📊 Data-Driven Comparison · Updated 2026

Custom Fonts or Plugin Check (PCP)? How to Choose the Right One

Honest Breakdown

PM
By PluginMatch Editorial
· ⏱ 3 min read
Share
CU
Custom Fonts

400K+ installs

WP.org rating 4.3/5
PL
Plugin Check (PCP)

10K+ installs

WP.org rating 4.5/5

At a glance

Plugin A

Custom Fonts – Host Your Fonts Locally

Custom Fonts is a powerful WordPress plugin that allows you to upload your own custom fonts or choose from a vast collection of Google Fonts, all host …

Rating
4.3/5
Active Installs 400K+
Author Brainstorm Force
Version v2.1.17
Last Updated Jan 2026
Plugin B

Plugin Check (PCP)

Plugin Check is a WordPress.org tool which provides checks to help plugins meet the directory requirements and follow various best practices.

Rating
4.5/5
Active Installs 10K+
Author WordPress.org
Version v2.0.0
Last Updated May 2026

Full Comparison

Technical Specs

Custom Fonts vs Plugin Check (PCP): Key Statistics
MetricCustom FontsPlugin Check (PCP)
Requires WP5.0+6.3+
Tested up to WP6.9.47.0
Plugin age9 yrs15 yrs

Quick Verdict

For most intermediate WordPress users, Plugin Check (PCP) is the recommended choice based on WordPress.org data. Its 80% five-star rating and 6% one-star rate signal strong, consistent user satisfaction. Custom Fonts has 40x more installs, but its 15% one-star rating suggests a notable minority of users hit real problems. If you need to meet directory standards, audit accessibility, or validate plugin best practices, Plugin Check (PCP) delivers a more reliable experience.

Feature Comparison: Custom Fonts vs Plugin Check (PCP)

Functional feature comparison
Feature Custom Fonts Plugin Check (PCP)
Primary function Upload custom fonts or self-host Google Fonts locally Runs automated checks for WordPress.org directory requirements and best practices
Accessibility checks Not included Built-in accessibility auditing as part of plugin review
Performance testing Reduces external font requests by hosting locally Checks plugin code for performance best practices
Security scanning Not included Runs security-focused checks against plugin code
Full Site Editing support Tagged for full-site-editing compatibility Not applicable
Directory compliance validation Not included Primary feature, verifies plugin meets WordPress.org directory requirements
Google Fonts library Built-in collection of Google Fonts for local hosting Not included
Custom file upload Upload custom font files (e.g.,.woff,.woff2) Not included
Best practices documentation Not included Generates reports with actionable recommendations

Who Should Use Custom Fonts

  • Design-focused site owners who want to use unique brand typefaces across their site without relying on third-party servers. Custom Fonts lets you upload custom fonts to WordPress directly, giving you full control over typography.
  • Performance-conscious developers who need to self-host Google Fonts locally to eliminate external DNS lookups and reduce page load times. The plugin handles the entire process of downloading and serving Google Fonts from your own server.
  • Full Site Editing users who want to add custom fonts to Full Site Editing workflows. The plugin's FSE tag confirms it integrates with block-based theme systems, making it a natural fit for modern WordPress builds.

Who Should Use Plugin Check (PCP)

  • Plugin developers submitting to WordPress.org who need a reliable way to check their plugin for directory requirements before submission. Plugin Check (PCP) automates what was previously a manual review process, saving hours of back-and-forth.
  • Agency teams building client plugins who must follow WordPress plugin best practices for maintainability and security. The tool flags common issues like improper escaping, unsafe SQL queries, and missing nonce checks before code reaches production.
  • Accessibility auditors who need a WordPress accessibility plugin that integrates directly into the development workflow. With built-in accessibility checks, Plugin Check (PCP) helps teams catch contrast, heading, and keyboard navigation issues early.

Community & Support

Custom Fonts shows a 79% five-star rating and a 15% one-star rating across 62 reviews. The 15% one-star figure is worth noting, it's more than double Plugin Check (PCP)'s one-star rate of 6%. Plugin Check (PCP) earns 80% five-star reviews and only 6% one-star reviews from 35 ratings. The support thread data for both plugins is too small a sample to draw conclusions, so focus on the ratings breakdown instead. A 6% one-star rate suggests Plugin Check (PCP) users encounter far fewer critical issues than Custom Fonts users do.

Verdict: Custom Fonts or Plugin Check (PCP) for WordPress sites?

Pick Custom Fonts if your primary need is typography management, you want to host Google Fonts locally, upload custom font files, or integrate unique typefaces into a Full Site Editing theme. It's the right tool for design-driven projects where font delivery and brand consistency matter most.

Pick Plugin Check (PCP) if you build or audit WordPress plugins and need to meet directory standards, verify accessibility, or enforce best practices. With an 80% five-star rating and just 6% one-star reviews, it offers more predictable quality for development workflows. Plugin Check (PCP) wins on WordPress.org data because it solves a distinct problem, compliance validation, with higher user satisfaction and fewer critical complaints than Custom Fonts.

How this comparison was made

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 methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Q How many people use Custom Fonts compared to Plugin Check (PCP)?

Custom Fonts has 400K+ active installs while Plugin Check (PCP) has 10K+, meaning Custom Fonts is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — Custom Fonts or Plugin Check (PCP)?

Plugin Check (PCP) averages 4.5/5 from 35 reviews, while Custom Fonts averages 4.3/5 from 62 reviews — Plugin Check (PCP) has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — Custom Fonts or Plugin Check (PCP)?

Plugin Check (PCP) was last updated on May 29, 2026 and Custom Fonts on Jan 19, 2026, so Plugin Check (PCP) received the more recent update.

Q Are Custom Fonts and Plugin Check (PCP) both free?

Yes — both Custom Fonts and Plugin Check (PCP) 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 Custom Fonts or Plugin Check (PCP) better for WordPress sites?

For sites focused on design and typography, Custom Fonts is the better choice because it lets you upload custom fonts and use Google Fonts with full site editing. Plugin Check (PCP) is better for developers who need to audit their plugins for security, performance, and accessibility issues. These two plugins solve completely different problems, so your site's goal determines which one wins.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Custom Fonts or Plugin Check (PCP)?

Custom Fonts is easier for a beginner because you just install it, upload a font file or connect Google Fonts, and it works with the block editor and full site editing. Plugin Check (PCP) is a developer tool that requires you to run scans and understand technical reports about plugin best practices. Most beginners will find Custom Fonts immediately useful without any learning curve.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between Custom Fonts and Plugin Check (PCP)?

Custom Fonts focuses on adding and managing typography, including custom font uploads and Google Fonts integration for the full site editor. Plugin Check (PCP) is a testing and compliance tool that checks plugins for accessibility, performance, security, and coding standards. One helps you style your site, the other helps you verify your plugins are built correctly.

Q Can you switch from Custom Fonts to Plugin Check (PCP) (or the other way) without losing data?

You can switch between them without losing data because they operate on completely separate parts of your site. Custom Fonts stores font files and typography settings, while Plugin Check (PCP) only runs scans and generates reports about your plugins. If you deactivate one and activate the other, your fonts or scan results remain untouched.

Q Which type of site should choose Custom Fonts, and which should choose Plugin Check (PCP)?

Choose Custom Fonts if you run a design-focused site like a portfolio, blog, or business site where you need unique typography and Google Fonts with full site editing. Choose Plugin Check (PCP) if you are a developer or site owner who needs to verify that your plugins meet WordPress best practices for security and performance. A site that values both appearance and code quality can use both plugins together.