Meta Box vs WCK (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Custom Post Type Plugins top 10: Meta Box at #8 and WCK at #6. Meta Box leads on 4 of the 5 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.
WCK
Custom Post Types and Custom Fields creator – WCK
A must have tool for creating custom fields, custom post types and taxonomies, fast and without any programming knowledge.
Who leads on what
Meta Box leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
WCK ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Custom Post Type Plugins.
Meta Box has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Meta Box is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 165 reviews, against 4.7 from 97 reviews.
Meta Box has more reviews behind its score: 165 against 97.
Meta Box was updated more recently, on September 3, 2026; WCK on July 15, 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.
Meta Box
Pick Meta Box if you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Meta Box vs WCK side by side
| Meta Box | WCK | |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Post Type Plugins ranking | #8 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 165 | 97 |
| Active installs | 500,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 24,691,825 | 569,264 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 3, 2026 | Jul 15, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 7, 2011 | May 1, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Meta Box ratings
WCK 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 WCK can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Custom Post Type Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Meta Box vs WCK: common questions
Is Meta Box better than WCK?
Meta Box leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. WCK ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Custom Post Type Plugins.
Which has more users, Meta Box or WCK?
WCK ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Custom Post Type Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Meta Box or WCK?
Meta Box has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Meta Box and WCK free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Meta Box may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WCK may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Meta Box and WCK
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Pods
100,000+ installs · 4.8 from 418 reviews
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MB Custom Post Types & Custom Taxonomies
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 13 reviews
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Gravity Forms + Custom Post Types
10,000+ installs · 4.4 from 46 reviews
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Advanced Custom Fields
2 million+ installs · 4.5 from 1,438 reviews
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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.