What is a Custom Post Type?

The default content types of WordPress are Posts and Pages. But do you think they are useful and fit for all types of content creation? No. What’s the need to go beyond posts and pages? Sometimes more flexibility and organization are required for your content. Posts are for time-sensitive content types like blogs whereas pages are for static content like About Us, Contact, etc. The thing is that these default content types are versatile but are not enough when you want to organize your content more specifically. So what to do when your unique content needs something more tailored? This is exactly where the concept of Custom Post Types (CTCs) ! 

Custom Post Types allow you to create different content types according to the requirements, that go beyond Posts and Pages. Different types of content require different organisation methods that would be difficult to manage using only Posts and Pages. 

You can think of Custom Post Types as custom containers for your content, you customize a post type that’s needed to manage your content. And it’s not the end, it is beneficial in terms of better SEO and database management too ! 

CTCs allows you to define exactly how different content types should be managed, displayed, categories and organised. This results in a clean and structured experience for you and your site-visitors. Instead of mixing up different content types, Custom Post Types help in segmenting and displaying content in the most logical and clean way.

In short, why settle for uncomfortable manipulation of Posts and Pages to get a proper fit for your unique content when you can create a site that fits perfectly with your needs ? CTCs lets you do that and more.

Why use Custom Post Types?

Now that we know Custom Post Types exist, why bother to use them? Can’t we just strain and stuff everything into the default post types that are Posts and Pages and call it a day ? 

Technically it can be done but that will result in a cluttered mess and you will end up questioning ”where did I even put that?”

Let’s list out some reasons as to why you should use Custom Post Types:

• Keep everything tidy: It gives each type of content its own cozy corner—neatly separated and easy to find.
• More understandable: When you’re handing over a site to someone else (or even future-you), CPTs make it clear where everything goes. You don’t have to explain, “Okay, add this under Posts, but don’t forget to use this one tag and this template…” Nope. Just go to “Events” or “Projects” and boom — everything’s where it should be.
• Better Database arrangements: CPTs keep your data neatly separated behind the scenes too — making your site faster, cleaner, and way easier to manage under the hood.
• Design flexibility: Each CPT can have its own design and layout. So your testimonials don’t have to look like your blog posts. You can style things your way — clean, branded, and totally intentional.
• Good for SEO: Having structured, focused content types makes your site easier for search engines to crawl and understand. That means a better shot at ranking.
• Less Chaos: At the end of the day, CPTs let you shape your site around your content, instead of forcing your content to fit into WordPress’s default mold. It’s cleaner, smarter, and way more satisfying.

How to Create a Custom Post Type?

Just knowing the whats and whys are not enough, the need to know the hows is equally important ! 

Now let’s get into the fun part — making your own Custom Post Type! And don’t worry, it’s not scary at all. You’ve got two paths here: one for the code-curious folks, and one for those of us who love a good plugin and a smooth UI.

Method 1: By Code

WordPress actually lets you create Custom Post Types manually, right from your theme’s functions.php file or through a custom plugin. You get to define everything — what the post type is called, what it supports (images, editors, comments, you name it), where it shows up, and how it behaves.

Pros

• Gives you full control.
• There’s no mess of dealing with several plugins
• More future-proof as you will not be depending on plugin updates.
• Works best for those interested in coding more than handling the web of plugins and stuff.
• A good fit for someone who wants to build something totally custom from scratch.

Cons

• Not user-friendly.
• Needs a level of expertise in the coding field.
• Even a tiny error can break your site.
• No visual interface — so you don’t “see” changes while creating.
• You need to write extra code if you want to add custom fields or meta boxes.

Now, I’ll be honest — I didn’t go this way myself. Plugins made my life way easier.

Method 2: By Plugins

If you don’t want to mess with code, plugins are your best friends. There are several plugins to get you through the creation and management of custom post types really smoothly.

There are plugins like Custom Post Type UI that are easy to use with no complexity and completely beginner friendly. This plugin can be used if you are not looking for something to handle advanced functionalities or features, good fit for simple custom post types.

Then there are powerful plugins like Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) which give you more area for work and control. These two plugins can be used separately but if you want you can integrate them for a masterpiece as well ! 

1. Custom Post Type UI

Custom Post Type UI provides a beginner-friendly interface for registering and managing custom post types and taxonomies for your website. It’s super easy to navigate with a simple layout. You just need to install and activate the plugin like usual and you are good to go ! You can add post types and taxonomies and customize them according to your site’s requirements. There is a section of advanced settings for both the post types and taxonomy that allows you a better control on them.

Great when your focus is only on structuring new content types, without needing extra custom fields.

If you are new to Custom Post Types, you can try it to get the zest of what’s actually going on. This plugin is enough to work alone which makes it better.

Pros

• No coding required.
• Beginner-friendly
• Easy-to-use layout
• Time saving
• Great for testing and quick projects.

Cons

• Only creates the structure, you’ll still need something like ACF to add custom fields.
• No content layout control
• Depends on plugin, i.e. if CPT UI is deactivated, your post type settings go with it (unless exported as code).

2. Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)

It is a powerful plugin which provides a wide range of functionality and is very useful especially if you are looking for a CPT plugin to allow you to work on advanced level. It’s a bit complex as compared to Custom Post Type UI but it’s all because it provides more. 

While CPT UI helps create a custom post type like “Projects” or “Events,” ACF lets you design what goes inside — and you get full control over that experience.

Instead of forcing your content into a basic editor, ACF lets you build fields that match your data. Need to add a client’s name, project URL, event location, gallery, or star rating? Easy. ACF is made exactly for that.

• Add smart fields: text, image, number, dropdowns, date pickers, repeaters — basically, anything you can imagine
• Show fields only where they’re relevant (no clutter in other post types)
• Build a better content editor experience for clients or teams — they fill in fields, not fiddle with layout.
• Easily display custom data on the front end — especially smooth when paired with Elementor or custom templates.
• It allows you to create field groups for better organised databases.
• ACF provides you with various ways to pull dynamic data while creating your site.

Pros

• No coding required.
• Easy-to-use layout
• Time saving
• Customizes contents beautifully.
• Database friendly
• Client-friendly backend
• Works smoothly with builders like Elementor

Cons

• Frontend display needs extra setup.
• Some features are available for the premium version only
• Relies on the plugin, i.e. if ACF is ever removed, your field structures won’t work properly.

Future of Custom Post Types

You know WordPress is working on a plugin, which is an on-going experiment for now for the easiest way to work on Custom Post Types. It is known as Create Content Model and you can try it out by visiting GitHub Repo for Create Content Model. It is open source, allows you to try out the plugin on WordPress Playground and even comment under the repo. When I say it’s the simplest method to design Custom Post Types, I mean it ! You don’t even have to use any other plugin, not even for creating loop items, you can do it all in here and it’s super easy and time saving. 

If this becomes a core feature someday, we might just say goodbye to all the back-and-forth between different plugins and interfaces. 

Final Verdict

To cut it short, if your confidence lies with coding, go for the first method of creating Custom Post Types i.e. by coding. Here you need to be extra careful is all, since we don’t want a broken site.

But if you are someone who would rather create a site via clicks and drags, method two is just what you need. 

The method doesn’t matter as much as the results. You just need to have a clear picture of what you want and be self-aware as to what you work better with and according to that to can choose the method that suits you better. In fact you can try experimenting with both methods to see which one fits you better.

Whatever method you choose, Custom Post Types will make organising your content easier.