WordPress User Fields for Better Data Collection

Key points:

• Custom fields allow you to collect detailed user information beyond WordPress’s basic username and email fields.
• Three implementation methods are covered: using Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) for a no-code solution, adding fields manually with custom code for full control, or integrating ACF with WPForms for complex registration workflows.
• Recommended: ACF provides a powerful yet simple way to add custom user fields without writing code.
• Effective user data collection combines secure data handling, intuitive form design, and thoughtful field organization.

Think about the last time you signed up for a WordPress site. Username? Check. Email? Check. But what if the site needed to know more? That’s where the default WordPress user profile falls short.

For professional websites, this limitation creates challenges. Without detailed user information, opportunities for targeted marketing, personalized experiences, and meaningful audience insights slip away. Every missing data point represents a missed connection with your users.

Fortunately, WordPress is flexible. You can extend user profiles with custom fields in both the admin area and registration forms, collecting exactly the information your site needs. Whether through code or plugins like Advanced Custom Fields (ACF^®), there are multiple ways to enhance your user profiles.

This guide explores these approaches in detail. But first…

Why custom user fields matter for WordPress websites

Custom user fields open up different possibilities for collecting valuable user information. From simple details like phone numbers, addresses, and birthdays to more specific data like gender, professional certifications, or dietary preferences, the right information helps build better websites.

Different types of websites benefit from custom user fields in unique ways:

• Membership websites use them to collect certifications and expertise levels, making it easier to match members with opportunities.
• Healthcare portals rely on them to gather insurance details and patient preferences.
• Educational platforms track teaching credentials and availability for tutor matching.
• eCommerce sites use custom fields to store shipping preferences and company details for B2B customers.

The value of custom user fields extends far beyond data collection. They create better user experiences through personalized content.

Organizing user information effectively lets you send more relevant communications and make smarter decisions about their services. Plus, when user data is structured, it becomes possible to automate routine tasks and administrative workflows, saving time and reducing errors.

Using Advanced Custom Fields to collect WordPress user data

For adding custom fields to WordPress user profiles, there’s no shortage of plugins available. And while we may be a little biased, ACF has become the go-to solution for a reason.

With millions of active installations and 71% of ACF users using it on all their sites in 2024, it’s clear why this tool is the fan favorite.

Many simple plugins, like Profile Extra Fields, can add basic fields to user profiles, but they often hit limitations when you need to add an image upload field, display certain fields only to specific user roles, or connect your user data with other parts of WordPress.

ACF, however, provides all the essentials to handle user data professionally, including:

• A selection of over 30 field types, from simple text fields to advanced features like repeater fields (available in ACF PRO).
• Smart conditional logic that shows or hides fields based on user input.
• Built-in validation to ensure data accuracy.
• A straightforward, developer-friendly API.
• Clear documentation backed by a helpful community.

ACF organizes all this data in a way that makes sense by grouping related fields together and integrating smoothly with WordPress’s existing user system.

For those needing even more capabilities, ACF PRO provides advanced features and priority support, making it a complete solution for any WordPress site collecting user data.

How to add custom user fields to default WordPress registration

WordPress offers three main approaches to adding custom fields to user registration: 

1. The most straightforward approach uses ACF to extend the standard registration form, which is perfect for most websites.
2. Developers who need complete control can add fields with custom code.
3. Those requiring complex registration workflows might prefer creating custom registration forms with ACF and WPForms.

Let’s break down each method. 

Method 1. Use ACF (recommended)

Adding custom fields to your registration form with ACF requires no coding knowledge and gives you several options for collecting user data. Here’s how to set it up: 

1. Download ACF from the website and install and activate the plugin. 
2. Go to ACF > Field Groups in your WordPress admin. 

3. Click Add New to create a field group.

4. As an example, we’ll name our field group “User Registration Fields.” 

5. Click the “+ Add Field” button to create your first field. Configure your field by choosing a field type, setting a field label, and adding any other instructions. 

6. Set where the field appears by scrolling to Location and setting the rules to User Form is equal to Register. 

7. Click Save changes to save your field group. 

Your new fields will now appear on the registration form. You can add as many fields as needed by repeating steps 5 to 6. 

