Title: SearchUs – Site Search + Smart 404 Recovery Author: funnelwon Published: July 9, 2026 Last modified: July 9, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/searchus/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=3601545) ![](https://ps.w.org/searchus/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=3601545) # SearchUs – Site Search + Smart 404 Recovery By [funnelwon](https://profiles.wordpress.org/funnelwon/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/searchus.1.0.1.zip) * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/searchus/#description) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/searchus/#reviews) * [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/searchus/#installation) * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/searchus/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/searchus/) ## Description **SearchUs** (SearchUs by FunnelWon) **after free or paid license activation** replaces or powers your WordPress search with a dedicated index, relevance-ranked results, and a results page (SERP) you control. Until activation, visitor search on `?s=` uses WordPress’s built-in search while you complete setup. It indexes pages, posts, WooCommerce products, and media (images, PDFs, videos, documents). **All admin settings in this plugin are available on every plan** (ranking weights, intent, SERP layout, media extraction, result injections, multi-user mode, and more). **Plan differences are enforced by the SearchUs hosted service**: indexed URL cap, monthly search queries, full reindex frequency, and optional removal of “Search powered by…” attribution— not by disabling plugin features in PHP. **Key features** * **Search results page (SERP)** – After **license activation**, redirects `?s= query` to a dedicated search page (e.g. `/searchus/` or `/search/`) with search box, result tabs (All, Images, Videos, Documents, Audio, Products), and optional list or grid layout. Works with your theme header and footer. **Result reordering and injections** (promoted results on the All tab) apply when you use the **SearchUs SERP template** under SERP Layout, not when you use the theme’s default search template only. * **Smart 404 recovery** – On 404, suggests similar pages/posts/products/media based on the URL so visitors can find content instead of a dead end. * **Intent and synonyms** – Synonym list and intent matching so queries map to the right content (e.g. “lead gen” “lead generation”). * **“Did you mean?”** – When there are no results, can suggest a corrected query from the **search service** (returned with query results; no third-party spell- check APIs). * **Ranking** – Admin controls for title, H1, H2, H3+, body, and media weights; optional URL-segment and multi-token boosts; per-type caps and multipliers (pages, posts, products, images, videos, etc.). Relevance scoring runs on the SearchUs API using your saved settings. * **Crawl and reindex** – Sitemap-based or full reindex to build/refresh the index. Auto-crawl can keep the index updated when content changes. URL exclusions and optional class/ID exclusions for body extraction. **Full reindex frequency and index size limits** are enforced by the service when you hit plan quotas. * **Media and products** – Index and search images (with alt/title/filename), PDFs, documents, video, audio; WooCommerce product support with per-type caps and ranking multipliers. On the SearchUs SERP template, optional **Buy Now** on simple in- stock product cards (**SERP Layout Ecommerce Config**: checkout, cart, or off). * **Safety** – Settings lock to avoid accidental changes; optional local rate limits; junk-query guard blocks scanner probes **before** any API call (see External services). **Options** * Use the SearchUs search results page (default) or “default WordPress results” so your theme’s search template shows our results. * Choose which post types and media types to index, exclude URLs or DOM areas, and tune SERP layout (list/grid, excerpt length, results per page, WooCommerce Buy Now destination) and ranking from the same settings screens on all plans. Requires PHP 7.4+. **Free** plans include “Search powered by FunnelWon” attribution on results where the API returns it; **paid** plans may remove attribution per license. No remote code execution. **After license activation**, the plugin communicates with FunnelWon’s API for indexing, visitor search results, and license handling; usage counters support plan limits on the service. No third-party advertising or behavioral-tracking scripts for FunnelWon’s benefit. ### External services This plugin connects to **FunnelWon SearchUs** (hosted API and account dashboard at https://searchus.funnelwon.com). Use of the service is subject to our Terms and Privacy (links below). **When data is sent** * **License activation / validation** – When you enter or refresh an API key (and on periodic checks the plugin performs). * **Indexing** – When you run a full reindex, delta/index push, or auto-crawl sends content to build or update the remote index. * **Visitor search** – After activation, each real visitor search query is sent to `POST /v1/query` so the service can score results and apply plan limits (unless blocked locally as junk; see below). * **Usage and configuration** – When the admin loads usage, reindex eligibility, or optional cloud settings backup/sync features you use. **What is sent (summary)** * Site URL, API key, plugin version, site identifier, and technical headers needed for authentication and plan routing. * Content and metadata you enable for indexing (titles, body areas, headings, product fields, media alt text, filenames, etc.). * Visitor **search query text** for live search (not used for third-party advertising). * Aggregated usage for quotas (e.g. query counts, indexed URL counts, reindex allowance). **What stays on your server** * Optional **SearchUs analytics** (if enabled) is stored in your WordPress