1
Meta Box
Developers building data-heavy sites who want custom tables, relationships, views and front-end forms from one vendor.
94overall scoreDetails
Best WordPress WordPress Custom Fields Plugins (2026)
Custom fields, custom post types and taxonomies, field types, repeaters, relationships, front-end forms and dynamic data: how the main WordPress custom fields plugins compare.
About WordPress Custom Fields Plugins
Custom fields plugins turn WordPress into a flexible content system. They let you add structured fields such as prices, dates, galleries and relationships to posts, create custom post types and taxonomies, and show that data in templates, blocks and page builders.We compare the most popular options, including Advanced Custom Fields, Secure Custom Fields, Meta Box, Pods, JetEngine, Toolset, Custom Post Type UI and other popular options. Each one is checked against 18 features covering fields, content modelling, displaying data and developer features.Every feature is marked as free, paid, add-on, partial or not offered, with a note and a link to the source. The ranking combines feature coverage with popularity and ratings.
The ranking
Overall score = 55% features, 20% popularity, 25% ratings. Filter by the features you need, or tick two plugins to compare them.
Must have
2
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
Developers and agencies who want the most widely supported custom fields framework and will pay for PRO when they need repeaters, flexible layouts or custom blocks.
92overall scoreDetails
3
Pods
Developers who want a free, all-in-one content modelling framework with relationships and custom table storage.
88overall scoreDetails
4
Secure Custom Fields
Developers and site owners who want ACF-style custom fields, including repeaters and flexible layouts, completely free.
87overall scoreDetails
5
JetEngine
Agencies and designers building directories, listings and other dynamic sites with Elementor, Bricks or the block editor.
86overall scoreDetails
6
ACPT – Advanced Custom Post Types
Developers and agencies wanting an all-in-one fields, post type, custom table and forms plugin at a low annual price.
83overall scoreDetails
7
Toolset
Existing Toolset users and no-code teams that want fields, templates, forms and access rules from a single vendor.
76overall scoreDetails
8
Custom Post Type UI
Sites that only need custom post types and taxonomies registered through a UI, alongside a separate fields plugin.
55overall scoreDetails
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Pricing compared
Entry and top plans on the same billing period, plus any lifetime deal. Prices are list prices before discounts or tax.
| Plugin | Free version | Entry plan | Top plan | Lifetime | Paid plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Box |
Yes | $49/yrBasic Bundle, 1 site | $99/yrUltimate Bundle, 3 sites | $299Lifetime Bundle, 3 sites | 3 |
| Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) |
Yes | $49/yrPersonal, 1 site | $249/yrAgency, Unlimited | — | 3 |
| Pods |
Yes | $49/yrPods Pro Basic Pack, 1 site | $79/yrPods Pro Pro Pack, 1 site | — | 2 |
| Secure Custom Fields |
Yes | Free only | — | — | — |
| JetEngine |
No | $75/yrJetEngine (1 site) | $199/yrAll-Inclusive, 1 site | $999Lifetime, Unlimited | 4 |
| ACPT – Advanced Custom Post Types |
No | $29/yrPersonal, 1 site | $99/yrAgency, Unlimited | — | 3 |
| Toolset |
No | €69/yr1 Site | €299/yrUnlimited Sites | — | 3 |
| Custom Post Type UI |
Yes | $99CPT UI Pro, 1 site | — | $99CPT UI Pro, 1 site | 1 |
Spotted an out-of-date price? Suggest an edit.
Full feature matrix
Every plugin against every feature. Scroll sideways on small screens.
| Feature | Meta Box | Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) | Pods | Secure Custom Fields | JetEngine | ACPT – Advanced Custom Post Types | Toolset | Custom Post Type UI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fields | ||||||||
| Visual field group builder | ||||||||
| Wide range of field types | ||||||||
| Repeater fields | ||||||||
| Flexible content layouts | ||||||||
| Relationship fields | ||||||||
| Conditional logic | ||||||||
| Options & settings pages | ||||||||
| Content modelling | ||||||||
| Custom post types | ||||||||
| Custom taxonomies | ||||||||
| User, term & comment fields | ||||||||
| Custom database tables | ||||||||
| Displaying data | ||||||||
| Blocks & block bindings | ||||||||
| Front-end forms | ||||||||
| Page builder dynamic data | ||||||||
| Listings & views without code | ||||||||
| Developer features | ||||||||
| REST API & GraphQL support | ||||||||
| Fields in code or JSON | ||||||||
| Import & export | ||||||||
Statuses: Yes Pro Add-on Partial 3rd-party No ?
Head-to-head comparisons
Pods/Secure Custom FieldsACPT – Advanced Custom Post Types/Custom Post Type UIACPT – Advanced Custom Post Types/Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)ACPT – Advanced Custom Post Types/Secure Custom FieldsACPT – Advanced Custom Post Types/Meta BoxACPT – Advanced Custom Post Types/PodsACPT – Advanced Custom Post Types/JetEngineACPT – Advanced Custom Post Types/ToolsetSecure Custom Fields/ToolsetMeta Box/ToolsetPods/ToolsetCustom Post Type UI/JetEngineCustom Post Type UI/ToolsetAdvanced Custom Fields (ACF)/JetEngineAdvanced Custom Fields (ACF)/Custom Post Type UIJetEngine/Secure Custom FieldsCustom Post Type UI/Secure Custom FieldsJetEngine/Meta BoxCustom Post Type UI/Meta BoxJetEngine/PodsCustom Post Type UI/PodsJetEngine/ToolsetAdvanced Custom Fields (ACF)/ToolsetAdvanced Custom Fields (ACF)/Meta BoxMeta Box/Secure Custom FieldsAdvanced Custom Fields (ACF)/PodsMeta Box/PodsAdvanced Custom Fields (ACF)/Secure Custom Fields Buyer's guide
Fields, post types or both
Some plugins only add fields, some only register post types (Custom Post Type UI), and some do both. ACF, Meta Box, Pods and JetEngine cover both in one place.
Repeaters and flexible content
Repeater and flexible content fields are what most complex sites need, and they are often in the paid tier. Check which tier includes them before you start building.
Showing the data
Fields are only useful if you can display them. If you do not write PHP, look for block support, page builder dynamic tags or built-in listing tools.
Performance
Storing lots of fields as post meta can slow queries on big sites. Plugins that offer custom tables help at scale.
Lock-in
Content stored by one fields plugin is not always readable by another. Prefer tools that store data in standard post meta or let you export field definitions to code.
Browse by feature
Visual field group builder (7)
Wide range of field types (7)
Repeater fields (7)
Flexible content layouts (4)
Relationship fields (7)
Conditional logic (7)
Options & settings pages (6)
Custom post types (8)
Custom taxonomies (8)
User, term & comment fields (7)
Custom database tables (4)
Blocks & block bindings (7)
Front-end forms (7)
Page builder dynamic data (5)
Listings & views without code (6)
REST API & GraphQL support (8)
Fields in code or JSON (7)
Import & export (8)