At a glance
CMB2
CMB2 is a metabox, custom fields, and forms library for WordPress that will blow your mind.
Sticky Chat Widget – Floating Chat Icons, Contact Form, Call, Click to Chat, Email & Message Buttons
Social chat buttons with WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, Telegram, Instagram, TikTok, Zalo & more — plus SMS, Call button, Contact form, and 20+ icons.
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | CMB2 | Sticky Chat Widget |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 3.8.0+ | 5.0+ |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 5.4+ |
| Tested up to WP | 7.0 | 6.9.4 |
| Plugin age | 12 yrs | 6 yrs |
Quick Verdict
Choose CMB2 if you need to build custom fields, metaboxes, or options pages. It has 300K+ active installs, which is 30x more installs than Sticky Chat Widget. That scale signals a mature, trusted codebase for developers. Pick Sticky Chat Widget if your only goal is adding a WhatsApp or Messenger button to your site. It solves one narrow job well, but CMB2 is the stronger, more flexible tool for the vast majority of WordPress sites.
Feature Comparison: CMB2 vs Sticky Chat Widget
| Feature | CMB2 | Sticky Chat Widget |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Metabox, custom fields, and forms library | Social chat buttons with WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat, Telegram, Instagram, TikTok, Zalo, and more |
| Custom fields for posts | Yes, with repeatable groups, tabs, and 30+ field types | No custom field functionality |
| Options page builder | Yes, create WordPress options pages with CMB2 | No |
| Chat widget display | Not a feature | Floating chat icons, contact form, call button, click-to-chat, email, and message buttons |
| WhatsApp integration | Not a feature | WhatsApp chat button included |
| Facebook Messenger integration | Not a feature | Yes, built-in |
| Custom fields for WooCommerce products | Yes, via built-in hooks and field registration | No |
| Form builder | Yes, front-end and back-end forms | Contact form only (part of chat widget) |
Who Should Use CMB2
- Developers who need to add custom fields to WordPress posts and pages. With 300K+ active installs, it's the most trusted library for this job.
- Teams building custom fields for WooCommerce products. CMB2 handles product-specific metaboxes with repeatable groups, saving hours of manual coding.
- Anyone who values reliability. 99% of its 91 reviews are 5-star, which indicates consistent quality across thousands of production sites.
Who Should Use Sticky Chat Widget
- Site owners who want a floating chat button for WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger with zero configuration. The plugin ships with 20-plus social icons ready to enable.
- Businesses needing a single contact form tied to chat icons. The widget includes SMS, call, email, and message buttons in one UI.
- Users who prefer a focused tool. 97% of its reviews are 5-star, showing that it satisfies users who need exactly this feature set.
Community & Support
CMB2 holds a 99% 5-star rating and a 1% 1-star rating from its 91 reviews. Sticky Chat Widget holds a 97% 5-star rating and a 0% 1-star rating. Both plugins show high satisfaction, though CMB2's larger review count provides more statistical confidence in its rating.
Verdict: CMB2 or Sticky Chat Widget for WordPress sites?
Pick CMB2 if you need to create custom metaboxes, add custom fields in WordPress, or build a WordPress options page with CMB2. It serves as a foundational library for thousands of sites, backed by 300K+ installs and a 99% 5-star rating. Pick Sticky Chat Widget if your sole requirement is a floating chat button or WhatsApp integration. For almost any other scenario, CMB2 is the more capable and future-proof choice.
This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Q How many people use CMB2 compared to Sticky Chat Widget?
CMB2 has 300K+ active installs while Sticky Chat Widget has 10K+, meaning CMB2 is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — CMB2 or Sticky Chat Widget?
Both plugins average 5/5 on WordPress.org — CMB2 from 91 reviews and Sticky Chat Widget from 38 reviews.
Q Which is more actively maintained — CMB2 or Sticky Chat Widget?
CMB2 was last updated on May 31, 2026 and Sticky Chat Widget on Apr 29, 2026, so CMB2 received the more recent update.
Q Are CMB2 and Sticky Chat Widget both free?
Yes — both CMB2 and Sticky Chat Widget are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.
Q Is CMB2 or Sticky Chat Widget better for WordPress sites?
CMB2 is better if you need to build custom fields, metaboxes, or options pages for your content. Sticky Chat Widget is better if your main goal is adding a chat button for WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to your site.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — CMB2 or Sticky Chat Widget?
Sticky Chat Widget is easier for a beginner because you just install it and add your chat links. CMB2 requires you to write code in your theme's functions.php to create custom metaboxes and fields.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between CMB2 and Sticky Chat Widget?
CMB2 is a developer tool for creating custom fields, forms, and settings pages anywhere in WordPress. Sticky Chat Widget is a front-end plugin that adds a floating chat button for contact forms or social messaging apps.
Q Can you switch from CMB2 to Sticky Chat Widget (or the other way) without losing data?
You can switch without losing data because these plugins do completely different things. CMB2 stores custom field data in your post meta, while Sticky Chat Widget only adds a visual button to your site's front end.
Q Which type of site should choose CMB2, and which should choose Sticky Chat Widget?
Choose CMB2 if you run a content-heavy site like a blog, directory, or WooCommerce store where you need custom fields for products or posts. Choose Sticky Chat Widget if you run a service site, small business site, or any site where visitors need a quick way to message you.
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