Do you have a lot of information on your site? Then, you should help your website visitors find all the products/items/articles they need in minutes.
The best way to do this is by adding search and filtering functionality to a WordPress website. And it can be done easily, mainly if you use Elementor.
In this article, you will find the nine best search and filter plugins for Elementor to add the needed features to your WordPress website.
Table of Contents
- What to Look for When Choosing Search and Filter Plugins?
- Top 9 Search and Filters Plugins for Elementor
- FAQ
- In Conclusion
What to Look for When Choosing Search and Filter Plugins?
Today, search and filtering capability is essential and makes it easier to navigate any website. It shows that the site owner has thought about the user experience and wants to show relevant information.
In WordPress, there is a built-in ability to add filters. But they are limited in their functionality. Using them, the user can filter your content by date, authors, categories, and tags.
Search and filter plugins give you more freedom.
Here are the essential parameters that you need to look for in the search and filter plugins:
- Advanced search options: Look for plugins that offer advanced search functionality, allowing users to search by various criteria such as keywords, categories, tags, custom taxonomies, post types, date ranges, and more.
- Customizable filters: The ability to customize and add filters to search results is crucial. It could include filters based on attributes, custom fields, taxonomies, or any other relevant criteria specific to your content.
- AJAX search and filter: AJAX-powered search and filter functionality can enhance user experience by providing real-time filtering and search results without requiring a page reload.
- Live preview: Some plugins may offer live preview functionality within the Elementor editor, allowing you to see how your search and filter elements will look and behave without switching between editor and preview modes.
- Responsive design: Ensure the plugin is responsive and works well on various devices and screen sizes, providing a seamless search and filtering experience for mobile users. Elementor provides responsive design capabilities.
- Faceted search: Faceted search functionality allows users to refine search results by selecting multiple criteria simultaneously, providing a more intuitive and efficient search experience.
- Performance optimization: Choose optimized plugins to ensure that search and filtering operations are fast and don’t slow down your website.
- Compatibility and support: Make sure the plugin is compatible with your WordPress version and other plugins in use, and check if there is reliable support available in case you encounter any issues.
- Styling options: Look for plugins that offer styling options compatible with Elementor’s styling controls, allowing you to easily customize the appearance of your search and filter elements using Elementor’s intuitive interface.
- Dynamic content support: If you’re using dynamic content features in Elementor (such as dynamic data from posts or custom post types), ensure that the search and filter plugin can handle dynamic content effectively.
Of course, you can rely on your own criteria depending on your tasks, but even these basic parameters will help you find the right plugin.
Top 9 Search and Filters Plugins for Elementor
Now, look at popular Elementor search and filter plugins you can try out for the next project.
Search & Filter (Freemium)
⭐ Best for enhancing WordPress search box.
This simple plugin will help you improve and extend WordPress’s built-in search capabilities. Search & Filter is a powerful tool for refining your searches in design and functionality. With over 30,000 active installations and nearly flawless 5-star reviews on WordPress.org, it’s a trusted choice. Utilizing AJAX technology, it enables seamless filtering with the flexibility of multiple selections, akin to faceted search systems.
Key features:
- searching by custom fields, post meta, authors, post types, post dates, taxonomies, tags, categories;
- showing results using the AJAX method;
- ability to create many different types of search forms with various fields.
Pros:
- works with WPML;
- users can organize results by different parameters;
- works with any theme.
Cons:
- it’s possible to customize the form only using code.
Pricing: it has a free version and PRO, starting from $25.
JetSmartFilters (Premium)
⭐ Best for creating advanced filters for any post.
JetSmartFilters helps you easily create AJAX-based filtering systems. With its intuitive features, you can effortlessly generate:
- sorting filters;
- visually appealing filters;
- product selection filters, and more.
By leveraging a combination of 12 filter types, you can ensure that your users receive the most pertinent results.
For swift and seamless browsing experiences, employ the Indexer feature. With this functionality, you can effortlessly showcase various URL pages to users without the hassle of complex coding.
Key features:
- ability to create a full-fledged filter system;
- multi-level (hierarchical) filtering;
- compatible with Elementor, Gutenberg, and Bricks;
- dynamic AJAX filtering for seamless result updates without page reloading;
- 12 WordPress filter options.
Pros:
- 12 filter types for comprehensive filtering;
- indexer functionality to display highly relevant results;
- compatibility with Elementor Query Loop Builder;
- WPML integration;
- adjusted filtering logic.
Cons:
- there is no free version.
Pricing:
- $43 per year for one site;
- $88 per year for unlimited sites.
JetSearch (Premium)
⭐ Best for adding a search bar to the Elementor website in a few clicks.
JetSearch helps you effortlessly integrate a live search bar into your website with just a few clicks. Empowering users to access the latest information and swiftly sort it by relevance, this tool enhances the overall user experience. With JetSearch, you can conduct sitewide searches and selectively hide specific results as required. Additionally, you can customize search parameters by Custom Post Type, tags, product categories, taxonomy, and more, ensuring tailored search functionality to meet your site’s specific needs.
Key features:
- filter hook for AJAX search;
- possibility to use different parameters for sorting content;
- ability to customize quick search view;
- search suggestions;
- possibility to customize the search results drop-down.
Pros:
- search query parameters for sorting the search results;
- two search widgets for your Elementor website;
- possibility to allow searching sitewide.
Pricing:
- $23 per year for one project;
- $47 per year for unlimited projects.
Users who already have a Crocoblock All-Inclusive suite get JetSmartFilters, JetSearch, and 18 more plugins to boot.
Essential Addons for Elementor (Freemium)
⭐ Best for creating a customizable, dynamic search bar.
Essential Addons plugin has more than 2 million active users and a rating of 4.9 out of 5. It allows the creation of different website elements using completely customizable widgets. You can create an advanced search system with its help in a few clicks.
Key features:
- possibility to create a live search bar;
- ability to customize the search bar and search results page;
- customers can search for particular topics using category lists and access the content they need.
Pros:
- customizable widgets;
- possibility to create search functionality in a few clicks;
- 50+ free add-ons for different needs.
Cons:
- some users mention a lack of support.
Pricing: there is a free version and PRO. PRO starts from $49.97 for one website.
Unlimited Elements For Elementor (Freemium)
⭐ Best for intuitive and efficient search on the website.
You will find over 100 widgets for Elementor in this plugin. Each element can be customized to your needs, so the plugin already has over 200 thousand active users and a rating of 4.9 out of 5. AJAX Search Widget is available in the paid version of the plugin. With its help, you can choose a suitable layout and provide a more intuitive and efficient search experience for your website visitors.
Key features:
- ability to adjust elements such as the search input and button using handy settings;
- adding a list of suggested keywords users can click on;
- integration of the AJAX search widget with different filter types.
Pros:
- settings for search results to control the number of columns and gaps in the layout;
- ability to customize features such as labels, search buttons, and suggested popular searches to enhance user engagement.
Cons:
- AJAX Search is available only in a paid version of the plugin.
Pricing: it has a free version and a PRO, which starts from $49/year.
FacetWP (Premium)
⭐ Best for adding search and filtering systems to WordPress websites.
FacetWP stands out as a top-choice plugin for crafting diverse search and filter bars tailored for online stores. Its rich feature set is extensively covered in numerous starter guides, showcasing its versatility and effectiveness. Users praise its robust functionality and seamless integration with various page builders. It is compatible with most themes and can help to create great search and filtering systems, as well as use Elementor filter posts functionality.
Key features:
- filtering instantly and without page refreshes;
- possibility to add facets anywhere on the page;
- many facet types, including checkboxes, dropdowns, date ranges, sliders, etc.;
- works with the site’s existing post types, custom fields, and taxonomies.
Pros:
- the power to design layouts using WP-Query;
- a wide array of facets tailored to diverse content types for comprehensive filtering options;
- possibility to create filterable user listings.
Cons: no free version.
Pricing:
- $99 per year for one site;
- $249 per year for 20 websites.
Product Filter by WBW (Freemium)
⭐ Best for adding Elementor WooCommerce filters.
This Elementor Product Filter plugin allows you to filter products on the WooCommerce website by many criteria. These are price, categories, tags, taxonomy, author, featured, on sale/in stock options, rating, search by text, and attributes. Users can find the desired product in minutes. You can set different types of filters to match the design of your site.
Key features:
- possibility to filter by different criteria;
- AJAX live search;
- different designs of filter box;
- statistics for data analysis.
Pros:
- easy creation and customization of new filters;
- recount the products by selected filters;
- responsive for different devices.
Cons:
- the free version is very limited.
Pricing: it has a free and a PRO version, which starts from $99 for one website.
Category Ajax Filter (Freemium)
⭐ Best for creating a filtering system with different layouts.
This Elementor filter plugin allows you to seamlessly filter posts or custom post type entries by category without reloading the page. You can choose specific taxonomy and terms to display on the front-end interface. Utilize an intuitive admin panel to control various front-end aspects, including filter layouts, color combinations, post layouts, font properties, pagination, and more. The plugin has more than 9000 active users and a 4.9-star rating.
Key features:
- possibility to filter any post without page reload;
- you can use it for blog posts, custom post types, and taxonomies;
- supports Divi builder;
- possibility to modify any filter.
Pros:
- icons for filter terms/categories;
- ability to see statistics and analytics;
- sorting options.
Cons:
- some users complain about the lack of customer support.
Pricing: it has a free and a PRO version, which starts from $33 for one website.
The Plus Addons (Premium)
⭐ Best for creating complex filters.
PRO addons of this plugin allow you to expand Elementor functionality significantly. The Plus Addons enable you to create complex filter websites with ease. The plugin is also compatible with ACF, WooCommerce, and any CPTs. With its help, you can make vertical, horizontal, inline, AJAX filters, and even filters with pop-ups.
Key features:
- indexer options;
- filter options are based on repeater;
- filters work with all custom post types and WooCommerce;
- 15+ AJAX filter types;
- compatible with all WordPress themes.
Pros:
- compatible with WPML and other translation plugins;
- integrated with WooCommerce;
- supports lazy load.
Cons: no free version.
Pricing: starts from $59.
FAQ
It depends on what kind of site you have and how much information is on it. For users, it is convenient to have both functionalities on the site.
You can write the code from scratch or hire a developer. Another method involves using one of the plugins described above, such as JetSmartFilters, Search & Filter, etc.
It depends on the plugin and the method you choose for your website. Developers’ time costs a lot, but you can save money and try plugins, which can be either free or paid.
In Conclusion
Search and filter functionality is essential to impress your website visitors and help them find all the needed information. On the Elementor website, you can add such features for free, for example, with Search & Filter, Unlimited Elements, and Product Filter plugins.
Or you can build a convenient advanced system with JetSearch, JetSmartFilters, FacetWP, and other advanced plugins.
Choosing the right plugin depends on your site’s objectives and the amount of information on your site. Use the tips provided in this article, and they will help you choose the suitable Elementor search filter plugin faster.
