Meta Box vs Pods (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Custom Field Plugins top 10: Meta Box at #10 and Pods at #2. Meta Box leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Meta Box
Meta Box – A Framework for Dynamic Websites
Meta Box plugin is a powerful, professional developer toolkit to create custom meta boxes and custom fields for your custom post types in WordPress.
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
Meta Box leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track.
Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in Custom Field Plugins.
Meta Box has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Both are rated 4.8 out of 5 (165 and 418 reviews).
Pods has more reviews behind its score: 418 against 165.
Meta Box was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; Pods on August 31, 2026.
Meta Box was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 275,954 times against 13,233.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Meta Box
Pick Meta Box if you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Pods
Pick Pods if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Meta Box vs Pods side by side
| Meta Box | Pods | |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Field Plugins ranking | #10 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 165 | 418 |
| Active installs | 500,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 25,133,785 | 5,530,601 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 275,954 | 13,233 |
| Last updated | Oct 20, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 7, 2011 | Oct 8, 2008 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Meta Box 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 Meta Box nor Pods can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Custom Field Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Meta Box vs Pods: common questions
Is Meta Box better than Pods?
Meta Box leads on 3 of the 6 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 #10 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which has more users, Meta Box or Pods?
Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #10 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Meta Box or Pods?
Meta Box has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Meta Box and Pods free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Meta Box may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Pods may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Meta Box and Pods
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
WCK
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 97 reviews
-
Custom Post Type UI
1 million+ installs · 4.6 from 276 reviews
-
Advanced Custom Fields
2 million+ installs · 4.5 from 1,440 reviews
-
MB Custom Post Types & Custom Taxonomies
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 13 reviews
-
Custom Field Template
30,000+ installs · 4.0 from 24 reviews
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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.