WordPress is an incredibly flexible platform, but its core post types – Posts and Pages – might not be enough for certain projects. That’s where Custom Post Types (CPTs) come in. Custom Post Types let you create new content types tailored to your specific needs, turning WordPress into a more powerful and personalized content management system.

In this article, we have listed the best WordPress plugins to create and manage custom post types. 

Let’s get started. 

What Are Custom Post Types?

At the core, a custom post type is a content other than your ‘normal’ blog posts and static pages. It can be used to handle almost anything: portfolios, property listings, testimonials, product lists, etc. In essence, the CPTs provide the ability to extend WordPress beyond blogging, giving you the ability to create structured content in a way that works best for your project.

For example, suppose you are designing a website for an estate agent. You might want to create a custom post type for “Properties.” That way, you can have properties listed in their own category, separate from blog posts, with unique fields that better identify them, like property type, price, location, and so on. It keeps your content organized, easy to maintain, and relevant to the business needs.

Why Custom Post Types Matter?

WordPress is great for blog posts, but for businesses and individuals alike, that’s often just not enough. The Custom Post Type feature is important because it gives you full control over how your website handles different types of content. Instead of shoving everything in the posts and pages and then relying on categories and tags to organize it, CPTs help create a meaningful structure.

Let’s break down why CPTs are so valuable:

  • Better Organization: Custom post types give you the ability to separate different kinds of content. This leads to better organization, both in your site’s backend and for users navigating the front end.
  • Enhanced Flexibility: You can create post types for almost anything – products for an online store, reviews, portfolios, directories, events, jobs, and more. The possibilities are endless!
  • Customized User Experience: Each post type can have its own set of fields, taxonomies, and templates. This way you can tailor content to get maximum engagement.
  • Improved SEO: Creating a custom structure for different types of content can also improve your site’s SEO. Not only do search engines understand your content more clearly, but users will also find it easier to navigate.

Common Use Cases for Custom Post Types

Custom Post Types are commonly used across different industries and project types. Here are some typical examples:

  • E-Commerce Sites: A Products CPT can handle everything from descriptions to prices and images.
  • Real Estate: A Properties CPT will include fields like location, price, number of bedrooms, etc.
  • Portfolio Sites: A CPT for Projects will give each project its own set of images, descriptions, and client testimonials.
  • Event Management: An Events CPT lets you display upcoming conferences, webinars, or meetups with relevant details.
  • Recipe Blogs: Integrating Recipes CPT allows users to categorize posts with ingredients, cooking time, and difficulty level.

With custom post types, you are not just constrained by the traditional structure in WordPress; rather, you can create content experiences that meet the site requirements effortlessly.

Creating Custom Post Types directly in theme or plugin code is possible, but it lacks a visual interface for managing settings. In the next section, we’ll delve into top plugins designed to help you efficiently create and manage custom post types.

7 Best Plugins to Manage Custom Post Types

Below is a list of some of the best plugins to create and manage custom post types in WordPress. The following plugins are listed in order of the number of active installations, which gives an indication of popularity and reliability within the WordPress community.

While the number of active installations is an important factor, it’s essential to consider your specific needs when choosing a plugin. Sometimes, a simpler solution might be more effective, depending on the requirements of your site.

1. Advanced Custom Fields

Advanced Custom Fields

Since its debut in 2011, Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) has grown to be a favorite among WordPress users, with over 2 million installations. With the introduction of CPT management in version 6.1, ACF has evolved into a versatile powerhouse for WordPress developers. This feature eliminates the need for multiple plugins by allowing you to handle both CPT creation and custom fields from a single interface. It simplifies the process, offering a unified experience for designing and managing content types.

Year of release: 2011

Number of active installations: 2+ million 

Key Features:

  • Create and manage custom post types and taxonomies directly within the plugin.
  • Add and configure custom fields to capture detailed data for your CPTs.
  • Access comprehensive resources and guides to assist with setup and customization.
  • Support for various field types, including text, images, and complex data structures.

