Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®)
by WP Engine · Uncategorized
Also makes 14 other plugins · 3.5M+ installs across the portfolio →
ACF helps customize WordPress with powerful, professional and intuitive fields. Proudly powering over 2 million sites, WordPress developers love ACF.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 95/100
no flags
Active installs
2M+
≈2.8M estimated
Momentum
-28%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Rating quality scores 90/100. Lift the average: resolve the issues driving the low reviews.
95 health vs 58 average across 25,739 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.6%
of downloads still active
At least 2M of 77.5M lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,772 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 14 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Recent review vibe
read from the latest 12 reviews to 2026-06-03Most reviewers love how easy ACF makes custom fields, but one recent review calls out the paid-version requirement and outdated support for front-end display.
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 52 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.5★ over 1,440 reviews, smoothed to 4.49★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
9 of 9 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
58
Momentum
Gaining ground
+2.0
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
51%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+1.7
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| advanced custom fields | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| acf your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| fields your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| repeater your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| custom fields your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| over | #1 | #1 | up 3 |
| secure custom fields | #1 | #1 | up 1 |
| duplicate custom post type | #1 | #1 | up 2 |
| custom templates | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| custom template | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| custom page | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| custom query | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| custom pages | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| meta fields | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| custom style | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| function | #1 | #1 | up 2 |
| custom html | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| custom links | #1 | #1 | up 1 |
| custom script | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| custom styles | #1 | #1 | 0 |
1217 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 1034 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words).
What to do about it
- Your five tags are all earning their place. Each gets you onto page 1 of its own search, so none is worth giving up. “content management”, “experience” and “management system” (#4, #5 and #5 untagged) would be the next worth testing if a slot frees up.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 2.6M · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
14
releases in the last 12 months
2mo ago
latest release · v6.8.10 · 10 Sep 2026
230
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 46% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “2M+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 5.1 years ago; the previous band took 6.1 years to cross, which places it about 83% of the way through.
Install history since 1 Oct 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Augustine5mo ago
Been using ACF on 3 sites now. Adding custom fields to posts/pages w/o touching code is just. My clients can manage their own content easily. Free version covers most use cases tbh. Rlly changed how I build WP sites.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ astronyvo5mo ago
Amazing plugin! It allows adding custom fields in a very easy and intuitive way. Great job!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ juliana95mo ago
Wanted 2 add custom info to my posts. ACF is rly powerful for this! U get text boxes, dropdowns & more. 4 stars cz showing the data on the frontend was kinda hard to learn at first. But its a must-have tbh.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ bernard566mo ago
used acf to build a custom portfolio. CPT added fields for client name, year, tags, all frm the dashboard. zero coding needed. worked like a charm tbh. repeater field is pro only tho. free still gets u far This topic was modified 2 months ago by bernard56.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ newtonvibe6mo ago
You can make almost anything using the repeater field.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ jazmyn306mo ago
ACF is honestly one of those plugins I keep using again and again. Custom fields are easy to manage, and it helps me build cleaner pages without extra stress.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ lizahamid6mo ago
Really useful for adding custom fields, and it helped me manage extra content better. But setup can feel confusing at first, esp for simple users.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ deandrmorrow6mo ago
Made custom fields setup really easy for me. Clean interface, simple to manage, and saved a lot of time while building things. Everything worked smoothly on my side.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 6.8.6 Release Date 14th July 2026 Fix – Google Maps field values are no longer double-encoded when saved in an ACF block Fix – Inserting a Link field value in the Classic Editor no longer triggers validation for other required 6.8.6
