CMB2 vs Simple Settings (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
VS
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Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, CMB2 has a higher user rating (5/5 from 91 reviews) and leads in active installations (300K+ vs 10). Both are free WordPress plugins. CMB2 has accumulated 5.0M+ total downloads while Simple Settings has 2.0K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | CMB2 | Simple Settings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 91 | ◄ | 2 |
| Active Installs | 300K+ | ◄ | 10 |
| Total Downloads | 5.0M+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 years ago | ◄ | 12 years ago |
| First Released | 2014 | 2013 | |
| Age | 12 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.8.0+ | 3.0.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.11.0 | 1.2 |
Rating
5/5CMB2
Simple Settings5/5
Total Reviews
91CMB2
◄Simple Settings2
Active Installs
300K+CMB2
◄Simple Settings10
Total Downloads
5.0M+CMB2
◄Simple Settings2.0K+
Support Resolution
0%CMB2
Simple SettingsN/A
Last Updated
2 years agoCMB2
◄Simple Settings12 years ago
First Released
2014CMB2
Simple Settings2013
Age
12 yearsCMB2
Simple Settings13 years
WP Requires
3.8.0+CMB2
Simple Settings3.0.1+
PHP Requires
7.4+CMB2
Simple Settingsfalse+
Business Model
FreeCMB2
Simple SettingsFree
Latest Version
2.11.0CMB2
Simple Settings1.2
Rating Breakdown
CMB2
5/5(91 reviews)
5
99%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
1%
Simple Settings
5/5(2 reviews)
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
CMB2 Reviews
by suiramus
Super useful!
Thank you for your hard work!One of the best plugin for developers. Simple and effective.
by paknejad
Simple and free and much better than advance custom fields
Simple and free and much better than advance custom fields
by Aditya Thok
Powerfull
Powerfull, Simple and Clean
Simple Settings Reviews
No reviews yet
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CMB2 or Simple Settings more popular?
CMB2 has 300K+ active installations while Simple Settings has 10. CMB2 is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — CMB2 or Simple Settings?
CMB2 has a 5/5 rating from 91 reviews, while Simple Settings has a 5/5 rating from 2 reviews.
Are CMB2 and Simple Settings free?
CMB2 is free and Simple Settings is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — CMB2 or Simple Settings?
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?
CMB2 was last updated 2 years ago and Simple Settings was last updated 12 years ago.
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.