Search & Filter vs Category Posts Widget (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Search & Filter has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 174 reviews) and leads in active installations (50K+ vs 40K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search & Filter has accumulated 950K+ total downloads while Category Posts Widget has 1.8M+. Category Posts Widget has a higher support resolution rate (0% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Search & Filter | Category Posts Widget | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 174 | ◄ | 79 |
| Active Installs | 50K+ | ◄ | 40K+ |
| Total Downloads | 950K+ | ► | 1.8M+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | 0% | |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2007 | |
| Age | 13 years | 19 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.5+ | 2.8+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 5.3+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.2.18 | 4.9.22 |
Rating Breakdown
Search & Filter
Category Posts Widget
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Search & Filter averaged approximately 182 daily downloads while Category Posts Widget averaged 84.
Recent Reviews
Search & Filter Reviews
The instructions on how to change the settings to version 3.X are insufficient a
We were using version 2.X.The instructions on how to change the settings to version 3.X are insufficient and unclear. In addition, when upgrading from 2.X to 3.X, a database error occurs (in secret
Could be developed.
I tried to test the starter (free) version of the plugin with Kadence theme. It is great that is supports filtering via custom taxonomies. The UI of the plugin is outdated. The only way to define filt
The Support is Excellent!
I had an odd problem, which was certain posts and pages appearing in results despite not containing the search term. I submitted a support ticket and got a quick response. Their support was extremely
Category Posts Widget Reviews
It does exactly what it says
Good plugin to display your latest posts on a widget and filter them according to your preferences.
This solution worked in minutes — not days or weeks!
This plugin is exactly what they say it is: Simple Thorough Does it well It solved all of my issues within minutes. I had spent hours over a couple weeks using various workarounds and pl
A must have plugin.
Useful and easy to use. No support needed.
More Category Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Search & Filter and Category Posts Widget
Tags, Categories and WordPress terms are easy with TaxoPress. Add a Tag or Category to Pages, manage your WooCommerce Categories and Tags and more.
Allows you to merge terms, move terms between taxonomies, and set term parents, individually or in bulk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Search & Filter or Category Posts Widget more popular?
Which has better ratings — Search & Filter or Category Posts Widget?
Are Search & Filter and Category Posts Widget free?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.