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/ Ivory Search – WordPress Search Plugin

Ivory Search – WordPress Search Plugin

By Vinod Dalvi

E-commerce & Shopping /

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Ivory Search – WordPress Search Plugin Review - In-Depth Analysis

Ivory Search is an advanced WordPress search plugin that enhances the default search functionality. It allows for custom search forms, AJAX search, and WooCommerce product searches.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.87/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 1561+ reviews)

Active Installations

90,000+

Update Frequency

Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

6 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Ivory Search is a simple to use advanced WordPress search plugin. It enhances the default WordPress search and also allows you to create new custom search forms.

With Ivory Search, you can create an unlimited number of search forms and configure each search form individually to customize WordPress search and perform different types of searches on site content.

Display the custom search forms on site header, footer, sidebar or widget area, navigation or menu, on pages, posts, custom post types or anywhere on the site using its shortcodes.

Some of the key features include faster search with an inverted index-based search engine, the ability to search WooCommerce products, and AJAX search functionality. You can also customize search forms using the customizer and track searches in search analytics.

Ivory Search integrates with popular plugins such as WooCommerce, Weglot, Polylang, bbPress, and WPML, making it a versatile choice for enhancing search capabilities on your WordPress site.

Comparing to Alternatives

Ivory Search stands out as it has no close direct alternatives in its category, making it a unique choice for WordPress search enhancement.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Highly customizable search options including AJAX search.
Supports WooCommerce and regular posts/pages search in free version.
Responsive and mobile-friendly search interface.
Regular updates addressing security vulnerabilities.
Strong user satisfaction with a 4.9-star average rating.

Weaknesses

No close direct alternatives for comparison.
Some compatibility issues reported with WooCommerce features.
UI customization options placement could be improved.
Requires premium version for some advanced features like disabling media search.

User Sentiment Analysis

With a 4.9 average rating from 1560 users, Ivory Search is highly praised for its functionality and ease of use. Most users report positive experiences, though a small minority express concerns.

Positive highlights

'Excellent. For free, a fully-customizable plugin with plenty of documentation.' - nufrankz
'The plugin worked as advertised. When I need additional customization support they were able to help quickly!' - btwebmedia
'This is the best search plugin I've used. The Ajax search works great!' - gchalk
'I have used Ivory search within all of my websites for many years. I'm very happy with its performance.' - finty57
'I'm really grateful for Ivory Search for giving me an easy way to add a search option to my blog for mobile users.' - worldsloudestlibrarian

Common complaints

Plugin slows down WordPress and causes early loading errors with translations.
Lack of support responsiveness over extended periods.
Certain features like disabling media search require premium purchase.
Issues with refund and purchase handling for premium upgrades.

Weaknesses

Some users report performance slowdowns and translation loading issues.
Support is reportedly unresponsive for some users.
Premium features are necessary for full functionality like disabling media search.
Purchase and refund process can be problematic.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a highly customizable and effective WordPress search plugin with strong AJAX support and WooCommerce compatibility, especially those comfortable with occasional premium upgrades for advanced features.

Not ideal for

Users who require guaranteed fast support, have strict performance requirements, or want all features available without purchasing the premium version may find this plugin less suitable.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers fully customizable search functionality including AJAX search and supports searching WooCommerce products and regular posts/pages.

Pro version (19.99 - 49.99 USD / year)

Premium features such as disabling media search and additional customization options are available in the pro version.

Final Verdict

Ivory Search is a robust and highly rated WordPress search plugin that offers extensive customization and strong integration with WooCommerce and AJAX search capabilities. Its free version is feature-rich, making it a great choice for most users seeking enhanced search functionality.

However, users should be aware of past security vulnerabilities that have been addressed, occasional performance issues, and limited support responsiveness. Those needing advanced features or guaranteed support may consider the premium version or alternative solutions.