WordPress.org

Secure Custom Fields (SCF) extends WordPress’s capabilities, transforming it into a flexible content management tool. With SCF, managing custom data becomes straightforward and efficient.
Easily create fields on demand. 
The SCF builder makes it easy to add fields to WordPress edit screens, whether you’re adding a new “ingredients” field to a recipe or designing complex metadata for a specialized site.
Flexibility in placement. 
Fields can be applied throughout WordPress—posts, pages, users, taxonomy terms, media, comments, and even custom options pages—organizing your data how you want.
Display seamlessly. 
Using SCF functions, you can display custom field data in your templates, making content integration easy for all levels of developers.
A comprehensive content management solution. 
Beyond custom fields, SCF allows you to register new post types and taxonomies directly from the SCF interface, providing more control without needing additional plugins or custom code.
Accessible and user-friendly design. 
The field interface aligns with WordPress’s native design, creating an experience that’s both accessible and easy for content creators to use.
Installing this plugin will deactivate plugins with matching function names/functionality, specifically Advanced Custom Fields, Advanced Custom Fields Pro, and the legacy Secure Custom Fields plugins, to avoid code errors (this is the same behavior as ACF Pro).
Read more about Secure Custom Fields at <a href="https://developer.wordpress.org/secure-custom-fields/" rel="nofollow ugc">developer.wordpress.org/secure-custom-fields</a>.
<h4>Features</h4>
<ul>
<li>Clear and easy-to-use setup</li>
<li>Robust functions for content management</li>
<li>Over 30 Field Types</li>
</ul>

Secure Custom Fields


In case anyone is not clear - this is a "nulled" plugin - an exact copy of the paid support Pro version of Advanced Custom Fields, with the code to handle licensing and updates stripped out. This clearly part of the petty high school drama playing out between two multi million dollar for-profit companies, and it is going to wreak havoc on the entire WordPress ecosystem.



Who's going to invest in creating great Pro plugins if everyone's always afraid that Wordpress.org itself is going to just rip them and put them up on the main plugin repo if they don't like you today.



The "freemium" model has created great jobs for a lot of small development shops and many individual designers and developers depend on the quality and support you get from paid Pro level plugins to do their jobs.



I have no particular love for WP Engine, but this sets a horrible new precedent that is going to put the livelihoods of may less powerful individuals at risk. It must be stopped now!


Unprecedented bad behavior


Hello, WordPress contributors,



I am using WordPress as a developer more than 5 years.



And I have also contributed. There are some plugins in the Repository WP Adminer, Library Viewer, Gift Wrapping for WooCommerce, with old these plugins have 100% 5-stars reviews.



But this behaviour is Unacceptable.



What are the GPL requirements? Here you just took Advanced Custom Field Pro, removed their license system, changed the plugin author details without copyright anywhere WP Engine (the author of ACF Pro) and you released it as yours.







Such other "marketplaces" do in the Web...



Is all this ethical?



I have also paid plugins! Are you going to take them also?



Trust in WordPress is being cloned with your actions...


Unacceptable behaviour


ACF disabled gallery field and broke few sites, changed to SCF and everything started to work again. Thank you!


Great replacement for ACF


I am pleased to observe the addition of numerous valuable features without the frequent reminders about upgrading to a premium version.


Work great, no add for premium

Secure Custom Fields boosts content management with custom fields and options. It deactivates Advanced Custom Fields to prevent duplicate code errors.

YMMV Plugins

Better Field Groups for ACF is a lightweight enhancement plugin that improves the editing experience for WordPress sites using Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) and also Secure Custom Fields (SCF). The plugin removes the small edit icons that appear in field group titles throughout the WordPress admin, creating a cleaner, more professional interface that reduces confusion and prevents accidental navigation to field group settings.
When you’re using ACF to create custom fields for your content types, each field group displays a small cogwheel/edit icon in its title bar. While useful for developers and site administrators, these icons can be distracting and potentially problematic when content editors and clients are working with posts and pages. Clicking these icons takes users to the field group configuration screen, which most content editors should never need to access.
Better Field Groups for ACF solves this problem by completely hiding these edit icons site-wide on all post editing screens, while preserving all ACF functionality. The result is a cleaner, more focused editing experience that keeps content creators focused on their content rather than getting distracted by technical configuration options.
<ul>
<li>Cleaner Interface: Removes clutter from the post editor by hiding unnecessary edit icons that don’t serve content editors</li>
<li>Prevents User Confusion: Eliminates the risk of content editors accidentally clicking edit icons and ending up in technical configuration screens they shouldn’t access</li>
<li>Automatic Edit Icon Removal: Instantly hides all field group edit icons across your WordPress admin</li>
<li>Zero Configuration: Works immediately upon activation with no settings to configure or maintain.</li>
<li>Zero Database Impact: Uses pure CSS solution with no database modifications or stored settings</li>
<li>Lightweight Code: Minimal resource usage with optimized, performance-focused implementation</li>
<li>Post Editor Focus: Only targets post and page editing screens, leaving other admin areas unchanged</li>
<li>Plugin Safety: Can be activated and deactivated safely with zero risk to existing field groups or data</li>
<li>Multi-Plugin Support: Compatible with both ACF and SCF plugins</li>
<li>Developer Safe: Doesn’t interfere with ACF’s core functionality or field group management</li>
</ul>
<h4>Perfect For</h4>
<ul>
<li>Content Agencies: Creating cleaner interfaces for client content management</li>
<li>Enterprise Websites: Reducing complexity for non-technical content teams</li>
<li>Educational Sites: Preventing students/staff from accessing technical settings</li>
<li>Membership Sites: Streamlining the editor experience for community managers</li>
<li>E-commerce Stores: Focusing product managers on content rather than configuration</li>
<li>Blog Networks: Standardizing the editing experience across multiple sites</li>
</ul>
<h4>Requirements</h4>
<ul>
<li>WordPress 6.0 or higher</li>
<li>PHP 7.4 or higher</li>
<li>Advanced Custom Fields (Free or Pro) OR Secure Custom Fields</li>
<li>Must be activated on sites where ACF/SCF field groups are actively used</li>
</ul>
<h3>Support</h3>
For support, feature requests, or bug reports, please visit the <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/better-field-groups-for-acf/" rel="ugc">plugin support forum</a>.

Better Field Groups for ACF

Remove distracting edit icons from ACF (and SCF) field groups, creating a cleaner, more professional interface for content editors.

Secure Custom Fields vs Better Field Groups for ACF