9 site search plugins to enhance UX on WordPress

Finding the right tools for your WordPress site can be tricky, especially when it comes to search functionality. If you’re running a small business or freelancing on a budget, you know how important it is for your site to be easy to navigate. We’ve handpicked 9 WordPress site search plugins that are perfect for tech-savvy entrepreneurs like you. These plugins are designed to make your website’s search fast, efficient, and user-friendly. Read on to see the best site search plugins available for WordPress to optimize your site’s search functionality and enhance the overall customer experience.

Why site search is essential

Site search is a critical feature for any website, regardless of its size or niche. It allows visitors to search for specific information within your site, whether it’s blog posts, product listings, or other types of content. Here are some key reasons why site search is essential:

• Improved navigation – Site search provides users with a quick and convenient way to navigate your website, especially if it contains a large amount of content. Instead of manually browsing through different pages or categories, users can simply enter their search query and find the information they need.
• Enhanced user experience – By offering a reliable and accurate site search functionality, you can significantly improve the overall user experience on your website. Visitors will appreciate being able to find what they’re looking for quickly, leading to increased satisfaction and engagement.
• Increased conversion rates – A well-implemented site search feature can also have a positive impact on your conversion rates. When users can easily find the products or services they’re interested in, they are more likely to make a purchase or take the desired action on your website.
• Insights into user behavior – Site search analytics provide valuable insights into what your visitors are searching for on your website. By analyzing this data, you can gain a better understanding of user intent, identify popular search terms, and optimize your content accordingly.

Now that we understand the importance of site search, let’s explore some of the best site search plugins available for WordPress.

1. SearchWP

SearchWP is a powerful and customizable site search plugin for WordPress. With over 30,000 sites powered by SearchWP, it has proven to be a reliable choice for improving search functionality. This plugin scans every piece of your website content that is indexable, including pages, posts, custom post types, taxonomies, excerpts, shortcodes, and even comments.

Key features

• Direct integration with the native WordPress search box.
• Search everything, including eCommerce product details, custom field content, and shortcode output.
• Integrates automatically with popular WordPress plugins and themes.
• Keyword stemming feature to provide more advanced search results.
• AJAX live search to show results without a page reload instantly.

One of the standout features of SearchWP is the ability to create your own customizable search engines. You have complete control over the search algorithm and can manually select which content should be indexed and displayed in the search results. This level of customization allows you to prioritize certain types of content and deliver more accurate search results to your visitors.

SearchWP also offers advanced features such as keyword stemming, AJAX live search, and the ability to index content from PDFs and text documents stored in your WordPress Media Library. The plugin seamlessly integrates with popular WordPress plugins like Woo, Easy Digital Downloads, bbPress, and more, making it suitable for a wide range of websites.

Pricing

SearchWP pricing starts at $99/year, making it an affordable option for businesses of all sizes. The plugin’s extensive features and customization options make it a worthwhile investment for improving your site search functionality.

2. Ivory Search

Ivory Search is an advanced search plugin that allows you to create custom search forms to enhance the functionality of the built-in WordPress search feature. With Ivory Search, you can create unlimited search forms and customize each form’s settings to perform multiple types of searches on your site content.

Key features

• Compatible with the default WordPress search feature.
• Search content, images, files, attachments, and Woo store products.
• Create unlimited search forms, each with unique preferred settings.
• Display search forms anywhere on your site.
• Option for fuzzy matching search. 

The plugin is compatible with the default WordPress search feature and allows you to search various types of content, including images, files, attachments, and Woo store products. The advanced fuzzy matching option lets you choose whether to include only whole search keyword matches or partial matches.

Ivory Search also provides search analytics, allowing you to track user search behavior and gain valuable insights into what your visitors are searching for. This data can help you optimize your content and improve the overall user experience on your website.

Pricing

Ivory Search offers a freemium model with a free base plan available for basic search functionality. The premium version starts at $19.99/year and provides additional features and customization options.

3. Relevanssi

Relevanssi is a popular search plugin that enhances the default search functionality of WordPress. One of its standout features is the ability to sort search results based on relevance rather than by date. This ensures that the most relevant content is displayed to users, improving the overall search experience on your website.

Key features

• Sorted search results based on relevance, not by date.
• Search post categories, tags, and custom taxonomies.
• Index PDF content for better search results.
• Highlight the search query in the search results.
• Partial word matching for more accurate results.

Relevanssi searches through various types of website content, including PDFs, custom fields, shortcode outputs, Woo products, and more. The plugin also offers partial word matching, meaning that relevant results will still be displayed even if complete words don’t match.

The plugin is multisite compatible and integrates seamlessly with popular plugins like bbPress. It is also compatible with the modern page editor, making it a suitable choice for websites built using the latest WordPress technologies.

Pricing

Relevanssi offers both free and paid versions. The paid plan starts at $109/year and provides additional features and support.

4. Ajax Search Lite

Ajax Search Lite is a free search plugin that replaces the default search function with an AJAX-powered search form. This live search bar displays results as users type their query, providing them with instant results and enhancing their content navigation experience.

Key features

• Fully AJAX powered for instant results.
• Custom Filter boxes for categories and post types.
• 8 built-in templates with color customization options.
• Compatible with WPML and QtranslateX.
• Mobile-friendly.

The plugin supports various types of content, including posts, pages, custom post types, titles, descriptions, excerpts, categories, and tags. It is fully AJAX powered, ensuring that search results are displayed without the need for a page reload.

