String locator vs Category Wise Search (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Category Wise Search has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 6 reviews) while String locator leads in active installations (100K+ vs 500). Both are free WordPress plugins. String locator has accumulated 1.4M+ total downloads while Category Wise Search has 23K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | String locator | Category Wise Search | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 124 | ◄ | 6 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 500 |
| Total Downloads | 1.4M+ | ◄ | 23K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 year ago | ◄ | 7 years ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2013 | |
| Age | 13 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.9+ | 2.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.6.7 | 1.3 |
Rating Breakdown
String locator
Category Wise Search
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
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.
Category Wise Search Reviews
No reviews yet
More Plugins Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as String locator and Category Wise Search
Relevanssi replaces the default search with a partial-match search that sorts results by relevance. It also indexes comments and shortcode content.
Advanced WordPress custom search plugin. Provides Search Form Customizer, WooCommerce Search, AJAX Search & Live Search support!
Search & Replace data in your database with WordPress admin, replace domains/URLs of your WordPress installation.
Search Regex adds a powerful set of search and replace functions to WordPress posts, pages, custom post types, and other data.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is String locator or Category Wise Search more popular?
Which has better ratings — String locator or Category Wise Search?
Are String locator and Category Wise Search free?
Which plugin has better support — String locator or Category Wise Search?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.