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Get Custom Field Values

By Scott Reilly

Content Management / Document Management & Downloads

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

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

Get Custom Field Values Review - In-Depth Analysis

Easily retrieve and display custom field values for posts or pages using widgets, shortcodes, and template tags.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.72/10

User Rating

5/5 (based on 4+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

4 / 10 (Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin provides a powerful widget, shortcode, and template tags for easily retrieving and displaying custom field values for posts or pages.

The power of custom fields gives this plugin the potential to be dozens of plugins all rolled into one.

This plugin allows you to harness the power of custom fields/meta data. Use the 'Get Custom Field' widget, the [custom_field] shortcode, or one of six template tags to retrieve and display custom fields. Find a custom field for the current post, a specified post, a recent post, or randomly. You may optionally specify text or HTML to appear before and after the results. If nothing is found, you can define text to appear when no results are found. If multiple results are found, only the first will be displayed unless you specify a string to join the results together.

There are six template tags provided by this plugin. Here they are, with an explanation of when they are appropriate for use:

c2c_get_custom(): Use this inside 'the loop' to retrieve a custom field value for a post.

c2c_get_current_custom(): This is only available on the permalink post template and can be used inside or outside 'the loop'.

c2c_get_post_custom(): Useful when you know the ID of the post whose custom field value you want.

c2c_get_random_custom(): Retrieve the value of a random instance of the specified custom field key.

c2c_get_random_post_custom(): Retrieves the value of random custom field(s) from a post when you know the ID of the post.

c2c_get_recent_custom(): Retrieves the most recent value of the specified custom field.

Comparing to Alternatives

Get Custom Field Values is a specialized plugin for retrieving custom field data, with several well-known alternatives available that offer broader or complementary functionalities.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and straightforward usage for retrieving custom field values.
Highly rated with consistent positive user feedback.
No complex setup required, making it accessible for beginners.
Lightweight plugin focusing on a specific functionality.

Weaknesses

Known past security vulnerabilities, though fixed in recent updates.
Limited feature set compared to more comprehensive custom field plugins.
No pro version or advanced features available.
Smaller user base and fewer integrations than some alternatives.

User Sentiment Analysis

With a perfect 5-star rating from all reviewers, users appreciate the plugin's ease of use and effectiveness in handling custom fields.

Positive highlights

"Just simply highlight what you need from the custom field and add it to the post." - CanaC
"Just what I needed" - christinapitt76
"How do I add a none text in the php template using this code..." showing active user engagement - michaelpon12

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Past security issues including stored XSS and arbitrary metadata access vulnerabilities.
Limited advanced features due to absence of a pro version.
Smaller community and fewer updates compared to major alternatives.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a simple, lightweight plugin to retrieve custom field values without needing extensive features or complex configurations.

Not ideal for

Those requiring advanced custom field management, extensive integrations, or who prioritize plugins with a spotless security history and active pro development. Users concerned about past security vulnerabilities might prefer alternatives with no known issues.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers all core functionalities for retrieving custom field values, sufficient for most basic to intermediate use cases.

Final Verdict

Get Custom Field Values is a highly rated, easy-to-use plugin ideal for users needing straightforward access to custom field data. Its simplicity and positive user feedback make it a solid choice for basic custom field retrieval tasks.

However, past security vulnerabilities and the lack of a pro version limit its appeal for users seeking advanced features or maximum security assurance. Considering available alternatives with broader capabilities and stronger security records is advisable for those needs.