database only. * **Query guard** (`core/query-guard.php`) evaluates queries locally and **does not** send obvious bot/scanner probes to the API or third parties. * A **search result cache** (transients) may store recent API responses locally for performance; it is not shared with advertisers. **Legal** * Terms of Service: https://searchus.funnelwon.com/tos/ * Privacy Policy: https://searchus.funnelwon.com/privacy/ For more detail, see the **Privacy** section below and the in-plugin FAQ. ### Privacy **Licensing and API** When the plugin contacts FunnelWon’s (SearchUs) services—for **license validation**,** indexing**, **search results**, or **configuration sync**—it may send your **site URL**, **API key** (if you have entered one), **plugin version**, and other technical data needed to operate the service. Your site URL is used among other things to apply your plan and **allowed environments** (for example production, staging, and development URLs permitted under your license). **After you complete license activation**, indexing and visitor search send the content and metadata described in the plugin and settings (e.g. pages, posts, products) and each search query to the API as needed to build the index and return results; see the Description and External services sections above. Before activation, those API-backed search flows are not used for front-end `?s=` requests. **Support (information you choose to share)** If you contact support, we may ask you to share **diagnostic details** so we can reproduce issues and spot conflicts—for example your **hosting provider or environment**,** active WordPress theme** (name and version), and **list of active plugins**, often by pasting **Tools Site Health Info** from your admin. You decide what to send; we use it only to troubleshoot (including cache and plugin conflicts) and improve compatibility. Unless a future feature clearly discloses it and asks for consent, the plugin does **not** automatically upload your theme or full plugin list to us solely for support. **What the plugin sends automatically (no separate ad or marketing profile)** * **Site identity and licensing:** your site URL (and any staging/dev URLs your license allows), **API key** if you enter one, **plugin version**, and related technical fields so we can validate the license, apply plan limits, and route API requests. * **Indexing:** text and metadata from the content types you enable (e.g. titles, excerpts, body areas, headings, product fields, image alt text, file names)—only what is needed to build and update the search index. * **Search:** each **visitor search query** is sent to the service to compute results** once license activation is complete** (same as any hosted search). Until an API key is stored after activation, front-end `?s=` search uses WordPress’s built- in search and is not sent to SearchUs for ranking. Queries are not used for third- party advertising; they are processed to return search results and for **plan usage** (e.g. query volume limits) where applicable. * **Optional in-plugin analytics (if you turn it on):** aggregated search and click metrics stored **on your WordPress site** in its database, as described in settings. A **first-party cookie** may be used for deduplication. This analytics data is** not** sent to FunnelWon for advertising; it stays on your server unless a future feature clearly says otherwise. **What we do not do** * We do **not** sell your site URL, license details, index payloads, search queries, or support diagnostics to **third parties for advertising** or to build ad profiles. * The plugin does **not** load third-party advertising or behavioral-tracking scripts for FunnelWon’s benefit. * We do **not** automatically upload your theme name, plugin list, or Site Health dump—only what **you** choose to send if you contact support. **Personal data (PII) in plain language** SearchUs is **not** designed to collect visitor identities for marketing. However,** search queries** can contain anything a visitor types, and **indexed content** may include names, emails, or other data **you** published on the site—those flows are part of normal search and indexing, not a separate “PII harvesting” feature. If you are a **data controller** for your site’s visitors, you should describe SearchUs in **your** privacy policy (and comply with applicable law). FunnelWon’s own handling of data received through the service is described in our policies below. **Terms of Service and Privacy Policy** Use of the hosted SearchUs service is governed by our **Terms of Service** and ** Privacy Policy** on the SearchSaaS dashboard site: * **Terms of Service:** https://searchus.funnelwon.com/tos/ * **Privacy Policy:** https://searchus.funnelwon.com/privacy/ For retention, security, legal bases, subprocessors, and other details, see the Privacy Policy link above. That policy governs FunnelWon / SearchUs as the service provider; your site still needs its own policy where required. The Privacy Policy is also published at https://funnelwon.com/privacy/ for convenience. ### Third-party libraries The plugin bundles **Driver.js** (https://github.com/kamranahmedse/driver.js) under the **MIT License** for the in-admin setup walkthrough. Source is included under` admin/vendor/driver/`. ## Screenshots [⌊Included content: choose post types and media for the index, plus URL/DOM exclusions and crawl-related options.⌉⌊Included content: choose post types and media for the index, plus URL/DOM exclusions and crawl-related options.⌉[ Included content: choose post types and media for the index, plus URL/DOM exclusions and crawl-related options. [⌊Search experience (SERP): search page layout, redirect, results per page, list or tile view, excerpts, and visitor-facing search UI.⌉⌊Search experience (SERP): search page layout, redirect, results per page, list or tile view, excerpts, and visitor-facing search UI.