Head-to-head · October 2026
Advanced Custom Fields (A… vs HWConnector Lite
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against HWConnector Lite.
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®)
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) turns WordPress sites into a fully-fledged content management system by giving…
HWConnector Lite
Every headless WordPress project requires the same setup: expose ACF fields to the REST API, configure CORS…
| Metric | Advanced Custom Fields (A… | HWConnector Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 2M+ | <10 |
| Downloads (30 days) | 1.1M | 67 |
| Download trend | -47% | +86.1% |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | — |
| Reviews | 1,440 | 0 |
| Health score | 97/100 | 49/100 |
| Last updated | 3 weeks ago | 4 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.2 | WP 7.0.6 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Mar 2011 | May 2026 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Advanced Custom Fields…HWConnector Lite
Choose Advanced Custom Fields (A… if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- One of the most-used plugins on the web — 2M+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.5/5 from 1,440 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 3 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose HWConnector Lite if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Both compete in: acf
FAQ
Advanced Custom Fields (A… vs HWConnector Lite: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 2, 2026
Which is better, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… or HWConnector Lite?
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against HWConnector Lite. Choose Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose HWConnector Lite if you care most about download trend.
Is Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… more popular than HWConnector Lite?
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… is the more popular of the two with 2M+ active installs, compared with <10 for HWConnector Lite.
Can I use Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… and HWConnector Lite together?
Both plugins cover acf, 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 Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… and HWConnector Lite 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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