Custom Field Template 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: Custom Field Template at #9 and Pods at #2. Pods leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Custom Field Template
The Custom Field Template plugin extends the functionality of 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 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Custom Field Plugins.
Pods has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Custom Field Template has 24, Pods has 418. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Pods has more reviews behind its score: 418 against 24.
Pods was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; Custom Field Template on August 11, 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.
Custom Field Template
Custom Field Template 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 plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Custom Field Template vs Pods side by side
| Custom Field Template | Pods | |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Field Plugins ranking | #9 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 24 | 418 |
| Active installs | 30,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,236,293 | 5,496,585 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 11, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 |
| First published | Sep 4, 2008 | Oct 8, 2008 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Custom Field Template 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 Custom Field Template nor Pods can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Custom Field Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Custom Field Template vs Pods: common questions
Is Custom Field Template better than Pods?
Pods leads on 4 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 #9 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which has more users, Custom Field Template or Pods?
Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Custom Field Template or Pods?
Pods has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Are Custom Field Template and Pods free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Custom Field Template may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Pods may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Custom Field Template and Pods
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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- Flexible Checkout Fields vs Pods
- Pods vs Secure Custom Fields
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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.