ACF: Better Search
by Mateusz Gbiorczyk · Search
Also makes 2 other plugins · 541K+ installs across the portfolio →
This plugin adds to default WordPress search engine the ability to search by content from selected fields of Advanced Custom Fields plugin.
91 health vs 60 average across 606 Search plugins
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Well optimized
Biggest win: Support resolution
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →Daily downloads
Since 2022-10-05 · 1,421 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peaks are release surges
24.1K
now · peak 28.8K
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
3
releases in the last 12 months
3mo ago
latest release · v4.5.0
47
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 48% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “40K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.
Install history · since 2017-06-25 · 1,445 observations
Estimated value
What this plugin might earn a year, and what it might sell for. Modeled from public signals; we don't see anyone's books.
Est. annual revenue
Est. acquisition value
No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price.
Details
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- 2026-08-18 Version 4.5.1 [Added] Support for WordPress 7.1 4.5.1
- 2026-06-01 Version 4.5.0 [Fixed] Compatibility with PHP 8.4 [Changed] Minimum required PHP version from 7.0 to 7.4 [Added] Compatibility with PHP 8.5 [Added] Support for WordPress 7.0 4.5.0
- 2025-12-08 Version 4.4.1 [Added] The home page of the plugin 4.4.1
- 2025-10-28 Version 4.4.0 [Added] Support for WordPress 6.9 See changelog.txt for previous versions. 4.4.0
Known vulnerabilities
via Wordfence Intelligence1 disclosed vulnerability on record for this plugin, fixed in the current version. Sites on older versions stay exposed until they update.
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 14 languages, 6 at 90% or more
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2024-11-29 50K+ → 40K+ down after 134 days in tier
- 2024-07-18 40K+ → 50K+ up after 6 days in tier
- 2024-07-12 50K+ → 40K+ down after 2 days in tier
- 2024-07-10 40K+ → 50K+ up after 643 days in tier
- 2022-10-06 30K+ → 40K+ up
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Relevanssi – A Better Search 100K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A -
Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter 70K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A -
Better Search – Relevant search results for WordPress 5K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A -
SearchIQ – The Search Solution 1K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags B -
WP Fast Total Search – The Power of Indexed Search 1K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A -
Swiftype Site Search Plugin for WordPress 400+ installs · 3.7★ · 2 shared tags D
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for ACF: Better Search into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/acf-better-search" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="ACF: Better Search — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> ACF: Better Search: 40K+ active installs, 4.9★ (165 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-25. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/acf-better-search