5(97 reviews)
5
86%
4
7%
3
3%
2
1%
1
3%

Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field

4.5/5(22 reviews)
5
86%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
14%

Recent Reviews

Search Regex Reviews

by hakuna4matata

Handy for search-and-replace, but “Delete Matches” is dangerous

This plugin does a great job when you just want to find and replace text across your site. The interface is clear, the regex support works well, and the preview feature is very useful. However, the

by humananimal

Amazing

Dear John, you are so GODLEY!! thank you for this wonderful super helpful plugin! May I buy you a ticket to Disneyland?? 😉

by kelson

Incredibly powerful!

Incredibly powerful search tool for your dashboard, especially useful if, for example, you’ve moved to a new server (or a new site structure), or someone’s changed their name, or any other reason you

Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field Reviews

No reviews yet

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Search Regex or Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field more popular?
Search Regex has 100K+ active installations while Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field has 200. Search Regex is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Search Regex or Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field?
Search Regex has a 4.7/5 rating from 97 reviews, while Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field has a 4.5/5 rating from 22 reviews.
Are Search Regex and Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field free?
Search Regex is free and Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Search Regex or Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field?
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?
Search Regex was last updated 1 month ago and Advanced Custom Fields: Validated Field was last updated 10 years ago.

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