These 10 apps lead WordPress Plugin Directory's Better search category as of September 2026 — ranked by user rating, review count, and audit score, refreshed every 24 hours from the canonical WordPress marketplace listing.
Discover the top-rated better search apps available on WordPress Plugin Directory. Rankings based on user ratings, review count, and market performance.
This is the curated shortlist — the top-ranked better search apps. To browse every better search app on WordPress Plugin Directory, see the full Better search category.
This list ranks the top 10 WordPress apps classified under Better search by the source marketplace's own taxonomy — apps appear here only because WordPress Plugin Directory itself tags them in this category, not because of any AppRanks editorial decision. Within the category set, ranking uses a Bayesian-ish blend of average rating × natural log of review count: the formula is , so a high-rating-low-review app doesn't leapfrog an established listing on a single 5-star outlier. The blend favors apps that are both well-reviewed AND have an established user base.
rating × ln(reviewCount + 1)AppRanks does not invent a proprietary score for public surfaces — the rank shown mirrors the marketplace's published category position exactly, scraped on a 12-24 hour refresh cycle from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing. The category lookup happens at request time and the page is cached at the edge for 1 hour to absorb traffic spikes; the underlying ranking data refreshes daily so the list stays accurate within one day of any source change. AppRanks does not editorially promote or demote apps based on advertiser or partnership status — the same blend formula applies uniformly across every app on this platform.
Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter
Ranks #1 in the WordPress Plugin Directory better search category as a category-leading listing. Currently has a growing review traction (264 reviews). Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter holds a 4.8-star average across 264 reviews in the better search category.
Better Search – Relevant search results for WordPress
Ranks #2 in the WordPress Plugin Directory better search category as a well-rated listing. An early-stage review volume (61 reviews) with a no-rating average. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you want an emerging better search option — Better Search – Relevant search results for WordPress ranks #2 on WordPress Plugin Directory and is still building review depth.
Ranks #3 in the WordPress Plugin Directory better search category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 165 reviews — growing review traction. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — ACF: Better Search holds a 4.9-star average across 165 reviews in the better search category.
Holds position #4 in the WordPress Plugin Directory better search category as a category-leading listing. Currently has a growing review traction (405 reviews). Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
SearchIQ – The Search Solution
Currently sits at #5 in the WordPress Plugin Directory better search category as a category-leading listing. A growing review traction (197 reviews) with a no-rating average. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Swiftype Site Search Plugin for WordPress
Holds position #6 in the WordPress Plugin Directory better search category as a mixed-rating listing. Tracks at no-rating across 24 reviews — early-stage review volume. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Currently sits at #7 in the WordPress Plugin Directory better search category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (7 reviews). AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Holds position #8 in the WordPress Plugin Directory better search category as a category-leading listing. An early-stage review volume (6 reviews) with a no-rating average. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Bing Custom Search for WordPress
Currently sits at #9 in the WordPress Plugin Directory better search category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 3 reviews — early-stage review volume. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Holds position #10 in the WordPress Plugin Directory better search category as a mixed-rating listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (1 reviews). Source: WordPress Plugin Directory's own published category position.
Same data as the ranked cards, condensed into a sortable-by-eye grid: rating × review depth × pricing tier across the top 10 better search apps on WordPress Plugin Directory.
| # | App | Rating | Reviews | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter | 4.8★ | 264 | — |
| 2 | Better Search – Relevant search results for WordPress | 4.4★ | 61 | — |
| 3 | ACF: Better Search | 4.9★ | 165 | — |
| 4 | Relevanssi – A Better Search | 4.8★ | 405 | — |
| 5 | SearchIQ – The Search Solution | 4.9★ | 197 | — |
| 6 | Swiftype Site Search Plugin for WordPress | 3.7★ | 24 | — |
| 7 | Site Search 360 | 5.0★ | 7 | — |
| 8 | Yuto – Meilisearch Integrator | 5.0★ | 6 | — |
| 9 | Bing Custom Search for WordPress | 5.0★ | 3 | — |
| 10 | Relevant Search | 3.0★ | 1 | — |
Want to compare any two apps in detail (features, ratings trend, pricing plans side-by-side)? Open the head-to-head page from the "Compare to #N" link on each card above. Custom multi-app comparisons, historical rank trajectory, and CSV export are available on a paid plan.
Methodology details: /glossary/audit-score · /about.
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