Head-to-head · October 2026
GPP Welcome Message Widget vs Smart Custom Fields
Smart Custom Fields comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against GPP Welcome Message Widget.
GPP Welcome Message Widget
GPP Welcome Message Widget is a plugin that adds a widget for easily creating prominent welcome messages.
Smart Custom Fields
Smart Custom Fields is a simple plugin for managing custom fields.
| Metric | GPP Welcome Message Widget | Smart Custom Fields |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 50+ | 50K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 85 | 4.1K |
| Download trend | +6.3% | -17.1% |
| Rating | — | 4.9/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 21 |
| Health score | 25/100 | 75/100 |
| Last updated | 16 years ago | 3 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.1.4 | WP 6.8.11 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.4+ |
| First released | Jan 2011 | Oct 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
GPP Welcome Message Wid…Smart Custom Fields
Choose GPP Welcome Message Widget if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (50+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 15 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.1 (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
GPP Welcome Message Widget vs Smart Custom Fields: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 10, 2026
Which is better, GPP Welcome Message Widget or Smart Custom Fields?
Smart Custom Fields comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against GPP Welcome Message Widget. Choose GPP Welcome Message Widget if you care most about download trend. Choose Smart Custom Fields if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is GPP Welcome Message Widget more popular than Smart Custom Fields?
Smart Custom Fields is the more popular of the two with 50K+ active installs, compared with 50+ for GPP Welcome Message Widget.
Can I use GPP Welcome Message Widget 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 GPP Welcome Message Widget 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.
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