Ajax Search Lite also offers customization options, with eight built-in templates and color selection. The plugin is compatible with popular multilingual plugins like WPML and QtranslateX, making it a suitable choice for multilingual websites. It is also optimized for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless user experience across different devices.

Pricing

Ajax Search Lite is available for free, making it an affordable choice for website owners looking to enhance their site search functionality.

5. Sitelinks Search Box

Sitelinks Search Box is a dynamic plugin crafted to optimize your website’s visibility on Google search results. Specifically tailored for WordPress websites, this plugin seamlessly integrates JSON-LD schema.org markup to enable the Sitelinks Search Box feature, empowering users to swiftly access your content directly from search results. 

With this plugin installed, users can efficiently search for specific content on your site without navigating away from Google, enriching user experience and bolstering engagement. With its user-friendly installation process and compatibility with WordPress SEO by Yoast version 1.6 and newer, Sitelinks Search Box offers additional flexibility and transparency for optimizing your website.

Key features

• Harnesses JSON-LD schema.org markup to activate Google Sitelinks Search Box.
• Elevates visibility on Google search results, driving organic traffic.
• Direct access to site content from Google search results.
• Seamlessly integrates with WordPress SEO by Yoast.
• Empower website owners to cater to a global audience.

Pricing

Sitelinks Search Box is freely available on the WordPress plugin repository, offering a cost-effective solution for website owners seeking to enhance their site’s search functionality.

6. FiboSearch

FiboSearch is a powerful search plugin designed specifically for Woo websites. It enhances the search experience by providing live search suggestions, which are missing in the default Woo search feature.

Key features

• Built specifically for Woo websites.
• Search by product title, SKU, and description.
• Display product image and price in live search results.
• Support for Woo search results page and Google Analytics.
• Multilingual support, including WPML, Polylang, and qTranslate-XT.

The plugin’s advanced AJAX live search feature improves the Woo default search system and supports product search and SKU search. Users can search for products by title, description, and category, providing them with accurate and relevant results.

FiboSearch can be easily integrated into your WordPress theme and is optimized for mobile devices. You can use a shortcode or search widget to embed the plugin on your WordPress site. The plugin also provides support for Woo search results page and Google Analytics integration, allowing you to track and analyze user search behavior.

Pricing

FiboSearch is available for free, making it a cost-effective solution for Woo website owners looking to improve their site search functionality.

7. Search in Place

With Search in Place, users can enjoy a seamless and efficient search experience, as the plugin provides real-time search results without needing page reloads. This dynamic feature enhances user satisfaction and engagement by delivering instant access to relevant content as users type their search queries.

Key features

• Offers instant search results as users type, eliminating delays.
• Organizes search results by post type, making it easier for users to navigate.
• Customizable box colors to match their website’s design.
• Enhanced navigation: Search in Place provides alternative navigation options on websites, improving usability and facilitating smoother navigation.
• Suggests search terms, helping users refine their search quickly.

With Search in Place, website owners can optimize their search functionality to deliver a superior user experience, resulting in increased user satisfaction, engagement, and retention. 

The plugin’s advanced features empower website owners to provide users with instant access to relevant content, leading to higher conversion rates and improved website performance.

Pricing

Search in Place is available in both free and premium versions. The basic version offers essential search functionality, while the premium version includes advanced features such as highlighting search criteria in results, searching in metadata and taxonomies, and integration with popular plugins like WooCommerce. 

8. WP Extended Search

WP Extended Search is a lightweight and easy-to-use search plugin that extends the functionality of the default WordPress search feature. The plugin allows you to create unlimited search forms and gives you the flexibility to choose which options to include in the search form. You can include post types, author names, taxonomies, metadata, and more.

Key features

• Search in categories, tags, or custom taxonomies.
• Include or exclude any public post type.
• Compatible with Woo.
• Create unlimited search settings for custom search forms.
• Add search forms using a widget, shortcode, or PHP function.

One of the advantages of WP Extended Search is its compatibility with Woo, making it an excellent choice for eCommerce websites. The plugin allows you to search for products, categories, and other Woo-related content.

You can add search forms to your website using a widget, shortcode, or PHP function, depending on your preferences. WP Extended Search is also compatible with WPML, making it suitable for multilingual websites.

Pricing

WP Extended Search is available for free, offering an affordable solution for website owners looking to enhance their site search functionality.

9. Better Search

Better Search is another free search plugin that offers excellent customization options and displays accurate results based on title and post content. The plugin seamlessly integrates with your WordPress theme, ensuring a consistent design across your website.

Key features

• Compatible with the default WordPress search feature.
• Seamlessly integrates with your WordPress theme.
• Relevancy-based searching.
• Supports cache plugins such as WP-Super-Cache and W3 Total Cache.
• Translation ready.

This plugin allows you to search within various types of content, including titles, content, excerpts, meta fields, authors, tags, and other taxonomies. It also supports searching within comments, making it easy to find specific discussions or information within user comments.

The plugin is compatible with popular cache plugins like WP-Super-Cache and W3 Total Cache, ensuring fast and efficient search results. Better Search is also translation-ready, allowing you to provide a localized search experience for your site visitors.

Pricing

Better Search is available for free, making it an affordable option for website owners looking to improve their site search functionality.

Which site search plugin is the best for you?

A robust and efficient site search feature is essential for providing an excellent user experience on your WordPress website. Implementing one of the best site search plugins can enhance navigation, improve search accuracy, and increase customer satisfaction. Invest in a powerful site search plugin today and watch your user engagement and conversion rates soar.

When you want further to optimize your website for better design and user experience, don’t forget to check out our article with even more plugin recommendations.