- — Version 6.8.5 Release Date 30th June 2026 Security – ACF PRO’s save handler for WooCommerce order fields now verifies security nonces and only attaches on the order edit screen, preventing unauthenticated field value updates for store 6.8.5
- — Version 6.8.4 Release Date 10th June 2026 Security – ACF AJAX field handlers now validate that the request nonce was created for the expected field type Enhancement – ACF PRO now satisfies plugin dependencies declared against advanced 6.8.4
- — Version 6.8.3 Release Date 2nd June 2026 Security – The oEmbed field’s AJAX preview no longer performs URL discovery for users without the edit_posts capability. 6.8.3
- — Version 6.8.2 Release Date 26th May 2026 Security – ACF frontend forms ( acf_form() ) now respect the post_title and post_content form configuration options when processing submissions, ensuring those values are only saved when the fo 6.8.2
- — Version 6.8.1 Release Date 13th May 2026 Security – ACF now correctly checks user permissions before running database upgrades on a specific site in a multisite network New – A wp.data store ( acf/fields ) is now available in ACF PRO 6.8.1
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 22 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (6.8.10). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2026-05-27 Missing Authorization Affects <= 6.8.1 Patched in 6.8.2
- Patched Medium · 4.4 Advanced Custom Fields <= 6.3.8 & Secure Custom Fields <= 6.3.6.2 - Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-10-15 CVE-2024-49593 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 6.3.6 Patched in 6.3.9
- 2024-09-04 CVE-2024-45429 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 6.3.5 Patched in 6.3.6
- Patched Medium · 4.3 Advanced Custom Fields <= 6.2.10 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Arbitrary Custom Field Access ↗2024-05-30 CVE-2024-4565 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 6.2.10 Patched in 6.3.0
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Advanced Custom Fields <= 6.2.4 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Custom Field ↗2024-01-17 CVE-2023-6701 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 6.2.4 Patched in 6.2.5
- Patched Medium · 4.4 Advanced Custom Fields 6.1 - 6.1.7 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2023-08-03 CVE-2023-40068 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects 6.1 - 6.1.7 Patched in 6.1.8
- Patched Medium · 6.1 Advanced Custom Fields (Free and Pro) 5.8.10 to 5.12.5 & 6.0.0 to 6.1.5 - Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via 'post_status' ↗2023-05-04 CVE-2023-30777 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects 5.8.10 - 5.12.5 Patched in 5.12.6
- Patched Medium · 4.3 Advanced Custom Fields <= 6.0.2 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Information Disclosure ↗2022-10-18 CVE-2022-40696 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 6.0.2 Patched in 6.0.3
- Patched Medium · 6.5 Advanced Custom Fields <= 5.10 - Missing Authorization to Information Disclosure ↗
- 2020-06-10 CVE-2020-36172 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 5.8.12 Patched in 5.8.12
- 2019-02-15 Deserialization of Untrusted Data Affects <= 5.7.11 Patched in 5.7.12
- 2018-12-07 CVE-2018-20986 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 5.7.8 Patched in 5.7.8
- Patched Low · 3.8 Advanced Custom Fields <= 3.5.1 - Remote Code Execution via Remote File Inclusion ↗2013-01-03 CVE-2012-10025 Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program Affects <= 3.5.1 Patched in 3.5.2
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 56 languages, 25 at 90% or more
Plus 32 more locales with partial translations.
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Share of voice
How often each assistant names Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) when asked about this topic, where it comes in the answer, and how that compares with its wp.org search position. Latest run 25 Oct 2026.
- Assistants
- ChatGPT, Claude
- Topics tracked
- Ecommerce
Readme readiness
7 of 8 pass · checked 25 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "ACF helps customize WordPress with powerful, professional and intuitive fields. Proudly powering over 2 mil..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 3 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 3 of 3 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("for developers"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Gutenberg, Block editor, Advanced Custom Fields, ACF.
- ✓ Headings and lists 3 headings and 3 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 3,177 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "meta" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2021-10-01 1M+ → 2M+ up after 2241 days in tier
- 2015-08-13 900K+ → 1M+ up after 134 days in tier
- 2015-04-01 800K+ → 900K+ up
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Advanced Custom Fields: Extended 100K+ installs · 4.7★ · 4 shared tags A -
Secure Custom Fields 100K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags B -
Custom Field Template 30K+ installs · 4.0★ · 3 shared tags B -
Advanced Gallery & Repeater Fields for ACF 600+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags -
Ultimate Fields 400+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags D -
ACF Fold Flexible Content 300+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags D
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/advanced-custom-fields" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®): 2M+ active installs, 4.5★ (1,440 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/advanced-custom-fields
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