Links:

2. CPT UI

CPT UI

Custom Post Type UI (CPTUI) stands out as a dedicated tool for managing custom post types and taxonomies, making it a valuable asset for anyone looking to enhance WordPress’s content organization capabilities. Its focus on these areas, combined with its compatibility with meta field plugins and intuitive interface, provides a robust solution for creating complex content structures with ease.

Year of release: 2011

Number of active installations: 1+ million 

Key Features:

  • Features a user-friendly dashboard 
  • No coding expertise required
  • Works well with any meta field plugins, such as Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) or Meta Box
  • Robust import and export functionalities 

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3. Meta Box

Meta Box

Meta Box is a versatile WordPress plugin primarily known for its powerful custom field management. However, it also excels in creating and managing custom post types (CPTs) and taxonomies. Meta Box provides tools for expanding WordPress’s core content structures, allowing you to build and organize complex content types with ease.

Year of release: 2013

Number of active installations: 600 000+

Key Features:

  • Offers a user-friendly interface for managing custom post types and taxonomies
  • Easily configure labels, settings, and options for creating and organizing content types
  • Add custom complex data fields to your CPTs and taxonomies
  • Migrate configurations between sites or back up 
  • Detailed documentation and tutorials are available 

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4. Pods

Pods

Pods is an advanced WordPress framework that allows one to quickly and easily create custom content types, including all custom post types, custom taxonomies, and even custom fields. Since 2010, Pods has been the developer and administrator favorite for creating complex content structures and bringing those into their WordPress sites with ease.

Year of Release: 2010

Active Installations: 100,000+

Key Features:

  • Content templates that let you display custom post types and fields on the front end
  • Define and manage complex relationships between content types
  • Supports various custom field types, including text, number, file upload, and relationship fields

Links:

5. Post Types Unlimited

Post Types Unlimited

Post Types Unlimited stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness in managing custom post types and taxonomies. Its commitment to a clean interface and core functionality makes it a reliable tool for users who need essential features without additional complexity.

Year of Release: 2019

Active Installations: 10 000+

Key features:

  • Easily create and manage custom post types from the WordPress admin
  • Unlimited Post Types come with a feature that makes adding new taxonomies easier

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6. Easy Post Types and Fields

Easy Post Types and Fields

Easy Post Types and Fields provides a streamlined solution for managing custom post types, fields, and taxonomies in WordPress. Its simplicity and ease of use make it an excellent choice for users who want to enhance their site’s content management capabilities without dealing with complex features. For those needing a straightforward approach to custom content creation and organization, this plugin delivers essential tools effectively.

Year of Release: 2022

Active Installations: 1,000+

Key features:

  • Easily create and manage your custom post types and taxonomies 
  • No coding required
  • Add and manage custom fields with plain text or WYSIWYG, aka Visual Editor
  • Simple-to-navigate dashboard 

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7. ACPT

ACPT Custom post types

ACPT Lite is an excellent choice for WordPress users seeking an easy-to-use plugin for managing custom post types, taxonomies, and meta fields. Its emphasis on simplicity, coupled with robust integration options and a user-friendly interface, makes it a versatile solution for enhancing your site’s content management capabilities.

Year of Release: 2021

Active Installations: 100+

Key features:

  • Easily register and manage custom post types and taxonomies
  • Accessible for users of any expertise level
  • Add and organize custom meta fields with five field types
  • Integrates with Gutenberg and Elementor

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Wrap Up

To conclude, custom post types transform WordPress from a simple blogging platform into a powerful and versatile content management system. Using the right CPT plugins to create and manage custom post types becomes more efficient, provides better content organization, and provides a more customized user experience. 

The plugins highlighted in this guide are great options for managing custom post types. They make it easy to handle complex content without delving deep into code.

That’s it, folks! Hope you found this article helpful. Watch this space for more updates.

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