Table of contents

WordPress search plugins, side-by-side1. Ivory Search2. Relevanssi3. Ajax Search Lite4. Search With Google5. Better Search6. FiboSearch (formerly Ajax Search for WooCommerce)7. ElasticPressWordPress search plugin FAQGetting startedAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Plugins → Search

7 best WordPress search plugins

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Visitors expect lightning-fast, accurate search. But WordPress core search? It’s basic at best. Whether you’re running a blog, ecommerce site, or a documentation hub, upgrading your search function makes it easier for people to find what they need—and stick around.

Let’s look at the best WordPress search plugins that actually make your content discoverable.

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WordPress search plugins, side-by-side

Here’s a quick overview of the top plugins in this space—what they’re best at and what they’ll cost you.

Plugin Name	Best For	Key Strengths	Starting Price
Ivory Search	Versatility	AJAX live search, WooCommerce, bbPress	Free / $19.99+
Relevanssi	Relevancy improvements	Fuzzy matching, weighting, custom post types	Free / $99
Ajax Search Lite	Live search UX	Autocomplete, mobile-friendly	Free / $39
WP Google Search	Google results	Uses Google’s search engine	Free
Better Search	Free relevancy boost	Relevance sorting, search heatmap	Free
FiboSearch	WooCommerce search	Product attributes, SKUs, AJAX live	Free / $49+
ElasticPress	Scalable, high-performance sites	Real-time indexing, faceted search, WooCommerce	$79/month

1. Ivory Search

Ivory Search is flexible, lightweight, and beginner-friendly. It works right out of the box, but has plenty of advanced options like excluding certain content, creating unlimited search forms, or enabling AJAX live search.

It supports WooCommerce, multilingual plugins, and integrates easily into any theme with shortcodes or widgets.

Unlimited custom search forms with different rules.
AJAX live search with instant results.
Compatible with WooCommerce, bbPress, and multilingual plugins.
Search form customization without coding.

Best for: Bloggers, small businesses, and WooCommerce store owners
Starting at: Free / $19.99+ per year

2. Relevanssi

Relevanssi is a long-standing search plugin that improves relevancy in your WordPress searches by replacing the default search with its own engine. It supports partial word matching, search result weighting, and can index all kinds of custom content.

The free version is already quite powerful, and the premium upgrade adds more control over post types, taxonomy terms, and multisite support.

Better matching logic with fuzzy and partial matches.
Highlight search terms in results.
Works with custom post types and ACF fields.
Control over weighting and exclusions.

Best for: Content-heavy sites that need more relevant search results
Starting at: Free / $99 per year

3. Ajax Search Lite

If you’re looking to improve the user experience with sleek live search, Ajax Search Lite is one of the best free options available. It loads fast, shows suggestions in real time, and looks good on both desktop and mobile.

The Pro version adds filters, WooCommerce support, and indexing options for larger sites.

Live AJAX search with thumbnail previews.
Responsive, mobile-friendly design.
Google Analytics integration for search tracking.
Caching for performance boosts.

Best for: Portfolio sites, blogs, and businesses needing live results
Starting at: Free / $39 one-time

4. Search With Google

Search With Google integrates Google’s own custom search engine into your WordPress site. You get Google’s lightning-fast search logic and result ranking, plus the familiar interface users already know.

It’s simple to set up and great for site owners who want great search results without complex plugin management.

Uses Google Custom Search Engine (CSE).
No indexing or caching required.
Simple, widget-based setup.
Branding options if you use a paid CSE.

Best for: Site owners who want fast, low-maintenance search
Starting at: Free

5. Better Search

Better Search is a completely free plugin that significantly upgrades the default WordPress search. It allows for relevance-based sorting and adds search heatmaps to show you what users are looking for most.

It doesn’t offer AJAX results, but its control over relevance and weighting is impressive for a free plugin.

Replaces WP search with relevance-sorted results.
Search heatmap to visualize popular queries.
Compatible with caching plugins.
Extendable via filters and templates.

Best for: Budget-conscious site owners who want better relevance
Starting at: Free

6. FiboSearch (formerly Ajax Search for WooCommerce)

FiboSearch is built specifically for WooCommerce and provides instant, AJAX-powered product searches with smart suggestions, support for product SKUs, categories, tags, and custom attributes.

It feels like the kind of polished search experience you expect on big-brand ecommerce sites, and it can be customized easily from the dashboard.

Lightning-fast live search with product thumbnails.
Supports variable products, SKUs, and custom fields.
WooCommerce-focused design.
Compatible with multilingual and page builder plugins.

Best for: WooCommerce store owners who want pro-level product search
Starting at: Free / $49+ per year

7. ElasticPress

ElasticPress is a high-performance search plugin that integrates your WordPress site with Elasticsearch, a powerful open-source search engine. This plugin enhances search speed and relevance, making it ideal for content-rich websites and WooCommerce stores.

Real-time indexing for immediate content updates.
Faceted search and filtering options for refined results.
Integration with WooCommerce for improved product search.
Support for custom post types and fields.
Scalable infrastructure suitable for large sites.

Best for: Large-scale websites, e-commerce platforms, and publishers requiring advanced search capabilities.
Starting at: $79/month for the Essential plan

WordPress search plugin FAQ

How do I replace the default WordPress search?

You can replace the default search by installing a plugin like SearchWP, Relevanssi, or Ivory Search. These plugins automatically override the built-in WordPress search function.

Can I use more than one search plugin at a time?

Generally, no. Most search plugins replace the default search engine, and having multiple can cause conflicts. Stick with one that meets all your needs.

Do search plugins slow down my site?

The best ones don’t. Most premium search plugins use custom indexes or AJAX to deliver fast results. Make sure your plugin is optimized and compatible with your caching system.

Are these plugins compatible with page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder?

Yes, most modern search plugins integrate well with major page builders. Plugins like Ivory Search and FiboSearch even offer widgets or shortcodes designed specifically for builders.

Next steps for WordPress search plugins

Choosing the right WordPress search plugin depends on what your site does and how people navigate it. Better search can increase engagement, reduce bounce rates, and make your site feel more professional.

Start by testing one or two plugins that best match your content type—especially if you run WooCommerce or a large blog. Most offer free versions to try.

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