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ACF Columns

By dreihochzwo

Content Management / Document Management & Downloads

ACF Columns Review - In-Depth Analysis

The ACF Columns plugin allows users to arrange ACF fields in column groups within the post editor. It supports conditional logic across columns.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.06/10

User Rating

4.5/5 (based on 10+ reviews)

Active Installations

4,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

The ACF Columns plugin allows users to arrange ACF fields in column groups within the post editor. This feature enhances the organization of custom fields, making it easier to manage content layout.

With the new ACF 5.7, conditional logic can now be applied across different columns, providing greater flexibility in field management. Users can define the width of each column by adding a Column Field to their field group, with options for 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 columns, etc.

To close a row, simply add a Column Field with the value 'Reset'. Please note that this plugin is compatible only with ACF PRO (version 5.4.0 or higher).

Comparing to Alternatives

ACF Columns is a specialized plugin designed to enhance the organization of Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) by allowing users to arrange fields into columns, improving backend usability.

Top alternatives

Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) ( WPS: 7.57)

Strengths

Simplifies the layout of ACF fields by enabling column arrangements.
Improves backend user experience by reducing clutter.
Lightweight and easy to use alongside ACF.
Consistently reliable with positive user feedback.

Weaknesses

Limited functionality outside of organizing ACF fields.
Depends on the Advanced Custom Fields plugin to function.
May not offer advanced customization options beyond column layout.

User Sentiment Analysis

Users generally express strong satisfaction with ACF Columns, highlighting its utility and ease of use in managing ACF fields.

Positive highlights

'Nice work there man, thanks a lot for such a useful plugin!' - lucasbustamante
'Great way to clean up and condense a lot of ACF fields.' - jvwx
'Really help me to organize my ACF fields.' - aliashiquemohammad
'Great plugin to organise ACF back-end!' - charlybd
'I’ve used this plugin for years and it’s always worked great.' - gavin310

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Developers and site administrators who use Advanced Custom Fields extensively and want a cleaner, more organized backend interface.

Not ideal for

Users who do not use Advanced Custom Fields or those looking for a plugin with broader functionality beyond field organization.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers essential features to arrange ACF fields into columns, significantly improving backend organization.

Pro version

The pro version typically includes advanced layout options, additional customization features, and priority support to enhance user experience.

Final Verdict

ACF Columns is a valuable companion plugin for Advanced Custom Fields users seeking to improve backend field organization through column layouts.

Its ease of use, reliability, and focused functionality make it a recommended choice for developers wanting a cleaner ACF interface, with a pro version available for enhanced features.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free ACF Columns plugin.

ACF

ACF PRO

Advanced Custom Fields

Column

Screenshots

FAQ

If you are using a ACF version prior to 5.7 you can’t use the ACF conditional logic on fields across different columns.

Unfortunately, the problem is how ACF uses conditional logic. Both of the conditional logic fields (the conditional logic field and the field containing the value for the logic) must have the same parent element in the DOM.

However, since the column plugin have to modify the DOM tree, so that the columns can be split, the conditional logic only works in one column.