6 Best Advanced Custom Fields Alternatives to Add Custom Data in WordPress

Most WordPress users will think of Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) when they want to add custom fields to their WordPress website. That’s because ACF is the most popular plugin in this area. In case you want to be different, I have compiled the best ACF alternatives you can try.

But first, let’s find out how most WordPress users use ACF so you will have a clear idea of what features the alternative you want to switch to need to has.

Before we take our discussion into the next section, let’s take a second to re-understand what custom field is.

On the list ⤵️

• Pods
• ACPT
• JetEngine
• CPT UI
• Toolset
• Meta Box

What is a Custom Field?

Custom field is a piece of custom data that you can add to your content. Be it blog post, page, or even custom post type.

To better understand the concept of custom field, you can open one of the blog posts on your website and pay attention to its analogy.

Right there, you will see elements like post title, post meta (date, taxonomy, post author, etc.), featured image, and so on. In WordPress, these elements are called fields. And they are available in the WordPress system by default.

WordPress is fully customizable.

If you need to add elements that are not available in WordPress by default, you can add the custom elements.

In this case, the custom elements you add to your content are called custom fields.

What is ACF and How WordPress Users Use It?

While WordPress allows you to create custom fields, it takes knowledge on PHP for users to create ones. ACF is a plugin to eliminate the requirement.

With ACF, you can create custom fields without needing to write a single line of code. This opens up an opportunity to anyone wanting to create a complex, dynamic website with WordPress, regardless of whether they have coding skills or not.

Many WordPress users love using ACF because it has an easy-to-use interface. More ultimately, ACF supports a wide range of field types. From text, number, email, image, to checkbox.

Also, ACF is compatible with prominent themes that support custom fields and page builder plugins. From Divi, Elementor, to Bricks.

Features to Look in an Advanced Custom Fields Alternatives

ACF was initially designed specifically to be a plugin to create custom fields only. But ever since version 6.1, the plugin also had the ability to create custom post types.

As I mentioned above, you can add a wide range custom field types to your content. One thing you cannot forget if you want to use an ACF alternative on your project is the compatibility.

Creating custom fields and displaying the custom fields data are two different things. You need to make sure that the theme or page builder plugin you use support the ACF alternative you want to use.

If you are a Divi user, for instance, you should not use JetEngine as JetEngine doesn’t support Divi.

Here are three key things you need to look in an ACF alternative:

• Does it compatible with the theme/page builder you use?
• Does it offer all the custom field types you need?
• Is it easy enough to use?

If all the answers to the above questions are yes, then you can go with it.

Here is the list of the WordPress plugins that you can use to replace ACF:

Best Advanced Custom Fields Alternatives

1. Pods

Pods is one of the best ACF alternatives when it comes to functionality. The plugin allows you to create both custom fields and custom post types.

When you want to create new custom fields group, you have an option whether you want to assign it to an existing post type or a new post type. Not only can you add custom fields to blog posts and pages, but you can also add ones to comments, user profile, media library, and taxonomy.

Pods supports most field types that ACF supports. Here are the field types it supports:

If you want to use Pods to a create custom post type, you can also add custom taxonomies to organize the content belong to it.

Pods itself is compatible with popular plugins and themes like Elementor, Divi, Bricks, and so on. More advanced features like REST API and conditional logic are also available in Pods.

One main drawback of Pods is that it doesn’t offer as beginner friendly interface as ACF.

Pods pros:

• Extensive field type support
• Capable to create custom post type
• Compatible with most themes and page builder plugins

Pods cons:

• The UI is not easy enough to use for beginners

2. ACPT

ACPT is another plugin that you can use to replace ACF. Just like Pods, ACPT also allows you to create both custom fields and and custom post types. The plugin is released as a freemium plugin.

The biggest isse I find about ACPT is that its free version offers too little features. With the free version, you can only add the following field types:

• Date
• Email
• Text
• Text area
• Select

Also, you can’t display your custom fields data if you are a Divi, Breakdance, or Bricks user — unless you upgrade to the pro version. The free version only supports Elementor and Gutenberg.

If you are okay with the above limitations, then ACPT is worth considering. In addition to creating custom fields, you can also use the plugin to create custom post types.

The pro version of ACPT supports 41 field types in total. It also compatible with nearly all page builder plugins outiside Elementor.

