Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
| NS Category Widget | Search & Filter | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | — | — |
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | — | — |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed | — | — |
| Last updated | — | — |
| Metric | NS Category Widget | Search & Filter |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 ★ | 4.5 ★ |
| Total reviews | 34 | ★ 175 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 50,000+ |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Built for Shopify | — | — |
NS Category Widget edges out Search & Filter on rating (4.8★ vs 4.5★), but the gap is small enough that pricing fit and feature differentiation should drive the decision more than the headline number. Search & Filter has the larger user base (175 reviews vs 34), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. NS Category Widget's smaller cohort can be an advantage for niche workflows where the bigger app has accumulated bloat. Recommended by store size: small/early-stage merchants who need fast install and low risk should default to NS Category Widget; mid-market and enterprise merchants with specific feature requirements should evaluate both — Search & Filter's 175-review base may include the workflow context that matches your specific use case better than NS Category Widget's broader-but-shallower coverage. This verdict is generated from the live marketplace data on this page — rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position all refresh from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing every 24 hours. AppRanks does not accept payment to influence comparison outcomes; the methodology is documented on the About page and applies identically to every pair on the site.
Read each app's audit: NS Category Widget audit • Search & Filter audit
| Keyword | NS Category Widget | Search & Filter |
|---|---|---|
| online forms | Not ranked | #242 |
| online form | Not ranked | #243 |
| live support | Not ranked | #371 |
NS Category Widget has the higher average rating (4.8★ from 34 reviews) compared to Search & Filter (4.5★ from 175 reviews). Both are tracked daily by AppRanks, so the figures here update each refresh cycle.
It depends on what you're optimizing for. NS Category Widget fits better if you prioritize rating consistency; Search & Filter is the call if you need the larger user base. Read both apps' detail pages on AppRanks for the full feature breakdown, install counts, and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the WordPress Plugin Directory marketplace. Search & Filter has more onboarding documentation maturity (175 reviews vs 34), which usually translates to better-tested setup wizards and quicker time-to-value. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly — read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for merchant-reported install experience.
NS Category Widget typically suits early-stage and growth-mode stores based on its review-base composition (34 reviews). Search & Filter aligns more with early-stage and growth-mode stores (175 reviews). Larger review bases generally mean the app has been load-tested at scale — relevant if you're processing high order volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Migration support varies by app and category. NS Category Widget and Search & Filter both publish their export options on their marketplace listing pages (or in their support docs); some apps offer one-click import from competitors, others require CSV. The fastest check: search "import from NS Category Widget" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
