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Pods
Free, donation-funded framework for custom post types, taxonomies, fields, relationships, custom tables and templates, with optional Pods Pro add-ons.
Free installs100K+WordPress.org, active
Est. Pro installs~6KLikely 3K–12K
Vendor claims100K+Vendor's own figure
Rating4.8/5418 reviews
Price from$49/yrFreemium
Last updated31 Aug 2026Version 3.3.9.2
Overview
Pods (Pods Framework, listed on WordPress.org as Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields) is a long-running open source project led by Scott Kingsley Clark. It handles the whole content model in one plugin: custom post types, taxonomies, settings pages, extended core types (posts, pages, users, media, comments) and the custom fields attached to them. The project is funded by donations through Friends of Pods and by sponsors rather than by a paid tier of the plugin itself.
Its distinctive feature is Advanced Content Types, which store records in their own database tables instead of the posts and meta tables, plus an optional Table Storage component. Relationship fields can point at posts, terms, users, roles, comments, custom lists or any database table. There are 20+ field types with 25+ input types, conditional logic and simple repeatable fields, where one field can hold several values.
Displaying content
Pods includes six blocks, shortcodes, widgets and the Pods Templates engine, so you can build lists and single views without writing PHP. It supports the Block Bindings API (since Pods 3.2), exposes fields through the REST API, integrates directly with WPGraphQL and can register configurations from JSON or YAML files in your theme. Elementor Pro, Bricks and other builders read Pods fields, and a free add-on covers Beaver Themer.
Pods Pro
Pods Pro by SKCDEV sells optional add-ons: the Basic Pack ($49 a year, one site) includes List Tables, TablePress integration and Advanced Permalinks; the Pro Pack ($79 a year, one site, or $119 for unlimited sites) adds the Page Builder Toolkit, Commerce Toolkit and Advanced Relationship Storage. Pro packs have a 30-day refund policy.
Limitations
Pods has no Flexible Content field, and its repeatable fields repeat a single field rather than a group of sub-fields. The admin interface is dense because it covers so much. Pods suits developers who want a free, all-in-one content modelling tool, especially for relational or table-based data.
Best for: Developers who want a free, all-in-one content modelling framework with relationships and custom table storage.
Pods offers more for free than any other plugin here, including custom tables, relationships and a template engine. It lacks ACF-style repeater groups and flexible layouts, so it fits structured, relational data better than freeform page building.
Pros
- Everything core is free: post types, taxonomies, fields, relationships and templates
- Advanced Content Types store data in custom tables
- Relationships to posts, users, terms, roles or any database table
- Pods Templates and blocks display content without PHP
- Config files in JSON or YAML and direct WPGraphQL integration
Cons
- No Flexible Content field
- Repeatable fields repeat single fields, not groups of sub-fields
- Admin interface is dense for beginners
- Some page builder integrations need the paid Pods Pro toolkit
Key features
What Pods highlights on its WordPress.org page and its own website, split by version.
Free version WordPress.org
- Custom post types and taxonomies
- Advanced Content Types in custom tables
- Extend posts, pages, users, media, comments
- Settings pages
- 20+ field types, 25+ input types
- Conditional logic for fields
- Simple repeatable fields
- Relationships to any content or table
- Six blocks plus shortcodes
- Pods Templates engine
- Block Bindings support
- WPGraphQL and REST API
- JSON/YAML config files
Pro / paid adds From $49/yr
- Page Builder Toolkit (Divi, Oxygen, more)
- Commerce Toolkit
- Advanced Relationship Storage
- Admin List Tables
- TablePress integration
- Advanced Permalinks
- Friends of Pods discount
Feature checklist
17 of 18 features we track in Custom Fields & Post Types, feature score 89/100
Fields 6/7
Visual field group builder Key
Create field groups and assign them to content without code.
Admin UI to create pods, groups and fields without code.
Included
Wide range of field types Key
Text, image, gallery, date, select, file, colour, map and more.
20+ field types with 25+ input types, including predefined option lists.
Included
Repeater fields Key
Repeating rows of sub-fields.
Simple repeatable fields repeat one field; no repeating groups of sub-fields.
Partial
Flexible content layouts
Choose from layouts of fields to build page sections.
No flexible content or layout field.
Not included
Relationship fields Key
Link posts, users or terms to each other.
Relationships to posts, terms, users, roles, comments or any database table.
Included
Conditional logic
Show fields based on other field values.
Free conditional logic for showing or hiding fields.
Included
Options & settings pages
Global fields on admin settings pages.
Settings pages are a built-in content type.
Included
Content modelling 4/4
Custom post types Key
Register post types from the admin.
Register custom post types from the Pods admin.
Included
Custom taxonomies
Register taxonomies from the admin.
Register custom taxonomies from the Pods admin.
Included
User, term & comment fields
Fields on users, taxonomy terms and comments.
