PluginSift

Search & Replace vs Disable Search (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

Search & Replace

Search & Replace

4.3(282)

100K+ active installs

Free

Updated 1 year ago
View Search & Replace
VS
Disable Search

Disable Search

4.7(16)

40K+ active installs

Free

Updated 11 months ago
View Disable Search

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, Disable Search has a higher user rating (4.7/5 from 16 reviews) while Search & Replace leads in active installations (100K+ vs 40K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search & Replace has accumulated 3.2M+ total downloads while Disable Search has 420K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.3/5Search & Replace
►
Disable Search4.7/5
Total Reviews
282Search & Replace
◄
Disable Search16
Active Installs
100K+Search & Replace
◄
Disable Search40K+
Total Downloads
3.2M+Search & Replace
◄
Disable Search420K+
Support Resolution
N/ASearch & Replace
Disable SearchN/A
Last Updated
1 year agoSearch & Replace
►
Disable Search11 months ago
First Released
2007Search & Replace
Disable Search2009
Age
19 yearsSearch & Replace
Disable Search17 years
WP Requires
4.0+Search & Replace
Disable Search4.6+
PHP Requires
5.6+Search & Replace
Disable Searchfalse+
Business Model
FreeSearch & Replace
Disable SearchFree
Latest Version
3.2.3Search & Replace
Disable Search2.1.1

Rating Breakdown

Search & Replace

4.3/5(282 reviews)
5
75%
4
6%
3
5%
2
4%
1
11%

Disable Search

4.7/5(16 reviews)
5
88%
4
6%
3
0%
2
0%
1
6%

Recent Reviews

Search & Replace Reviews

by pmheart6

It still works great

I changed my url, 12 tables with 58 entries . While not a big site, but it was nice. it says not tested in the last 3 versions of WP. Welp, it works in php8.2x and WP 6.8.2

by Denny Müller

Works fine when changing the domain

I have used this plugin several times for different webpages. Especially when the webpage was moved to other domain. It works fine. Before replace, it’s possible to test and check the results. H

by Artneo

Bulk edits to the database

[Update 12/26/24] I tried using the bulk “CSV Format Search/Replace” feature, but it seems only the latest replacement string is applied. I’ll now try another method, such as using the WP-CLI.—This pl

Disable Search Reviews

by kojot

nice

super

by awesiome

Magnificent little plugin

Does exactly what it says. Just activate and it completely disables all default WordPress search functionality from the frontend.

by Fumiki Takahashi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Search & Replace or Disable Search more popular?
Search & Replace has 100K+ active installations while Disable Search has 40K+. Search & Replace is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Search & Replace or Disable Search?
Search & Replace has a 4.3/5 rating from 282 reviews, while Disable Search has a 4.7/5 rating from 16 reviews.
Are Search & Replace and Disable Search free?
Search & Replace is free and Disable Search is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Search & Replace or Disable Search?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Search & Replace was last updated 1 year ago and Disable Search was last updated 11 months ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.