Head-to-head · October 2026
Search & Filter vs Top Cat
Search & Filter comes out ahead, winning 6 of 6 head-to-head checks against Top Cat.
Search & Filter
Search & Filter is a simple search and filtering plugin for WordPress – it is an advancement of the WordPress…
Top Cat
Top Cat allows you to specify a main category for your posts. Even though WordPress posts can have more than…
| Metric | Search & Filter | Top Cat |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 50K+ | 10+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 4.8K | 34 |
| Download trend | +3% | 0% |
| Rating | 4.5/5 | — |
| Reviews | 175 | 0 |
| Health score | 74/100 | 31/100 |
| Last updated | 2 months ago | 21 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | — |
| Support resolved | 0% | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Sep 2013 | May 2005 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Search & FilterTop Cat
Choose Search & Filter if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 50K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.5/5 from 175 reviews
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Choose Top Cat if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 21 years
Both compete in: category
FAQ
Search & Filter vs Top Cat: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 17, 2026
Which is better, Search & Filter or Top Cat?
Search & Filter comes out ahead, winning 6 of 6 head-to-head checks against Top Cat. Choose Search & Filter if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Search & Filter more popular than Top Cat?
Search & Filter is the more popular of the two with 50K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Top Cat.
Can I use Search & Filter and Top Cat together?
Both plugins cover category, 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 Search & Filter and Top Cat 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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