Search Regex vs Search and Replace (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 Regex has a higher user rating (4.7/5 from 97 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 10K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search Regex has accumulated 2.4M+ total downloads while Search and Replace has 207K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Search Regex | Search and Replace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ◄ | 3.1/5 |
| Total Reviews | 97 | ◄ | 23 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 10K+ |
| Total Downloads | 2.4M+ | ◄ | 207K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 4 months ago |
| First Released | 2007 | 2016 | |
| Age | 19 years | 10 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.5+ | 3.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.4.1 | 1.36 |
Rating Breakdown
Search Regex
Search and Replace
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Search Regex averaged approximately 886 daily downloads while Search and Replace averaged 26.
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
Search and Replace Reviews
Dont working plugin
Dont working plugin
Nope
This claimed it changed 50 things but I don’t see anything different
no information anywhere on how to use it
my website was sending https to http links. I used this plugin to serah and replace these. There are no instructions anywhere on how to use it. I contacted their support and noone ever came back to me
More Replace Worth Comparing
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Search Regex or Search and Replace more popular?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.