WP Search with Algolia
by webdevstudios · Search
Also makes 11 other plugins · 1M+ installs across the portfolio →
Use Algolia AI Search & Discovery to power your website's search with AI-powered Autocomplete and InstantSearch for fast, accurate, relevant results.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 87/100
no flags
Active installs
7K+
≈7.9K estimated
Momentum
+6%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “autocomplete” and “search” for “discovery” and “relevance”. “autocomplete” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #23. “discovery” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “search” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #12. “relevance” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
87 health vs 62 average across 980 Search plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.8%
of downloads still active
At least 7K of 399.1K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Search plugin keeps 0.7%, across 647 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Search plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 12 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
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.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 23 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.5★ over 24 reviews, smoothed to 4.23★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
3 of 3 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
70
Momentum
Gaining ground
+3.0
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
74%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+2.0
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| algolia your tag | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| instantsearch your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| semantic search | #2 | #3 | up 1 |
| faceted search | #2 | #3 | 0 |
| relevant search | #3 | #5 | up 3 |
| ai search your tag | #8 | #13 | up 2 |
| wp search | #8 | #18 | up 5 |
| discovery | #7 | #8 | up 5 |
| relevant | #7 | #12 | up 3 |
| search autocomplete | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| instant search | #7 | #7 | up 5 |
| search box | #7 | #10 | up 3 |
| accurate | #10 | #15 | 0 |
| search your tag | #12 | #17 | up 6 |
| exclude from search | #8 | #9 | up 2 |
| search by sku | #8 | #8 | up 2 |
| fast search | #5 | #7 | up 4 |
| relevance | #8 | #11 | up 5 |
| search widget | #12 | #20 | up 12 |
| live search | #12 | #17 | up 9 |
174 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 131 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words).
What to do about it
- Swap “autocomplete” and “search” for “discovery” and “relevance”. “autocomplete” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #23. “discovery” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “search” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #12. “relevance” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “search”. #12 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 17.1K · peaks are release surges
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
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
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
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
12
releases in the last 12 months
23d ago
latest release · v3.0.1 · 9 Oct 2026
47
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. 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 “7K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 15 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 90% of the way through.
Install history since 17 Sep 2019
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ jonathanharrison1.5y ago
An excellent way to get Algolia search working on a WordPress site. Easy index setup and auto-synching out of the box with the free version. Impressive!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ infinustechnology1.5y ago
I was benchmarking an alternate plugin on a website with thousands of products, and we ended up sitting with over 1 million lines in a table that was used to index search results. Not exactly sustainable, and not fast. Since switching to this plugin we have enjoyed, in some cases, under 100ms response times to auto-complete searches. I did have to splurge for the pro version due to needing to upload product data from WooCommerce, but again. 100ms. An external server handles the search overhead so your site doesn’t need to do any heavy lifting. You can log into Algolia and manage the ranking and re-ranking criteria, search parameters, and how it looks in the results. Suitably impressed.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ lhqcsi2.0y ago
When I say this plugin drastically improved my site’s search speed, it’s an understatement. My website would take anywhere between 15 to over 30 seconds to load search results. This was AFTER image optimization, caching, and plugin cleanup. After Algolia though, my products popup probably less than two seconds after search. It also wasn’t super difficult to setup. The only downside which is understandable is the fact that the more premium WooCommerce features are paid. Still I would happily recommend this plugin to anyone looking for faster search.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ themihai2.6y ago
It doesn’t work with flatsome theme. 1. autocomplete/livesearch is not working. Basically the wordpress autocomplete is used instead of algolia. 2. If you try to implement “instant search” it looks totally broken out of box design wise. Not only that but you don’t get the “instant search”. You still have to press “enter” to get any result. 3. Obviously it’s not working with woocommerce not even in a trial mode. I didn’t buy the woocommerce/pro version because the standard version failed to work (see above).
