Advanced Query Loop vs Essential Content Types
Two WordPress plugins head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
These aren’t all alternatives to each other — they do different jobs — so this page compares popularity only, not features.
At a glance
Essential Content Types leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #1,258, ahead of Advanced Query Loop at #2,056. Over the last 7 days Essential Content Types climbed 2 places and Advanced Query Loop climbed 644 places. Essential Content Types has the largest install base, roughly 2× the next: 20K+ active installs against 10K+ for Advanced Query Loop. Downloads this week: Advanced Query Loop 5,709 and Essential Content Types 613. Ratings: Advanced Query Loop 4.6★ from 30 and Essential Content Types 3.7★ from 3 reviews.
| Metric | Advanced Query Loop | Essential Content Types |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #2,056 ▲ 644 | #1,258 ▲ 2 |
| Active installs | 10K+ | 20K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 5,709 | 613 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (30) | 3.7★ (3) |
| Last updated | Aug 31, 2026 | Jun 16, 2026 |
| Current version | 5.0.0 | 2.6 |
| Best rank on record | #2,056 | #1,255 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Dec 2022 | Apr 2017 |
Highlighted cells mark the strongest figure in each row. Rank and installs are from the latest WordPress.org capture; downloads are the last seven captured days.
Ranking history Lower is better
Active installs
Downloads per day
More comparisons
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- Advanced Query Loop vs Gravity Forms + Custom Post Types
- Essential Content Types vs Custom Post Type UI
- Essential Content Types vs Post Types Unlimited
- Essential Content Types vs Pods - Custom Content Types and Fields
- Essential Content Types vs Gravity Forms + Custom Post Types
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Advanced Query Loop or Essential Content Types?
By active installs, Essential Content Types: 20K+ sites run it against 10K+ for Advanced Query Loop, according to WordPress.org figures captured on November 12, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Advanced Query Loop or Essential Content Types?
Essential Content Types, at #1,258 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Advanced Query Loop at #2,056. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Advanced Query Loop or Essential Content Types alternatives to each other?
Not all of them. Some of these plugins do different jobs and many sites run more than one. This page compares their popularity, not their features.
Where do these numbers come from?
WordPress.org publishes each plugin’s active install count and its position on the popular list. This site records both every day, along with per-day downloads and ratings, so the charts above show how the plugins have moved over time rather than a single day.