Head-to-head · October 2026
CMB2 vs Theme YAML
CMB2 comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Theme YAML.
CMB2
CMB2 is a developer’s toolkit for building metaboxes, custom fields, and forms for WordPress that will blow…
Theme YAML
Theme Yaml converts your theme.yaml file into theme.json so that you can configure your theme with YAML. It…
| Metric | CMB2 | Theme YAML |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 300K+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 368.5K | 37 |
| Download trend | +1015.7% | -37.3% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reviews | 91 | 2 |
| Health score | 93/100 | 29/100 |
| Last updated | 1 week ago | 3 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 6.3.13 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Sep 2014 | Mar 2022 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
CMB2Theme YAML
Choose CMB2 if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 300K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 5/5 from 91 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 1 week ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Momentum — downloads up 1015.7% vs the previous 30 days
Choose Theme YAML if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 3 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.3 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: settings
FAQ
CMB2 vs Theme YAML: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Which is better, CMB2 or Theme YAML?
CMB2 comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Theme YAML. Choose CMB2 if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is CMB2 more popular than Theme YAML?
CMB2 is the more popular of the two with 300K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Theme YAML.
Can I use CMB2 and Theme YAML together?
Both plugins cover settings, 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 CMB2 and Theme YAML 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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