Smart Custom Fields vs PPOM (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: Smart Custom Fields at #5 and PPOM at #13. PPOM leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Smart Custom Fields
Smart Custom Fields is a simple plugin for managing custom fields.
PPOM
PPOM – Product Addons & Custom Fields for WooCommerce
Easily add a range of custom fields to WooCommerce products, from text boxes to date selectors, allowing customers to personalize their orders.
Who leads on what
PPOM leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track.
Smart Custom Fields ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #13 in Custom Field Plugins.
Smart Custom Fields has more users: 50,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Smart Custom Fields has 21, PPOM has 283. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
PPOM has more reviews behind its score: 283 against 21.
PPOM was updated more recently, on October 7, 2026; Smart Custom Fields on July 16, 2026.
PPOM was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 25,962 times against 4,766.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Smart Custom Fields
Pick Smart Custom Fields if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the plugin more sites already run.
PPOM
Pick PPOM if you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Smart Custom Fields vs PPOM side by side
| Smart Custom Fields | PPOM | |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Field Plugins ranking | #5 | #13 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 21 | 283 |
| Active installs | 50,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 385,186 | 1,585,071 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 4,766 | 25,962 |
| Last updated | Jul 16, 2026 | Oct 7, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 9, 2014 | Apr 24, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.8.11 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Smart Custom Fields ratings
PPOM 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 Smart Custom Fields nor PPOM can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Custom Field Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Smart Custom Fields vs PPOM: common questions
Is Smart Custom Fields better than PPOM?
PPOM leads on 3 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Smart Custom Fields ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #13 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which has more users, Smart Custom Fields or PPOM?
Smart Custom Fields ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #13 in Custom Field Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Smart Custom Fields or PPOM?
Smart Custom Fields has more users: 50,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are Smart Custom Fields and PPOM free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Smart Custom Fields may also sell a paid version or add-ons. PPOM may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Smart Custom Fields and PPOM
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.