Search & Replace vs String locator (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, String locator has a higher user rating (4.6/5 from 124 reviews) while Search & Replace leads in active installations (100K+ vs 100K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search & Replace has accumulated 3.2M+ total downloads while String locator has 1.4M+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Search & Replace | String locator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ► | 4.6/5 |
| Total Reviews | 282 | ◄ | 124 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | 100K+ | |
| Total Downloads | 3.2M+ | ◄ | 1.4M+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 year ago | ► | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2007 | 2013 | |
| Age | 19 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.0+ | 4.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.2.3 | 2.6.7 |
Rating Breakdown
Search & Replace
String locator
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Search & Replace averaged approximately 177 daily downloads while String locator averaged 270.
Recent Reviews
Search & Replace Reviews
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
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
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
String locator Reviews
Great
Great
Great for support
I’ve used this plugin now a dozen times to track down plugins conflicts for my customers. Truly one of the best debug utilities, up there with Query Monitor!
A translation passepartout
Some plugins don’t allow translations in a standard way. For those, there is String locator.
More Search Worth Comparing
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Set up find and replace rules that are executed AFTER a page is generated by WordPress, but BEFORE it is sent to a user's browser.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Search & Replace or String locator more popular?
Which has better ratings — Search & Replace or String locator?
Are Search & Replace and String locator free?
Which plugin has better support — Search & Replace or String locator?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.