ACPT pros:

• Extensive field types support
• Capable of creating custom post types and custom taxonomies
• Compatible with popular builder plugins and themes

ACPT cons:

• The free version is too limited

3. JetEngine

JetEngine is a WordPress plugin from Crocoblock. It was originally only worked on Elementor, but you can now use it on Bricks and Gutenberg.

JetEngine has a handy feature which you can use to create a form, but the feature is no longer developed as Crocoblock made a move to release a separate form builder plugin called JetFormBuilder. I have reviewed JetEngine in case you want to learn more about the plugin.

With JetEngine, not only you can create custom fields, but you can also custom post types.

JetEngine is a module-based plugin. Some built-in modules are available at no additional cost. With these modules, you can add dynamic map and dynamic calendar.

The field types supported by JetEngine are:

JetEngine pros:

• Extensive field types support
• Capable of creating custom post types and custom taxonomies
• Capable of creating dynamic calendar and map
• Has a built-in form builder feature (legacy feature but still work)

JetEngine cons:

• Lacks of compatibility (only compatible with Elementor, Bricks, and Gutenbeg)
• No free version is available

4. Custom Post Type UI

I still remember when I got learn custom post type in WordPress. Custom Post Type UI was the plugin I installed, paired with ACF.

In the past, before ACF had the ability to create a custom post type, Custom Post Type UI (CPT UI) was the main go-to plugin for most WordPress users. They typically paired CPT UI with ACF.

Even today when ACF already has the ability to create a custom post type, some WordPress users still use CPT UI to create custom post type.

CPT UI is by far the best WordPress plugin to create a custom post type and custom taxonomy. You have options to enable/disable elements you need and you don’t need. For instance, you can disable the featured image field, disable the excerpt field, etc.

Also, you have more controls over the content editing screen than other plugins on the list.

Unfortunately, CPT UI doesn’t have the ability to create custom fields. In other words, you still need ACF if you need to create custom fields to your custom post type.

Custom Post Type UI pros:

• The best plugin to create custom post type
• Has an easy-to-use interface, even for beginners

Custom Post Type UI cons:

• Doesn’t have the ability to create custom fields

5. Toolset

Toolset has one thing in common as JetEngine. It is a fully paid plugin. No free version is available.

The plugin consists of several components. The component you need to create custom fields and custom post types is called Types. You can also create custom taxonomy using the plugin.

Toolset is compatible with most page builder plugins and themes that have dynamic content feature, including Divi.

Toolset pros:

• Extensive custom fields support
• Has the ability to create custom post type
• Compatible with popular page builder plugins

Toolset cons:

• No free version is available

6. Meta Box

Meta Box offers a slightly different experience than other plugins on this list. While you can create custom fields without writing the code, the process of adding the custom fields to your WordPress involves adding PHP code snippet, unless you use the pro version.

The plugin offers an online tool that you can use to create the custom fields and generate the code of the custom fields. You then need to edit the functions.php file of your theme to add the custom fields. Or you can also use a plugin like Code Snippets or WPCode to add the PHP snippet.

I have published a post covering how to add custom function in WordPress in case you want to learn more.

Meta Box allows you to create both custom fields and custom post types. Here are the field types that the plugin supports:

Meta Box is compatible with Elementor, Bricks, Divi, Breakdance, and most page builder plugins and themes that supports custom fields.

Meta Box pros:

• Extensive custom fields support
• Has the ability to create custom post type
• Compatible with popular page builder plugins

Meta Box cons:

• The free version doesn’t allow you to create the custom fields via WordPress dashboard

Summary

Advanced Custom Fields, often shortened as ACF, is a popular WordPress plugin used by many users to create custom fields and custom post types. But some people have their own choice, and that’s great.

In WordPress, you always have choices.

If you want to switch away from ACF, or want to create custom fields for the first time but don’t want to use ACF, then consider the following key features:

• The custom fields support
• Ability to create custom post type
• Compatibility with the page builder/theme you use

Which ACF Alternative Should You Use?

Most plugins on the list above have the ability to create custom fields just like ACF. JetEngine is a great option if you are an Elementor user and are not objected to spend money.

Pods, on the other hand, is the most reasonable option if you are looking for a free solution, regardless of the page builder or theme you use.