Head-to-head · October 2026
Custom Tabs Shortcodes vs Smart Custom Fields
Smart Custom Fields comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Custom Tabs Shortcodes.
Custom Tabs Shortcodes
MAIN FEATURES: * One daily tab, that shows first the day we’re in. * Create and customize your Tabs.
Smart Custom Fields
Smart Custom Fields is a simple plugin for managing custom fields.
| Metric | Custom Tabs Shortcodes | Smart Custom Fields |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 50K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 39 | 3.9K |
| Download trend | +34.5% | -21.5% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.9/5 |
| Reviews | 1 | 21 |
| Health score | 30/100 | 75/100 |
| Last updated | 9 years ago | 3 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.9.34 | WP 6.8.11 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.4+ |
| First released | May 2017 | Oct 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Custom Tabs ShortcodesSmart Custom Fields
Choose Custom Tabs Shortcodes if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 8 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.9 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Smart Custom Fields if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 50K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.9/5 from 21 reviews
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: custom
FAQ
Custom Tabs Shortcodes vs Smart Custom Fields: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 12, 2026
Which is better, Custom Tabs Shortcodes or Smart Custom Fields?
Smart Custom Fields comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Custom Tabs Shortcodes. Choose Custom Tabs Shortcodes if you care most about download trend. Choose Smart Custom Fields if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Custom Tabs Shortcodes more popular than Smart Custom Fields?
Smart Custom Fields is the more popular of the two with 50K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Custom Tabs Shortcodes.
Can I use Custom Tabs Shortcodes and Smart Custom Fields together?
Both plugins cover custom, 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 Custom Tabs Shortcodes and Smart 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.
Powered by PageForge
Want thousands of pages that rank like these? Build them in an afternoon.
This directory runs on the same engine as PageForge. Turn any spreadsheet, CSV or API into thousands of fast, SEO-ready WordPress pages — with schema, internal links and AI-written copy baked in.
- CSV, Google Sheets & API data sources
- AI content, schema & internal links per page
- Works with Elementor, Gutenberg, Yoast & Rank Math
- Free on WordPress.org — no credit card
