Extended vs Pods (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Custom Field Plugins top 10: Extended at #4 and Pods at #2. Pods leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Extended
Advanced Custom Fields: Extended
All-in-one enhancement suite that improves WordPress & Advanced Custom Fields.
Pods
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields
Pods is a framework for creating, managing, and deploying customized content types and fields for any project.
Who leads on what
Pods leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #4 in Custom Field Plugins.
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Both are rated 4.8 out of 5 (132 and 418 reviews).
Pods has more reviews behind its score: 418 against 132.
Pods was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; Extended on August 27, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Extended
Extended does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Pods
Pick Pods if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Extended vs Pods side by side
| Extended | Pods | |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Field Plugins ranking | #4 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 132 | 418 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,635,109 | 5,496,585 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 27, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 |
| First published | Mar 18, 2019 | Oct 8, 2008 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Extended ratings
Pods ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Extended nor Pods can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Custom Field Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Extended vs Pods: common questions
Is Extended better than Pods?
Pods leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #4 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which has more users, Extended or Pods?
Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #4 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Extended or Pods?
Both report 100,000+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Extended and Pods free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Extended may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Pods may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Extended and Pods
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Custom Field Plugins comparisons
- Extended vs Advanced Custom Fields
- Extended vs Custom Field Template
- Extended vs Flexible Checkout Fields
- Extended vs Secure Custom Fields
- Extended vs Smart Custom Fields
- Extended vs WCK
- Extended vs Checkout Field Editor for WooCommerce
- Extended vs PPOM
- Advanced Custom Fields vs Pods
- Custom Field Template vs Pods
- Flexible Checkout Fields vs Pods
- Pods vs Secure Custom Fields
Weekly · free
What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.