Head-to-head · October 2026
Exclude Search vs Search Exclude
Search Exclude comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Exclude Search.
Exclude Search
The Exclude Search plugin allows you to exclude specific posts, pages, and custom post types (including…
Search Exclude
With this plugin you can exclude any page, post or whatever from the WordPress search results by checking off…
| Metric | Exclude Search | Search Exclude |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 80+ | 50K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 84 | 77.2K |
| Download trend | +6.3% | +77.2% |
| Rating | 4/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Reviews | 2 | 217 |
| Health score | 44/100 | 89/100 |
| Last updated | 5 months ago | 2 weeks ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.7.10 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | 67% |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 5.6+ |
| First released | Jan 2025 | Dec 2012 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Exclude SearchSearch Exclude
Choose Exclude Search if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (80+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Search Exclude if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 50K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.8/5 from 217 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 2 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Momentum — downloads up 77.2% vs the previous 30 days
Both compete in: exclude page exclude post search exclude
FAQ
Exclude Search vs Search Exclude: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 17, 2026
Which is better, Exclude Search or Search Exclude?
Search Exclude comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Exclude Search. Choose Search Exclude if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Exclude Search more popular than Search Exclude?
Search Exclude is the more popular of the two with 50K+ active installs, compared with 80+ for Exclude Search.
Can I use Exclude Search and Search Exclude together?
Both plugins cover exclude page, exclude post and search exclude, 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 Exclude Search and Search Exclude 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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