# Search with Google

> Search with Google has 70+ active installs, a 3/5 rating from 4 reviews and 140 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 35/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** Search with Google shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 70+ sites, is rated 3/5 and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 35/100 on our health check.

**This plugin will replace the WordPress default search query with server-side results from either the Custom Search Site Restricted JSON API or the Custom Search JSON API. You can make your selection within the settings…**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 70+
- **Total downloads:** 6,510
- **Downloads (30 days):** 140 (-0.7% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 3/5 from 4 reviews
- **Health score:** 35/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 1.2.3
- **Last updated:** Apr 29, 2025
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 6.8.11
- **Requires:** WordPress 4.8+, PHP 7.4+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** rtCamp (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/rtcamp/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/search-with-google/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [cse](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/cse/) | #1 | 2 |
| [custom search engine](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/custom-search-engine/) | #1 | 1 |
| [google](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/google/) | >100 | 598 |
| [programmable search](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/programmable-search/) | #1 | 1 |
| [search](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/search/) | >100 | 600 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| cse | #1 | 20 |
| custom search engine | >100 | 3,400 |
| google | >100 | 10,000 |
| programmable search | #2 | 10 |
| search | >100 | 10,000 |

## Version adoption

- 1.2: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | [SearchCloak](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/searchcloak/) | 20+ | — | Dec 6, 2018 | 24/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Search with Google free?
Yes. Search with Google is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Search with Google safe to use in 2026?
Search with Google shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 70+ sites, is rated 3/5 and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 35/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Search with Google?
Search with Google is active on 70+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 6,510 times since it launched in October 2020. It was downloaded 140 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Search with Google work with WordPress 7.1?
Search with Google is officially tested up to WordPress 6.8.11, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### What PHP version does Search with Google need?
Search with Google requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was Search with Google last updated?
The latest version, 1.2.3, was released on April 29, 2025 (1 year ago).

### Who makes Search with Google?
Search with Google is developed and maintained by rtCamp.

### What are the best alternatives to Search with Google?
The most popular alternatives to Search with Google are SearchCloak (20+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/search-with-google/ · Generated 2026-10-20 12:29 UTC by PageForge