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Advanced Custom Fields: Extended

By Konrad Chmielewski

Developer Tools & Customization / API & Webhook Integration

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Advanced Custom Fields: Extended Review - In-Depth Analysis

Enhance WordPress and Advanced Custom Fields with this all-in-one suite. It offers new fields, improved UI, and extensive customization options.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.69/10

User Rating

4.8/5 (based on 132+ reviews)

Active Installations

100,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

7.1 / 10 (High Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin is an all-in-one enhancement suite designed to improve WordPress and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF). It provides a powerful administration framework, offering a wide range of improvements and optimizations.

The plugin requires ACF Pro 5.8 or higher. If you do not own ACF Pro, it is recommended to consider purchasing it, as it is one of the most powerful plugins available for WordPress.

Key features include over 14 new ACF fields, enhancements to existing fields, advanced front-end forms management, and options for managing WordPress post types and taxonomies. The plugin also supports WPML and Polylang for multilingual functionality.

Comparing to Alternatives

Advanced Custom Fields: Extended enhances the popular ACF plugin with many additional features, making it a strong choice among custom field plugins. It competes well with other established plugins in the category.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Extensive documentation and quick, professional support
Adds dynamic Flexible Content previews improving backend editing experience
Enhances ACF with many useful features and additions
Excellent integration for creating custom Gutenberg blocks
Reliable and well-built plugin with a strong user base

Weaknesses

Has a history of multiple security vulnerabilities, though recent versions have patches
No official pro version with premium features
Some users may find the learning curve steep without additional tutorials
Dependent on the base ACF plugin for core functionality

User Sentiment Analysis

With a high overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 132 reviews, users overwhelmingly praise the plugin's features and support. The few low ratings do not specify common complaints, indicating isolated issues.

Positive highlights

Quick and professional support praised by muneebkiani
61pixels highlights it as a staple for dynamic Flexible Content previews and client satisfaction
tomo55555 appreciates the support and wishes for more tutorial videos
gspowart and 14oangus commend the detailed and prompt support from the developer
Coditive values the plugin's simplicity and power for Gutenberg block creation

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Security vulnerabilities in past versions raise concerns
No paid version limits access to premium features
Some users desire more tutorial content for novices

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Developers and agencies who already use Advanced Custom Fields and want to extend its functionality with powerful features and better backend editing experiences. Also ideal for those building custom Gutenberg blocks.

Not ideal for

Users looking for a standalone custom fields plugin without dependency on ACF or those who prioritize plugins with no history of security vulnerabilities. Also less suitable for beginners needing extensive tutorials.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a comprehensive set of enhancements to ACF, including dynamic content previews, extended field options, and Gutenberg block integration.

Final Verdict

Advanced Custom Fields: Extended is a highly rated plugin that significantly enhances the capabilities of the base ACF plugin. It offers excellent support, extensive features, and strong integration for custom development, making it a valuable tool for many WordPress developers.

However, its history of multiple security vulnerabilities means users should ensure they keep the plugin updated to the latest version. While it lacks a pro version, the free offering is robust, but beginners may need additional learning resources. Overall, it is a reliable choice for extending ACF functionality with some caution advised regarding security.