Pods vs WCK (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: Pods at #2 and WCK at #8. Pods leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Pods
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields
Pods is a framework for creating, managing, and deploying customized content types and fields for any project.
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
Pods leads on all 5 measures we track.
Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #8 in Custom Field Plugins.
Pods has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Pods is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 418 reviews, against 4.7 from 97 reviews.
Pods has more reviews behind its score: 418 against 97.
Pods was updated more recently, on August 31, 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.
Pods
Pick Pods if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, 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.
WCK
WCK 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 vs WCK side by side
| Pods | WCK | |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Field Plugins ranking | #2 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 418 | 97 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 5,496,585 | 569,264 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 31, 2026 | Jul 15, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 8, 2008 | May 1, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| 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.
Pods 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 Pods nor WCK can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Custom Field Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Pods vs WCK: common questions
Is Pods better than WCK?
Pods leads on all 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 #8 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which has more users, Pods or WCK?
Pods ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #8 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Pods or WCK?
Pods has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Pods and WCK free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Pods may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WCK may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Pods and WCK
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Meta Box
500,000+ installs · 4.8 from 165 reviews
-
Custom Post Type UI
1 million+ installs · 4.6 from 276 reviews
-
Advanced Custom Fields 2 million+ installs · 4.5 from 1,438 reviews
-
Custom Field Template
30,000+ installs · 4.0 from 24 reviews
-
MB Custom Post Types & Custom Taxonomies
10,000+ installs · 4.7 from 13 reviews
More Custom Field Plugins comparisons
- Extended vs Pods
- Extended vs WCK
- Advanced Custom Fields vs Pods
- Advanced Custom Fields vs WCK
- Custom Field Template vs Pods
- Custom Field Template vs WCK
- Flexible Checkout Fields vs Pods
- Flexible Checkout Fields vs WCK
- Pods vs Secure Custom Fields
- Pods vs Smart Custom Fields
- Pods vs Checkout Field Editor for WooCommerce
- Pods vs PPOM
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.