Disable Search vs Disable WP REST API (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Disable WP REST API has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 36 reviews) while Disable Search leads in active installations (40K+ vs 30K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Disable Search has accumulated 420K+ total downloads while Disable WP REST API has 368K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Disable Search | Disable WP REST API | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 16 | ► | 36 |
| Active Installs | 40K+ | ◄ | 30K+ |
| Total Downloads | 420K+ | ◄ | 368K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 11 months ago | ► | 1 week ago |
| First Released | 2009 | 2018 | |
| Age | 17 years | 8 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.6+ | 4.7+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.6.20+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.1.1 | 2.6.7 |
Rating Breakdown
Disable Search
Disable WP REST API
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Disable Search averaged approximately 87 daily downloads while Disable WP REST API averaged 185.
Recent Reviews
Disable Search Reviews
nice
super
Magnificent little plugin
Does exactly what it says. Just activate and it completely disables all default WordPress search functionality from the frontend.
The most effective way to avoid search spam
In 2024, numerous bots are crawling sites, generating significant search spam. Generally, site search incurs high costs, primarily because we end up paying for CPU resources consumed by spam. If si
Disable WP REST API Reviews
good job
good job
Very simple and effective
just activate the plugin and it works.
I like it!
I’ve tried many different solutions using functions.php because I did not want to install yet another plugin. I’m glad I found this one though. It’s simple, lightweight, maintains privacy, and fun
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.