Search & Filter vs Parent Category Toggler (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Parent Category Toggler
10K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Parent Category Toggler has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 15 reviews) while Search & Filter leads in active installations (50K+ vs 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search & Filter has accumulated 950K+ total downloads while Parent Category Toggler has 83K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Search & Filter | Parent Category Toggler | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 174 | ◄ | 15 |
| Active Installs | 50K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 950K+ | ◄ | 83K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ◄ | 8 years ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2008 | |
| Age | 13 years | 18 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.5+ | 2.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.2.18 | 1.3.4 |
Rating Breakdown
Search & Filter
Parent Category Toggler
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Search & Filter averaged approximately 182 daily downloads while Parent Category Toggler averaged 18.
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 The UI of the plugin is outdated.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
Parent Category Toggler Reviews
It still works well today!
The plugin works as it says. I have a suggestion: can you add a functionality so that when users UNCHECK a parent category, all its child categories are UNCHECKED automatically?
Excellent
Thank you very much it works perfectly ~
Works well
Does exactly what it says. Thank you
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Search & Filter or Parent Category Toggler more popular?
Which has better ratings — Search & Filter or Parent Category Toggler?
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Which plugin has better support — Search & Filter or Parent Category Toggler?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.