Search Regex vs Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter
80K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 262 reviews) while Search Regex leads in active installations (100K+ vs 80K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search Regex has accumulated 2.4M+ total downloads while Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter has 2.1M+. Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter has a higher support resolution rate (67% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Search Regex | Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 97 | ► | 262 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 80K+ |
| Total Downloads | 2.4M+ | ◄ | 2.1M+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | ► | 67% |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2007 | 2012 | |
| Age | 19 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.5+ | 3.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.4.1 | 4.13.5 |
Rating Breakdown
Search Regex
Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Search Regex averaged approximately 886 daily downloads while Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter averaged 523.
Recent Reviews
Search Regex Reviews
Handy for search-and-replace, but “Delete Matches” is dangerous
This plugin does a great job when you just want to find and replace text across your site. The interface is clear, the regex support works well, and the preview feature is very useful. However, the
Amazing
Dear John, you are so GODLEY!! thank you for this wonderful super helpful plugin! May I buy you a ticket to Disneyland?? 😉
Incredibly powerful!
Incredibly powerful search tool for your dashboard, especially useful if, for example, you’ve moved to a new server (or a new site structure), or someone’s changed their name, or any other reason you
Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter Reviews
Works as advertised & thanks for support!
Already got thanks from a couple of our website users for the “new, fast search”. Special thanks to Ernest for quick support in our a bit peculiar fine-tuning case.
Long time happy user
This plugin does so much, but more importantly, Ernest and the team provide stellar support, which makes this such a worthy purchase. Have used for 5+ years on various projects.
Fantastic Plugin and Support!
Ajax Search Pro does exactly what I needed it to do: search a complex database of 23,000 rows with simple user controls. I had a very specific situation and Ernest at Ajax support unfailingly and pati
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Search Regex or Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter more popular?
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Are Search Regex and Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter free?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.