String locator vs Search & Filter (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, String locator has a higher user rating (4.6/5 from 124 reviews) and leads in active installations (100K+ vs 50K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. String locator has accumulated 1.4M+ total downloads while Search & Filter has 950K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | String locator | Search & Filter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | ◄ | 4.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 124 | ► | 174 |
| Active Installs | 100K+ | ◄ | 50K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.4M+ | ◄ | 950K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | 0% | |
| Last Updated | 1 year ago | ► | 3 months ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2013 | |
| Age | 13 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.9+ | 3.5+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.6.7 | 1.2.18 |
Rating Breakdown
String locator
Search & Filter
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, String locator averaged approximately 270 daily downloads while Search & Filter averaged 182.
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.
Search & Filter Reviews
The instructions on how to change the settings to version 3.X are insufficient a
We were using version 2.X.The instructions on how to change the settings to version 3.X are insufficient and unclear. In addition, when upgrading from 2.X to 3.X, a database error occurs (in secret
Could be developed.
I tried to test the starter (free) version of the plugin with Kadence theme. It is great that is supports filtering via custom taxonomies. The UI of the plugin is outdated. The only way to define filt
The Support is Excellent!
I had an odd problem, which was certain posts and pages appearing in results despite not containing the search term. I submitted a support ticket and got a quick response. Their support was extremely
More Search Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as String locator and Search & Filter
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 Search & Filter more popular?
Which has better ratings — String locator or Search & Filter?
Are String locator and Search & Filter free?
Which plugin has better support — String locator or Search & Filter?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.