Head-to-head · October 2026
Download Directory vs SearchWP Live Ajax Search
SearchWP Live Ajax Search comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Download Directory.
Download Directory
Download Directory allow you to create a download directory website. You will be abble to provide to your…
SearchWP Live Ajax Search
Does not require SearchWP, but will utilize it if available. Full documentation is available at searchwp.com.
| Metric | Download Directory | SearchWP Live Ajax Search |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 50K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 51 | 7.7K |
| Download trend | +4.1% | -28.3% |
| Rating | 3/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Reviews | 1 | 36 |
| Health score | 24/100 | 85/100 |
| Last updated | 10 years ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.5.33 | WP 7.0.7 |
| Support resolved | — | 100% |
| Requires PHP | Any | 5.6+ |
| First released | Aug 2016 | May 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Download DirectorySearchWP Live Ajax Sear…
Choose Download Directory if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.5 (latest is 7.1)
Choose SearchWP Live Ajax Search if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 50K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.7/5 from 36 reviews
Both compete in: ajax
FAQ
Download Directory vs SearchWP Live Ajax Search: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 18, 2026
Which is better, Download Directory or SearchWP Live Ajax Search?
SearchWP Live Ajax Search comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Download Directory. Choose Download Directory if you care most about download trend. Choose SearchWP Live Ajax Search if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Download Directory more popular than SearchWP Live Ajax Search?
SearchWP Live Ajax Search is the more popular of the two with 50K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Download Directory.
Can I use Download Directory and SearchWP Live Ajax Search together?
Both plugins cover ajax, 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 Download Directory and SearchWP Live Ajax 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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