⌉[ Search experience (SERP): search page layout, redirect, results per page, list or tile view, excerpts, and visitor-facing search UI. [⌊Synonyms and intent detection: map phrases and intents so informal queries still match the right content.⌉⌊Synonyms and intent detection: map phrases and intents so informal queries still match the right content.⌉[ Synonyms and intent detection: map phrases and intents so informal queries still match the right content. [⌊Auto-crawl and reindex logs: see scheduled and automatic index updates after content changes.⌉⌊Auto-crawl and reindex logs: see scheduled and automatic index updates after content changes.⌉[ Auto-crawl and reindex logs: see scheduled and automatic index updates after content changes. [⌊Results page, list view: stacked results with titles, URLs, snippets, and thumbnails where available.⌉⌊Results page, list view: stacked results with titles, URLs, snippets, and thumbnails where available.⌉[ Results page, list view: stacked results with titles, URLs, snippets, and thumbnails where available. [⌊Results page, tile view: grid layout for a more visual browse of results.⌉⌊Results page, tile view: grid layout for a more visual browse of results.⌉[ Results page, tile view: grid layout for a more visual browse of results. [⌊Results page, Images tab: image-only results from indexed media (alt text, titles, filenames help relevance).⌉⌊Results page, Images tab: image-only results from indexed media (alt text, titles, filenames help relevance).⌉[ Results page, Images tab: image-only results from indexed media (alt text, titles, filenames help relevance). [⌊Results, image pop-up: larger preview of an image result without leaving search.⌉⌊ Results, image pop-up: larger preview of an image result without leaving search.⌉[ Results, image pop-up: larger preview of an image result without leaving search. [⌊Results page, Videos tab: video results from indexed video content.⌉⌊Results page, Videos tab: video results from indexed video content.⌉[ Results page, Videos tab: video results from indexed video content. [⌊Results, video pop-up: in-place playback for a video result.⌉⌊Results, video pop- up: in-place playback for a video result.⌉[ Results, video pop-up: in-place playback for a video result. [⌊Results page, shopping tab: product-focused results when products are indexed ( e.g. WooCommerce), respecting your ranking settings.⌉⌊Results page, shopping tab: product-focused results when products are indexed (e.g. WooCommerce), respecting your ranking settings.⌉[ Results page, shopping tab: product-focused results when products are indexed (e. g. WooCommerce), respecting your ranking settings. ## Installation 1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/` (for example `searchus/`) or install via Plugins Add New. 2. Activate the plugin. Complete **free or paid license activation** in SearchUs settings( register or paste an API key). The plugin creates a Search page; **after activation**, search and indexing use the SearchUs API as described in Privacy and External services. Until activation, visitor `?s=` search stays on WordPress’s built-in search. 3. In the WordPress admin sidebar, open **SearchUs – Site Search + Smart 404 Recovery** to lock settings, run a full reindex, and configure SERP, ranking, and Smart 404. 4. Run “Full site reindex” at least once so the index is built. After that, optional auto-crawl can keep it updated. **Before the first successful reindex:** With license activation complete and SearchUs handling visitor search (the default), searches are sent to the SearchUs API. If nothing has been indexed yet, visitors often see **no results**—the plugin does ** not** switch back to WordPress’s built-in search in that mode. Run a full reindex as soon as setup allows. If you need core WordPress search until indexing finishes, choose **Use default WordPress results page** under SERP Layout in settings. ## FAQ ### Do I need to reindex? Yes. Run a full site reindex from the plugin admin (Plugin Settings Reindex / crawl area) after activation and when you add or change a lot of content. Optional auto- crawl can then keep the index updated when you publish or update posts/pages. **After your license is activated**, visitor search uses the SearchUs API (unless you chose “default WordPress results” under SERP Layout). **Until the first full reindex has completed**, many sites will show **empty search results**—that is expected, not a fallback to WordPress’s native search. Complete a full reindex to populate the service index; use the default WordPress results option temporarily if you need the theme’s normal search while indexing is still running. ### Can I use my theme’s search template? Yes. Under SERP Layout, choose “Use default WordPress results page.” **After license activation**, we still supply the results and ranking via the API; your theme controls the layout. Attribution may appear on the free tier per your license and API response. ### What is Smart 404? When a visitor hits a 404, the plugin can show “similar” results derived from the URL (e.g. missing product or page). Enable it under Smart 404s in settings. ### Does it work with WooCommerce? Yes. Enable the product post type for indexing under Crawl Inclusion. Product caps and ranking multipliers are under Ranking. On the SearchUs SERP template, **SERP Layout Ecommerce Config** controls the **Buy Now** button for simple in-stock products( checkout, cart, or off). Variable and grouped products link via the product title; external/affiliate products can show an external buy link. Buy Now requires published WooCommerce Cart and/or Checkout pages. Stock and price on the button are refreshed when search results load. ### What data is sent to SearchUs by FunnelWon? See **Privacy** and **External services**. In short: your **site URL**, **API key**( if any), **plugin version**, and data required for **indexing/search/API** are transmitted** after activation** as part of the service. **Theme, hosting, and plugin lists** are not sent