Search Regex vs Responsive Search Widget (2026)

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

Search Regex

Search Regex

4.7(97)

100K+ active installs

Free

Updated 1 month ago
View Search Regex
VS
Responsive Search Widget

Responsive Search Widget

5(2)

50 active installs

Free

Updated 2 years ago
View Responsive Search Widget

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, Responsive Search Widget has a higher user rating (5/5 from 2 reviews) while Search Regex leads in active installations (100K+ vs 50). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search Regex has accumulated 2.4M+ total downloads while Responsive Search Widget has 2.9K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
4.7/5Search Regex
Responsive Search Widget5/5
Total Reviews
97Search Regex
Responsive Search Widget2
Active Installs
100K+Search Regex
Responsive Search Widget50
Total Downloads
2.4M+Search Regex
Responsive Search Widget2.9K+
Support Resolution
0%Search Regex
Responsive Search WidgetN/A
Last Updated
1 month agoSearch Regex
Responsive Search Widget2 years ago
First Released
2007Search Regex
Responsive Search Widget2015
Age
19 yearsSearch Regex
Responsive Search Widget11 years
WP Requires
6.5+Search Regex
Responsive Search Widget3.0.1+
PHP Requires
7.4+Search Regex
Responsive Search Widgetfalse+
Business Model
FreeSearch Regex
Responsive Search WidgetFree
Latest Version
3.4.1Search Regex
Responsive Search Widget1.1.1

Rating Breakdown

Search Regex

4.7/5(97 reviews)
5
86%
4
7%
3
3%
2
1%
1
3%

Responsive Search Widget

5/5(2 reviews)
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%

Recent Reviews

Search Regex Reviews

by hakuna4matata

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

by humananimal

Amazing

Dear John, you are so GODLEY!! thank you for this wonderful super helpful plugin! May I buy you a ticket to Disneyland?? 😉

by kelson

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

Responsive Search Widget Reviews

No reviews yet

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Search Regex or Responsive Search Widget more popular?
Search Regex has 100K+ active installations while Responsive Search Widget has 50. Search Regex is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — Search Regex or Responsive Search Widget?
Search Regex has a 4.7/5 rating from 97 reviews, while Responsive Search Widget has a 5/5 rating from 2 reviews.
Are Search Regex and Responsive Search Widget free?
Search Regex is free and Responsive Search Widget is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — Search Regex or Responsive Search Widget?
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 Regex was last updated 1 month ago and Responsive Search Widget was last updated 2 years ago.

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