Query Filter Greenshift - Kadence - Filter Everything

Best Query Filter

How do different filter plug-ins perform

If you have made a nice presentation of a query (series of requested pages, posts or custom posts) you often need a filter. This allows the users (visitors) to determine what the want to see.
Some filters work considerably better, more efficient and faster than others, and the display on mobile is also entirely different. Here we will discuss the differences between three query filters. The speeds have been tested with Google PageSpeed Insight. Everything has been tested ‘pure’, so without any form of cache or CDN.

De test conditions

I made three queries, or actually 3 query blocks for the same custom posts. All three on the same site, with an FSE theme, Greenshift FSE. The filter is set to filter on (custom) category, with a total of around 160 custom posts.

Query met native WordPress Query loop block
Query met Kadence Query Loop adv. block
Query met Greenshift blocks

The filters in the test ‘best query filter’

Kadence filter (standard in Kadence blocks Pro)
Greenshift filter block (standard in Greenshift Query Pro)
Filter Everything (a pro plug-in, sold at Envato)

The tests

Test 1) Kadence Query block + Kadence filter

At Kadence Blocks Pro the filter is interwoven with the Kadence Query Block Ad. Because the Kadence Query Loop Adv. block consists of several sub-blocks in columns or containers, you can adjust the entire layout as desired.

Setup Kadence filter

Setting the Kadence Query Filter is simple; You choose Taxonomies or Post Meta, and then what you want to filter on; In this situation by category. You can then add or exclude categories as desired. If you do not set anything, it will be filtered on all. Furthermore, you can set the labels, the colors, corps, etc.

Speed Kadence filter

We tested the Kadence filter with the Kadence Query. The speed was excellent.

Mobile: 95
Desktop 98

Test 2) Greenshift Query block + Greenshift filter

At Greenshift Blocks pro the query has an integrated filter, but it functions extremely poorly. They also have a separate filter block; It works well and is used for the test. You place the block separately above or next to the query, so in terms of layout you can also adjust a lot here.

Setup Greenshift filter

Setting the Greenshift Query Filter is a bit more difficult; First you have to build an index of the posts. You go to Greenshift / Indexing at the Admin, and choose the correct post. Depending on the number of posts, indexing takes 10-20 minutes or more. Then you have to link the query and the filter together. That sounds difficult, but it is not. The code can be found in the Query near the Class Field, paste it into the correct field of the filter. Then, just like with the Kadence filter, you select the display, such as dropdown, tags, etc.

Speed Greenshift filter

We tested the Greenshift Filter with the Greenshift Query. The speed was extremely moderate, while it only concerns 160 pages.

Mobile: 64
Desktop 70

Test 3) Greenshift Query block + Filter Everything plug-in

In this 3rd test, we opted for an external plug-in, Filter Everything, in combination with the query of Greenshift. Filter Everything setup as desired, and place it on the page with a short code.

Setup Filter Everything

Setting filter everything is simple; You create a ‘filter set’ and choose the settings for your query. The choice in terms of dropdown, tags, etc. is about the same as the filter of Kadence and Greenshift. You have more options for determining the mobile display, and Filter Everything has more SEO settings. Indexation is not necessary; after placing the short code it works perfectly, also on mobile. The advantage is also that if you choose tags, these are neatly in a dropdown on mobile and don’t take half your screen.

Speed Filter Everything

The speed was more than excellent; Better than the Greenshift Filter and even a slightly better than the Kadence Filter, although it made little difference.

Mobile: 97
Desktop 99

Conclusion Filter comparison

If you pick a ‘built -in’ solution in a block builder that you are already using, Kadence is a considerably better choice than Greenshift. If you want the best of the best, in terms of ease of use for the visitor, but also in terms of speed, Filter Everything is the best choice. And Filter Everything works perfectly with Kadence, with Greenshift, and also with the Native Query Loop of Gutenberg itself.