Head-to-head · October 2026
Advanced Custom Fields (A… vs Zen Custom Fields
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Zen Custom Fields.
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®)
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) turns WordPress sites into a fully-fledged content management system by giving…
Zen Custom Fields
The plugin converts regular HTML tables, embedded in your page, into arrays of values that you can use in…
| Metric | Advanced Custom Fields (A… | Zen Custom Fields |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 2M+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 557.1K | 65 |
| Download trend | -71.3% | +30% |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | — |
| Reviews | 1,440 | 0 |
| Health score | 86/100 | 23/100 |
| Last updated | 1 month ago | 7 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 5.2.29 |
| Support resolved | 56% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | Any |
| First released | Mar 2011 | Oct 2015 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Advanced Custom Fields…Zen Custom Fields
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
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose Zen Custom Fields if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 7 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.2 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: custom fields
FAQ
Advanced Custom Fields (A… vs Zen Custom Fields: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 12, 2026
Which is better, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… or Zen Custom Fields?
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Zen Custom Fields. Choose Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Zen Custom Fields if you care most about download trend.
Is Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… more popular than Zen Custom Fields?
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… is the more popular of the two with 2M+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Zen Custom Fields.
Can I use Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… and Zen Custom Fields together?
Both plugins cover 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 Advanced Custom Fields (ACF… and Zen Custom Fields 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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