/ Plugin Category

/ Site Structure & Navigation

/ Search Filtering & Facets

/ ACF: Better Search

ACF: Better Search

By Mateusz Gbiorczyk

Site Structure & Navigation / Search Filtering & Facets

ACF: Better Search Review - In-Depth Analysis

Enhance WordPress search with Advanced Custom Fields. This plugin improves search accuracy by allowing searches on custom fields.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.88/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 165+ reviews)

Active Installations

40,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

5 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin adds to default WordPress search engine the ability to search by content from selected fields of Advanced Custom Fields plugin.

Everything works automatically, no need to add any additional code. The plugin does not create a search results page, but modifies the SQL database query to make your search engine work better.

Additionally you can search for whole phrases instead of each single word of phrase. As a result, search will be more accurate than before.

We modified the code of search engine. Content search is now faster by about 75% depending on the level of complexity of searched phrase!

We spend hours working on the development of this plugin. Technical support also requires a lot of time, but we do it because we want to offer you the best plugin. We enjoy every new plugin installation.

If you would like to appreciate it, you can provide us a coffee. If every user bought at least one, we could work on the plugin 24 hours a day!

Please also read the FAQ below. Thank you for being with us!

Comparing to Alternatives

ACF: Better Search enhances WordPress search by including Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) data, distinguishing it from standard search plugins.

Top alternatives

Relevanssi – A Better Search ( WPS: 6.82)

Strengths

Integrates seamlessly with ACF to include custom field data in search results.
Simple setup with minimal configuration required.
Efficient performance even with numerous ACF fields.
Responsive support with quick updates based on user feedback.

Weaknesses

Limited to enhancing search for ACF fields only.
Lacks advanced search features found in some alternatives.
No built-in support for non-ACF custom fields or taxonomies.

User Sentiment Analysis

Users consistently praise the plugin for its effectiveness and ease of use, highlighting its reliability and support.

Positive highlights

'Great, works perfectly. Fast.' – mkdes
'Works well and allows the default search to return results based on its stored ACF values' – jamieplexus
'If your site has a lot of ACF fields... this gets it done!' – hommealone
'Does exactly what it says, no complicated setup' – matthewmorete
'Has worked without fail for years' – wu-wei

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Limited to ACF fields only, which may not cover all search needs.
No advanced search customization options available.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Site owners and developers using Advanced Custom Fields who want to improve search results by including custom field data without complex setup.

Not ideal for

Users needing comprehensive search solutions beyond ACF fields or those requiring advanced search features and customization.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version fully supports searching through ACF fields with easy configuration and reliable performance.

Final Verdict

ACF: Better Search is a focused and reliable plugin that effectively extends WordPress search to include Advanced Custom Fields data, making it invaluable for sites leveraging ACF extensively.

While it lacks advanced features and broader search capabilities, its simplicity, performance, and responsive support make it an excellent choice for users seeking straightforward ACF search enhancement.