Head-to-head · October 2026
Meta Box vs Search by ID
Meta Box comes out ahead, winning 7 of 9 head-to-head checks against Search by ID.
Meta Box
You want to add events, team members, testimonials, or listings to your WordPress site. But the standard…
Search by ID
Ever wanted to do a quick search for a post with a specific ID? The built-in search doesn’t allow that. But…
| Metric | Meta Box | Search by ID |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 500K+ | 700+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 302.1K | 201 |
| Download trend | +6.3% | +18.2% |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 165 | 18 |
| Health score | 96/100 | 28/100 |
| Last updated | 1 week ago | 8 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 5.0.30 |
| Support resolved | 100% | 0% |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | Any |
| First released | Nov 2011 | Sep 2012 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Meta BoxSearch by ID
Choose Meta Box if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 500K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.8/5 from 165 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 1 week ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose Search by ID if…
You care most about download trend and rating.
- Small user base (700+ active installs)
- No update in 7 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 5.0 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: custom post types
FAQ
Meta Box vs Search by ID: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Which is better, Meta Box or Search by ID?
Meta Box comes out ahead, winning 7 of 9 head-to-head checks against Search by ID. Choose Meta Box if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Search by ID if you care most about download trend and rating.
Is Meta Box more popular than Search by ID?
Meta Box is the more popular of the two with 500K+ active installs, compared with 700+ for Search by ID.
Can I use Meta Box and Search by ID together?
Both plugins cover custom post types, 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 Meta Box and Search by ID 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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