Search & Filter vs Advanced Query Loop (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Advanced Query Loop has a higher user rating (4.7/5 from 27 reviews) while Search & Filter leads in active installations (50K+ vs 5.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search & Filter has accumulated 950K+ total downloads while Advanced Query Loop has 84K+. Advanced Query Loop has a higher support resolution rate (25% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Search & Filter | Advanced Query Loop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ► | 4.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 174 | ◄ | 27 |
| Active Installs | 50K+ | ◄ | 5.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 950K+ | ◄ | 84K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | ► | 25% |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2022 | |
| Age | 13 years | 4 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.5+ | 6.2+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.2.18 | 4.4.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Search & Filter
Advanced Query Loop
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Search & Filter averaged approximately 182 daily downloads while Advanced Query Loop averaged 268.
Recent Reviews
Search & Filter Reviews
The instructions on how to change the settings to version 3.X are insufficient a
We were using version 2.X.The instructions on how to change the settings to version 3.X are insufficient and unclear. In addition, when upgrading from 2.X to 3.X, a database error occurs (in secret
Could be developed.
I tried to test the starter (free) version of the plugin with Kadence theme. It is great that is supports filtering via custom taxonomies. The UI of the plugin is outdated. The only way to define filt
The Support is Excellent!
I had an odd problem, which was certain posts and pages appearing in results despite not containing the search term. I submitted a support ticket and got a quick response. Their support was extremely
Advanced Query Loop Reviews
Inrcedibly useful and powerful
So useful – particularly for building a calendar with the date filters.
Excellent addition to the Query block
This is a brilliant plugin the surfaces all of the additional options that are often needed for the query block. If you find yourself needing to exclude categories from queries, build more complex
Make this part of Core!
This plugin is solving the issue I have spent all morning trying to figure out: Excluding Certain Categories from the Query Loop block. The options this plugin adds to the core query loop block are br
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.