automatically for support—you may be asked to provide those manually if you open a ticket. Junk scanner queries are blocked locally and are not sent. ### What are the minimum requirements? * WordPress 5.9 or higher (see header above for the “Tested up to” value). * PHP 7.4 or higher (see header above). * Outbound **HTTPS** connectivity from your server to FunnelWon’s SearchUs API for **license activation**, **indexing**, and **visitor search** once setup is complete. * A modern hosting stack; `curl` or equivalent is used via WordPress HTTP APIs. MySQL/MariaDB versions follow WordPress core requirements for your WordPress version. ### What does “Tested up to” mean? The **Tested up to** value in the plugin header is the latest WordPress release the authors have smoke-tested with this plugin version. Use a current, supported WordPress version on your site. ### Why do I need license activation for search and indexing? SearchUs is a **hosted search service**: indexing and ranked results run against FunnelWon’s API after a **free or paid** API key is stored. Until you finish activation, front-end search requests use WordPress’s default search so visitors are not routed through SearchUs for `?s=` results. ### Is this plugin a fork of another search plugin? No. **SearchUs by FunnelWon** is developed and maintained by FunnelWon. It is not a fork of any plugin or other third-party search plugins. ### Do you offer paid plans? What changes when I upgrade? This is **one plugin** with the same settings UI on every plan. Upgrading means a **FunnelWon / SearchUs license** with higher **service quotas**, for example: * More **indexed URLs** (index cap on the API). * Higher **monthly search queries** (and, on paid production sites, optional metered overage per your subscription). * More frequent **full reindexes** when your plan allows (the service returns allowance and retry timing in usage/API responses—not hidden timers in the plugin). * **Attribution removal** on results where your paid license and API response allow it. Ranking weights, intent, media extraction, SERP injections, reordering, and multi- user mode remain available in the plugin; the service applies your saved configuration when processing search and indexing. For plan comparison and pricing, see https:// searchus.funnelwon.com/ ### Where can I find documentation? Product and setup information are published on **FunnelWon** (see the Author link above). The in-plugin **FAQ** panel and settings descriptions explain individual controls. For WordPress.org installs, use the plugin’s support forum for general questions. ### Will it work with my theme? In most cases, yes. **After license activation**, the plugin adds a dedicated search page template and can redirect normal WordPress search (`?s=`) to it, or you can use **default WordPress search results** so your theme’s search template wraps our results (see SERP Layout). You may need minor CSS adjustments so the search page matches your theme. Themes that heavily override search or use unusual routing should be tested after installation. ### Where can I report bugs, request features, or get help? * **WordPress.org users:** use the plugin’s **Support** tab / forum on this listing. * **License customers:** use the support channel provided with your SearchUs by FunnelWon subscription (see https://searchus.funnelwon.com). When reporting issues, include WordPress version, PHP version, active theme, and( if asked) a paste of **Tools Site Health Info**—see the Privacy section. ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “SearchUs – Site Search + Smart 404 Recovery” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ funnelwon ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/funnelwon/) [Translate “SearchUs – Site Search + Smart 404 Recovery” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/searchus) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/searchus/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/searchus/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/searchus/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/searchus/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 1.0.1 * Fix license activation on hosted staging/preview URLs (Kinsta, WP.com staging, and similar). * Fix activation verify URL on sites using plain permalinks (uses /fw-si-v-{token}/ path instead of ?page_id=). #### 1.0.0 * Initial release: SERP page template, redirect, Smart 404, intent/synonyms, ranking and media controls in admin, “Did you mean?”, crawl/reindex, URL and DOM exclusions, settings lock, optional local rate limits and junk-query guard. PHP 7.4+ supported via polyfills. * WordPress.org compliance: all plugin settings available on every plan; plan limits( indexed URLs, monthly queries, reindex allowance, attribution) enforced by the SearchUs API only. Readme and External services documentation updated accordingly. ## Meta * Version **1.0.1** * Last updated **11 hours ago** * Active installations **Fewer than 10** * WordPress version ** 5.9 or higher ** * Tested up to **7.0.1** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Tags * [404](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/404/)[advanced search](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/advanced-search/) [search](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/search/)[search plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/search-plugin/) [site search](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/site-search/) * [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/searchus/advanced/) ## Ratings No reviews have been submitted yet. [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/searchus/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/searchus/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ funnelwon ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/funnelwon/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/searchus/)