Search Regex vs Text 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 3.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Search Regex has accumulated 2.4M+ total downloads while Text Replace has 80K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Search Regex | Text Replace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | ◄ | 4.4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 97 | ◄ | 18 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 3.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 2.4M+ | ◄ | 80K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 4 years ago |
| First Released | 2007 | 2004 | |
| Age | 19 years | 22 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.5+ | 4.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.4.1 | 4.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Search Regex
Text Replace
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Search Regex averaged approximately 886 daily downloads while Text Replace averaged 5.
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
Text Replace Reviews
Did not work
I could not get it to work with WordPress version: 5.8
100% free and useful
100% free and useful
Excellent plugin
Does well what it says in the tin. Search / Replace….bingo! Well done.
More Replace Worth Comparing
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.