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CMB2

By Justin Sternberg

Developer Tools & Customization / Code Snippets & Custom Code

CMB2 Review - In-Depth Analysis

CMB2 is a powerful library for creating metaboxes, custom fields, and forms in WordPress. It simplifies meta management for posts, users, and more.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.04/10

User Rating

5/5 (based on 91+ reviews)

Active Installations

300,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average 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

CMB2 is a developer's toolkit for building metaboxes, custom fields, and forms for WordPress that will blow your mind. Easily manage meta for posts, terms, users, comments, or create custom option pages.

CMB2 is a complete rewrite of Custom Metaboxes and Fields for WordPress. To get started, please follow the examples in the included example-functions.php file and have a look at the basic usage instructions.

You can see a list of available field types here. Development occurs on Github, and all contributions are welcome. Please read the CONTRIBUTING doc for more details.

Features include creating metaboxes for post edit screens, forms for options pages, user meta, and term meta. The flexible API allows you to use CMB forms almost anywhere, even on the front-end. There are numerous hooks and filters for customization, and repeatable fields are supported.

If you are looking to provide language translation files, please do so via WordPress Plugin Translations. CMB2 documentation can be found at the CMB2 wiki on GitHub.

Comparing to Alternatives

CMB2 stands out as a developer-friendly custom metabox plugin with a strong API and extensive add-ons, making it a solid choice compared to alternatives like Meta Box.

Top alternatives

Meta Box ( WPS: 6.84)

Strengths

Robust and well-documented API for developers
Wide range of add-ons available for extended functionality
Supports all post types with customizable metaboxes
Active updates ensuring compatibility and security

Weaknesses

Lacks a dedicated pro version with premium features
May require coding knowledge to fully utilize its capabilities
User interface is minimalistic, focusing on developers rather than end-users

User Sentiment Analysis

Users appreciate CMB2 for its simplicity, power, and developer-centric design, though some note areas for improvement.

Positive highlights

'Easy to use, nice metaboxes for all post types' - ajanes94
'Full and complete control with documented API and many add-ons' - Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)
'Excellent plugin, highly recommended' - nunziorash
'Powerful, simple and clean' - Aditya Thok
'Simple and free, much better than advanced custom fields' - paknejad

Common complaints

No official pro version with additional features
Interface may not be user-friendly for non-developers

Weaknesses

Requires some coding knowledge to leverage fully
Limited out-of-the-box UI enhancements

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Developers and technically inclined users who want a flexible, extensible metabox solution with a strong API and community add-ons.

Not ideal for

Non-technical users or those seeking a plug-and-play metabox plugin with extensive UI customization and premium support.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers a comprehensive set of features including customizable metaboxes for all post types, a robust API, and compatibility with numerous add-ons, providing excellent value for developers.

Final Verdict

CMB2 is a powerful and flexible metabox plugin ideal for developers who want full control and extensibility through a well-documented API and a variety of add-ons.

While it lacks a pro version and may not be the best fit for non-technical users, its free offering provides substantial value and ongoing updates, making it a reliable choice for custom metabox needs.