Head-to-head · October 2026
SyntaxHighlighter Evolved… vs YAML Custom Fields
YAML Custom Fields comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against SyntaxHighlighter Evolved:….
SyntaxHighlighter Evolved: Yaml Brush
Adds support for the Yaml language to the SyntaxHighlighter Evolved plugin.
YAML Custom Fields
YAML Custom Fields adds boxes to fill in on pages, like “Headline”, “Team photo” or “Event date”. Writers…
| Metric | SyntaxHighlighter Evolved… | YAML Custom Fields |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 60+ | <10 |
| Downloads (30 days) | 170 | 119 |
| Download trend | +11.8% | +133.3% |
| Rating | 5/5 | — |
| Reviews | 2 | 0 |
| Health score | 32/100 | 64/100 |
| Last updated | 12 years ago | 3 weeks ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.8.33 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | 8.1+ |
| First released | Jan 2014 | Jan 2026 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
SyntaxHighlighter Evolv…YAML Custom Fields
Choose SyntaxHighlighter Evolved… if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Small user base (60+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 12 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.8 (latest is 7.1)
Choose YAML Custom Fields if…
You care most about download trend, health score and last updated.
- Actively developed — last update 3 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Needs PHP 8.1 or newer
Both compete in: yaml
FAQ
SyntaxHighlighter Evolved… vs YAML Custom Fields: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 17, 2026
Which is better, SyntaxHighlighter Evolved:… or YAML Custom Fields?
YAML Custom Fields comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against SyntaxHighlighter Evolved:…. Choose SyntaxHighlighter Evolved:… if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose YAML Custom Fields if you care most about download trend, health score and last updated.
Is SyntaxHighlighter Evolved:… more popular than YAML Custom Fields?
SyntaxHighlighter Evolved:… is the more popular of the two with 60+ active installs, compared with <10 for YAML Custom Fields.
Can I use SyntaxHighlighter Evolved:… and YAML Custom Fields together?
Both plugins cover yaml, 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 SyntaxHighlighter Evolved:… and YAML 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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