Search Regex vs String locator (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 100K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search Regex has accumulated 2.4M+ total downloads while String locator has 1.4M+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Search Regex | String locator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ◄ | 4.6/5 |
| Total Reviews | 97 | ► | 124 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | 100K+ | |
| Total Downloads | 2.4M+ | ◄ | 1.4M+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2007 | 2013 | |
| Age | 19 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.5+ | 4.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.4.1 | 2.6.7 |
Rating Breakdown
Search Regex
String locator
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Search Regex averaged approximately 886 daily downloads while String locator averaged 270.
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
String locator Reviews
Great
Great
Great for support
I’ve used this plugin now a dozen times to track down plugins conflicts for my customers. Truly one of the best debug utilities, up there with Query Monitor!
A translation passepartout
Some plugins don’t allow translations in a standard way. For those, there is String locator.
More Search Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Search Regex and String locator
Relevanssi replaces the default search with a partial-match search that sorts results by relevance. It also indexes comments and shortcode content.
Search & Replace data in your database with WordPress admin, replace domains/URLs of your WordPress installation.
Advanced WordPress custom search plugin. Provides Search Form Customizer, WooCommerce Search, AJAX Search & Live Search support!
The Best Ajax Live Search and Filter for WordPress. Live suggestions, Custom Post types, Custom fields, Categories, WooCommerce & Elementor support
Set up find and replace rules that are executed AFTER a page is generated by WordPress, but BEFORE it is sent to a user's browser.
Advanced WooCommerce product search plugin. Search inside any product field. Support for both AJAX search and search results page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Search Regex or String locator more popular?
Which has better ratings — Search Regex or String locator?
Are Search Regex and String locator free?
Which plugin has better support — Search Regex or String locator?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.