Method 2: Add manually with custom code (advanced)

If you prefer not to use plugins or need full control over your registration forms, custom code provides unlimited flexibility, allowing you to customize every aspect of the registration process to your exact specifications. 

1. Start by adding custom fields to the registration form. This example will add a new phone number field below the email section for new signups.

function custom_registration_fields() {
    ?>
    <p>
        <label for="phone_number"><?php _e('Phone Number', 'my_domain') ?><br/>
            <input type="text" name="phone_number" id="phone_number" class="input" value="<?php echo isset($_POST['phone_number']) ? esc_attr($_POST['phone_number']) : ''; ?>" />
        </label>
    </p>
    <?php
}
add_action('register_form', 'custom_registration_fields');

2. Next, validate the custom fields using the following code: 

function validate_custom_registration_fields($errors, $sanitized_user_login, $user_email) {
    if (empty($_POST['phone_number'])) {
        $errors->add('phone_number_error', __('<strong>ERROR</strong>: Please enter your phone number.', 'my_domain'));
    }
    return $errors;
}
add_filter('registration_errors', 'validate_custom_registration_fields', 10, 3);

3. Finally, save the field data: 

function save_custom_registration_fields($user_id) {
    if (!empty($_POST['phone_number'])) {
        update_user_meta($user_id, 'phone_number', sanitize_text_field($_POST['phone_number']));
    }
}
add_action('user_register', 'save_custom_registration_fields');

Method 3. Integrate ACF with WPForms (bonus)

If you need more control over your registration form’s layout and functionality, you might consider combining ACF with WPForms. This approach works well when you want to use a visual form builder instead of working with the default WordPress registration form.

Here’s how to set up your custom registration form:

First, configure your ACF fields:

1. Go to ACF > Field Groups > Add New. 
2. Name your field group “WPForms Registration Fields.” 

3. Add your custom fields for addresses, phone numbers, company information, and anything else you might need. 

Next, set up the field display:

4. Scroll to the Location section. 
5. Set the rule to Show this field group if User Role is equal to All. 

6. Click Publish to save your field group. 
7. Verify that the fields appear correctly in the Users > Profile section. 

Once your fields are set up, you can use WPForms to create your custom registration form. 

Best practices for collecting and storing user data

Keep it secure and private

Ask only for information you’ll actually use. A membership site might need a phone number for account verification, but does it really need a user’s company address? 

Be transparent about why each piece of information matters. For visitors from the EU, remember to follow General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines. ACF helps handle this with built-in consent fields and data export tools.

Make it user-friendly

Think about how the form feels to use. Group similar fields together. For example, you may want to put all contact information in one section and social media links in another.

Only mark fields as required when they’re truly essential. This reduces friction and increases form completion rates. Consider using progressive disclosure. This means starting with the minimum required fields and revealing additional optional fields only when needed. You can use conditional logic to streamline the experience further.

For instance, only show shipping address fields if the user selects “Ship to different address” or display business-specific questions only when “Business Account” is selected.

Every field should also have an unambiguous label and, where helpful, include examples or instructions. For instance, show formatting guidelines like “Phone: (555) 123-4567” or “Password must include at least eight characters with one number.”

Finally, remember that form design isn’t just for desktop users, so keep the layout clean and tap-friendly. This means using adequate spacing between fields, making touch targets large enough, and ensuring the form scales properly on smaller screens. Consider breaking longer forms into shorter, manageable steps for mobile users.

Handle data properly

WordPress provides excellent tools for keeping user data safe. Be sure to use them and make regular backups of your user information.

If someone makes a mistake in a form, show them exactly what went wrong and how to fix it. Never store sensitive information (like passwords or payment details) in plain text. Luckily, WordPress and ACF handle this automatically when set up correctly.

Enhance your WordPress user data collection with custom fields

Collecting the right user information doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re building a simple membership site or a complex user directory, there’s a solution that fits your needs. For WordPress sites, ACF provides the perfect balance of power and simplicity.

ACF lets you expand WordPress’s basic user profiles to collect any information you need. Start with simple text fields for contact details, add dropdown menus for user preferences, or build repeatable sections for professional credentials – all without touching code.

Since ACF works smoothly with WordPress’s built-in user management system, you’ll find it easy to get started. Try ACF’s user fields today to collect the exact information your site needs.