Head-to-head · October 2026
HTML5 pushState vs SearchWP Live Ajax Search
SearchWP Live Ajax Search comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against HTML5 pushState.
HTML5 pushState
Ajaxify wordpress with HTML5 pushState based on History.js by Benjamin Lupton.
SearchWP Live Ajax Search
Does not require SearchWP, but will utilize it if available. Full documentation is available at searchwp.com.
| Metric | HTML5 pushState | SearchWP Live Ajax Search |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 50K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 41 | 7.9K |
| Download trend | +32.3% | -28.6% |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Reviews | 2 | 36 |
| Health score | 29/100 | 85/100 |
| Last updated | 14 years ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.5.2 | WP 7.0.7 |
| Support resolved | — | 100% |
| Requires PHP | Any | 5.6+ |
| First released | Feb 2013 | May 2014 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
HTML5 pushStateSearchWP Live Ajax Sear…
Choose HTML5 pushState if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 13 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.5 (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
HTML5 pushState vs SearchWP Live Ajax Search: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 17, 2026
Which is better, HTML5 pushState or SearchWP Live Ajax Search?
SearchWP Live Ajax Search comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against HTML5 pushState. Choose HTML5 pushState 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 HTML5 pushState 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 HTML5 pushState.
Can I use HTML5 pushState 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 HTML5 pushState 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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