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ KZeni2.7y ago
This is effectively a continuation of the official Algolia WordPress plugin that Algolia abandoned in favor of focusing on their main product/services. Thankfully, WebDevStudios stepped up to the plate and released this plugin to keep it alive with their own set of updates & ongoing support. I’ve been using this plugin since the very beginning (having used the official plugin from Algolia before that) and it’s been a seamless transition with it being straightforward to use & customize if/when needed in these past years, for example having custom facets/filters being added to the search results page template / allowing linking to a specific set of search filters & queries / etc. which then uses the official Algolia implementation for that aspect of things so it’s well documented (this also then shows a warning in the site admin if/when a customized search template in the theme is then left using an outdated version which might warrant being checked and/or updated as needed [then updating the version stated in that template file to get rid of that notice in that process.]) Developer support for this plugin has always been receptive & responsive when it comes to both bug fixes as well as potential features to add in a future update. I find it difficult to try to find a better value and/or better overall search provider for WordPress than Algolia, and at that point, there doesn’t look to be a better method to integrate it with a site quickly & effectively than what this plugin provides (easy to get up and running while customizable in the ways one would expect if/when needed.)
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ morelead3.3y ago
I try a lot to make it work but the search not show products dont buy no support
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ barnlightau3.7y ago
I’ve been using this plugin for the past (two?) years, customers love it, the ability to filter results in Algolia and prioritise our best sellers is well worth the features. Given our small usage in Algolia, the cost per month pays for itself 1000x. Well worth the investment – Thank you webdev & associates, your work is appreciated!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ptervbu3.9y ago
Works very well for me. Thanks!
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 2.13.1 No code changes. Updated: reduced minimum WP version to return compatibility with ClassicPress Updated: Reduced “Premium Support” admin menu priority. 2.13.1
- — Version 2.13.0 Updated: Bundle Autocomplete 1.x as an available update. Not set to default. Updated: revises and updates Admin UI AJAX responses. Added: filter on search query value for “use with native template” searches and withing p 2.13.0
- — Version 2.12.0 Updated: Admin pages and Premium support UI refresh. Fixed: Prevent errors in WordPress Health panel if no application/api keys configured yet. 2.12.0
- — Version 2.11.3 Fixed: minimum requirement discrepancies in readme and defined constant. Updated: cleaned out some unused CSS selectors from really old functionality. Updated: make use of .card class from WP core for more consistant sty 2.11.3
- — Version 2.11.2 Fixed: Valid Search key checks for new applications. 2.11.2
- — Version 2.11.1 Fixed: Fatal error if not able to retreive searchable posts index object. Fixed: Fatal error potential for non-set debounce array index. 2.11.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 6 languages, 0 at 90% or more
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
7 of 8 pass · checked 1 Nov 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Use Algolia AI Search & Discovery to power your website's search with AI-powered Autocomplete and InstantSe..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 9 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 9 of 9 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WooCommerce, Yoast, Rank Math, All in One SEO and 3 more.
- ✓ Headings and lists 4 headings and 3 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 4,418 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 5 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-08-17 6K+ → 7K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2025-08-15 7K+ → 6K+ down after 180 days in tier
- 2025-02-16 6K+ → 7K+ up after 78 days in tier
- 2024-11-30 7K+ → 6K+ down after 114 days in tier
- 2024-08-08 6K+ → 7K+ up after 317 days in tier
- 2023-09-26 5K+ → 6K+ up after 349 days in tier
- 2022-10-12 4K+ → 5K+ up after 133 days in tier
- 2022-06-01 3K+ → 4K+ up after 273 days in tier
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).
- M Maven Algolia 6K+ installs · 3.7★ · 2 shared tags D
-
DOOFINDER Search and Discovery for WP & WooCommerce 2K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A -
SearchIQ – The Search Solution 1K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags B -
Search with Typesense 700+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags A -
AI Search for WooCommerce – Semantic Search 200+ installs · 4.1★ · 2 shared tags A -
AI Search for WooCommerce — Semantic & Live Search 80+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for WP Search with Algolia into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/wp-search-with-algolia" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="WP Search with Algolia — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> WP Search with Algolia: 7K+ active installs, 4.5★ (24 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/wp-search-with-algolia
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