Head-to-head · September 2026
Custom Search Results vs Spotlight Search
Spotlight Search comes out ahead, winning 4 of 5 head-to-head checks against Custom Search Results.
Custom Search Results
Get insight into what your users are searching for on your website and customize the results they see. Do you…
Spotlight Search
The Spotlight plugin adds a keyboard-driven search bar for WordPress administrators. It lets you find and act…
| Metric | Custom Search Results | Spotlight Search |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 108 | 95 |
| Download trend | +20% | +33.8% |
| Rating | — | — |
| Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Health score | 23/100 | 51/100 |
| Last updated | 10 years ago | 4 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.7.37 | WP 7.0.6 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.4+ |
| First released | Nov 2016 | Nov 2024 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Custom Search ResultsSpotlight Search
Choose Custom Search Results if…
You care most about downloads (30 days).
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 9 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.7 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Spotlight Search if…
You care most about download trend, health score and last updated.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Both compete in: post search
FAQ
Custom Search Results vs Spotlight Search: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 30, 2026
Which is better, Custom Search Results or Spotlight Search?
Spotlight Search comes out ahead, winning 4 of 5 head-to-head checks against Custom Search Results. Choose Custom Search Results if you care most about downloads (30 days). Choose Spotlight Search if you care most about download trend, health score and last updated.
Is Custom Search Results more popular than Spotlight Search?
Custom Search Results is the more popular of the two with 10+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Spotlight Search.
Can I use Custom Search Results and Spotlight Search together?
Both plugins cover post search, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are Custom Search Results and Spotlight Search free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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