Extend users, taxonomies, media and comments with fields.
Included
Custom database tables
Store field data in custom tables for speed.
Advanced Content Types and Table Storage keep data in custom tables.
Included
Displaying data 4/4
Blocks & block bindings Key
Show fields in the block editor or build ACF-style blocks.
Block Bindings API support since Pods 3.2, plus six Pods blocks.
Included
Front-end forms
Let users create or edit content from the front end.
Pods Forms let visitors add or edit content on the front end.
Included
Page builder dynamic data
Use field values in Elementor, Bricks, Breakdance or similar.
Elementor Pro and Bricks read Pods; free Beaver Themer add-on, Pro toolkit for others.
Included
Listings & views without code
Build lists, grids or templates of content without PHP.
Pods Templates, list blocks and shortcodes show content without PHP.
Included
Developer features 3/3
REST API & GraphQL support
Expose fields through the REST API or WPGraphQL.
Fields can be exposed in the REST API; direct WPGraphQL integration.
Included
Fields in code or JSON
Register or sync field groups in code or JSON files for version control.
Pods, groups and fields can be registered from JSON or YAML files in the theme (2.9+).
Included
Import & export
Move field groups and post types between sites.
Migrate Packages component imports and exports configurations as JSON.
Included
Pricing
Free
$0On WordPress.org
Free
Freeper yearUnlimited
Full framework: post types, taxonomies, fields, relationships, custom tables, templates, blocks. Donation-funded.
Pods Pro Basic Pack
$49per year1 site
List Tables, TablePress integration, Advanced Permalinks. Unlimited sites $89/yr.
Pods Pro Pro Pack
$79per year1 site
Adds Page Builder Toolkit, Commerce Toolkit, Advanced Relationship Storage. Unlimited sites $119/yr. Friends of Pods discount.
Prices are list prices from the vendor's site, checked 22 Oct 2026. Many vendors discount the first year.
How many sites use Pods?
Free installs from WordPress.org, the vendor's own claim, and our estimate of paid installs.
Free version (WordPress.org)
100K+
Active installations reported by WordPress.org.
Vendor claim
100K+
Sites/users claimed on the vendor's website. source
Estimated Pro / paid installs
~6K
Our estimate, see method below.
How we estimated this: The vendor figure (100K+) is within WordPress.org's rounding of the free installs, so it says nothing about paid sites. About 150K free installs x 4% (the usual share of free sites that also run the paid version when most features are free) gives 6K. Likely range: 3K to 12K. This counts sites running the paid version, including sites whose licence has lapsed. Estimates are rough and based on public figures as of 22 Oct 2026.
Stats & health
Weekly downloads
3,858 downloads last week, 5.5M all time
Rating breakdown
| Version | 3.3.9.2 |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 31 Aug 2026 (63 days ago) |
| Tested up to | WordPress 7.1.4 |
| Requires | WordPress 6.3+, PHP 7.2+ |
| Support threads (2 months) | 25 of 26 resolved |
| On WordPress.org since | 8 Oct 2008 |
Company & policy
| Refund policy | 30-day refund (Pods Pro packs) (source, 22 Oct 2026) Refund for any reason within 30 days on Pro Pack passes. |
|---|
Pods compared
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FAQ
Is Pods free?
Yes. Pods has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $49/yr.
How many sites use Pods?
WordPress.org reports 100K+ active installations of the free version. The vendor claims 100K+ sites in total. We estimate around 6K sites run the paid version.
Does Pods have visual field group builder?
Yes: included. Admin UI to create pods, groups and fields without code.
Does Pods have wide range of field types?
Yes: included. 20+ field types with 25+ input types, including predefined option lists.
Does Pods have repeater fields?
Yes: partial. Simple repeatable fields repeat one field; no repeating groups of sub-fields.
Does Pods have relationship fields?
Yes: included. Relationships to posts, terms, users, roles, comments or any database table.
Does Pods have custom post types?
Yes: included. Register custom post types from the Pods admin.
Does Pods have blocks & block bindings?
Yes: included. Block Bindings API support since Pods 3.2, plus six Pods blocks.
Is Pods really free?
Yes. The full framework, including custom tables, relationships, templates and blocks, is free. Development is funded by donations and sponsors, and Pods Pro sells optional add-ons.
Does Pods have a repeater like ACF?
Pods has simple repeatable fields, where one field holds multiple values. It does not have repeating groups of sub-fields or a Flexible Content field.
What are Advanced Content Types?
They are Pods content types stored in their own database tables instead of the posts and meta tables, which suits large or non-post data.
Does Pods work with page builders?
Elementor Pro and Bricks support Pods fields, a free add-on covers Beaver Themer, and the paid Page Builder Toolkit adds Divi, Oxygen, GenerateBlocks and others.
Last updated 22 Oct 2026. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit.