62
Better Search Replace
Handle your migrations carefully or risk a database meltdown.
HealthyDecliningPoor rating
62/100
This tool handles basic migrations reliably but risks corrupting your database with uncontrolled replacements.
Active installs
~1.5 million
our estimate · wp.org shows 1.0M+
Rating
4.3★
543 ratings
Trend · vs a year ago
-13%
Declining
4,510 → 3,927 installs/day
What to watch out for
- MINORverified rating is 3.57★
Downloads over time
real new installs per day · release spikes shown separately from the trend2025-04-302025-08-082025-11-162026-02-232026-06-03
organicrelease spikerelease tailorganic trend · 14d rolling median
Declining · -13% in the last year
4,510/day a year ago→3,927/day today
Reviews
what people actually sayBetter Search Replace is a widely-used WordPress database find-and-replace tool that handles straightforward URL migrations reliably, but is undermined by credible reports of uncontrolled replacements corrupting unrelated database fields, key features locked behind a paid upgrade, and inconsistent reliability across use cases.
What people like
- +Works reliably for straightforward site migrations and URL replacements×5
- +Simple, easy-to-use interface×3
- +Dry Run feature lets users preview changes before applying them live
- +Does not clutter the dashboard with upsells or spam users with unsolicited emails
Common complaints
- −Reported to make uncontrolled replacements across unrelated database fields, corrupting content beyond the intended scope×2
- −Useful features (e.g. menu replacement) are locked behind the paid Pro version, leaving free users with an incomplete experience×2
- −Regex support advertised but reported as non-functional even in the Pro version
- −Does not reliably find and replace all URLs in some cases, with open support issues and poor support responsiveness
- −Can be slow on large databases
Review trustReviews look organic
- 3.57★Verified rating — holds steady vs the raw 4.30★
- 8%One-shot reviewers — most reviewers are active community members
Reviews per month · 5★ vs lower
2023-07-202025-01-102026-06-04
5★ reviews1–4★ reviews
All-time ratings · 543 total
Latest reviews · 90 analyzed
- 2026-05-10★★★★★Avoid – Replaces all strings with one stringaccordionmaniac
- 2026-04-23★★★★★ExcellentQuentin Le Duff
- 2026-03-09★★★★★Works But Limitedurmirun
- 2026-02-23★★★★★Works Pretty Wellhakeemstone
- 2026-02-22★★★★★Não utilize issoJuarez Meireles
- 2026-01-08★★★★★Very Good toolKeithRowley
- 2025-12-15★★★★★Don't use the Better Search & Replace free version. It is uselessandyrogers
- 2025-09-14★★★★★Simple and efficientOliver Junior
- 2025-09-13★★★★★So helpfullBehrouz
- 2025-07-02★★★★★Excellent !!!nhowarth
Releases
recent versions from WordPress.org SVNFor developers & the curious
the raw signals behind the grade — none of this is on the friendly summary aboveDownload signals
Baselines are computed on organic days only — release spikes and their tails are excluded, so they're not inflated by the auto-update wave.
3,921
Baseline · median of last 7 organic days
4,056
Prior 7-day baseline
2,321
Floor · 25th percentile over 14 days
4,979
Mean release-day peak (30d)
4,296
Latest day · 2026-06-03(organic)
-3.3%
Week-over-week organic trend
Review signals
Concentration and drive-by metrics drive the review-burst and fake-review flags. 30–40% solo reviewers is normal; we only flag the extremes.
13%
Max month share · biggest single 30-day window
0.88
Distribution CV · <0.6 even, >1.5 bursty
58%
5★ share in analyzed sample
8%
Solo reviewers · only this one wp.org activity
+133%
Volume velocity · last 6mo vs prior 6mo
3.50 → 3.57★
Sample avg · raw → solo-filtered