Exclude Search
Exclude posts, pages, products or custom posts from WordPress search results.
Use with caution
Exclude Search works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 80+ sites, is rated 4/5 and was last updated 5 months ago, and scores 44/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (80+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & supportDaily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Exclude Search stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| exclude from search | #15 |
| exclude page | #20 |
| exclude post | #36 |
| hide from search | #72 |
| search exclude | #14 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4 from 2 reviews
About Exclude Search
From the official readme · v1.0.2.2Description
The Exclude Search plugin allows you to exclude specific posts, pages, and custom post types (including WooCommerce products) from WordPress search results.
This plugin provides an intuitive admin interface where you can manage the exclusion of posts from appearing in search results, making it easier to fine-tune your site’s search functionality.
Features
- Exclude posts, pages, custom post types from WordPress search results.
- Exclude WooCommerce products from search results (if WooCommerce is installed).
- Easy-to-use admin interface for selecting items to exclude.
- Option to search through posts, pages, and custom post types in the admin panel.
- Pagination support for large datasets.
How to Use
- Go to the “Exclude Search” menu in the admin dashboard.
- Select a post type (Posts, Pages, Products, or Custom Post Types).
- Use the search box to find the posts you want to exclude.
- Select the posts you wish to exclude from search results.
- Click “Save Changes” to update your exclusions.
The excluded posts will no longer appear in the WordPress search results for your site visitors.
Support
For support or questions, please visit the Plugin’s Support Forum on WordPress.org.
Installation
- Upload the
exclude-searchfolder to the/wp-content/plugins/directory. - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
- Once activated, a new menu item named “Exclude Search” will appear in the WordPress admin menu.
- Use the admin page to search posts, pages, and custom posts. You can select specific items to exclude from search results.
Frequently asked questions
How do I exclude posts from search results?
Go to the “Exclude Search” menu in your WordPress admin. Select the post type (Post, Page, Product, etc.). Search for the posts you want to exclude. Check the boxes next to the posts and click “Save Changes.”
Can I exclude WooCommerce products from search?
Yes, if you have WooCommerce installed, you can exclude products from search results by selecting “Products” in the post type tab.
What happens if I remove posts from the excluded list?
If you remove a post from the excluded list, it will appear in the search results again.
Changelog
Fixed "No Posts found." error after paginating.
1.0.2 – 2025-01-31
- Change: Updated plugin icon.
- Change: Updated name in admin menu.
1.0.1 – 2025-01-22
- Fix: “No Posts found.” error after paginating.
1.0.0
- Initial release.
- Added the ability to exclude posts, pages, and custom post types from WordPress search results.
- Added a separate search form in the admin interface for managing exclusions.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Exclude Search alternatives
All exclude from search plugins →| Rank | Plugin | Active installs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Hide from Search
Hide individual WordPress pages from search engines and/or WordPress searches, such as…
|
3K+ |
| 3 |
Beplus Search Visibility
Exclude specific posts, pages, or entire post types from your site's front-end search…
|
<10 |
FAQ
Exclude Search: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Is Exclude Search free?
Yes. Exclude Search is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Exclude Search safe to use in 2026?
Exclude Search works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 80+ sites, is rated 4/5 and was last updated 5 months ago, and scores 44/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Exclude Search?
Exclude Search is active on 80+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 1,693 times since it launched in January 2025. It was downloaded 82 times in the last 30 days.
Does Exclude Search work with WordPress 7.1?
Exclude Search is officially tested up to WordPress 6.7.10, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Exclude Search need?
Exclude Search requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Exclude Search last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.2.2, was released on May 12, 2026 (5 months ago).
Who makes Exclude Search?
Exclude Search is developed and maintained by Jainish Brahmbhatt.
What are the best alternatives to Exclude Search?
The most popular alternatives to Exclude Search are Hide from Search (3K+ installs) and Beplus Search Visibility (<10 installs).
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