Head-to-head · October 2026
ACF: Sidebar Selector vs Advanced Custom Fields (A…
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against ACF: Sidebar Selector.
ACF: Sidebar Selector
Allows the selection of a registered WordPress sidebar. Also allows for null values if needed.
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®)
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) turns WordPress sites into a fully-fledged content management system by giving…
| Metric | ACF: Sidebar Selector | Advanced Custom Fields (A… |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 800+ | 2M+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 152 | 468.3K |
| Download trend | +16% | -76.9% |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reviews | 7 | 1,440 |
| Health score | 36/100 | 86/100 |
| Last updated | 11 years ago | 1 month ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.2.39 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | 50% |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.4+ |
| First released | Feb 2014 | Mar 2011 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
ACF: Sidebar SelectorAdvanced Custom Fields…
Choose ACF: Sidebar Selector if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (800+ active installs)
- No update in 11 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.2 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Advanced Custom Fields (A… if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and rating.
- One of the most-used plugins on the web — 2M+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.5/5 from 1,440 reviews
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Both compete in: acf custom fields
FAQ
ACF: Sidebar Selector vs Advanced Custom Fields (A…: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 18, 2026
Which is better, ACF: Sidebar Selector or Advanced Custom Fields (ACF…?
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against ACF: Sidebar Selector. Choose ACF: Sidebar Selector if you care most about download trend. Choose Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and rating.
Is ACF: Sidebar Selector more popular than Advanced Custom Fields (ACF…?
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… is the more popular of the two with 2M+ active installs, compared with 800+ for ACF: Sidebar Selector.
Can I use ACF: Sidebar Selector and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… together?
Both plugins cover acf and custom fields, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are ACF: Sidebar Selector and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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