What catalog capabilities Findalo adds
WordPress's native search covers the essentials over the title and description. Findalo adds three capabilities built for catalogs:
- It understands synonyms and semantic search. "sweatshirt" finds "hoodie," and you can teach it your own equivalences.
- It searches attributes, SKUs, and variations. If you set size, color, or skin type as a WooCommerce attribute, Findalo indexes them and turns them into filters — not just title and description.
- It tolerates typos. "ydratant" without the h still finds the moisturizers, just as shoppers expect coming from Amazon or Shopify.
Comparison of the six options
| Option | Cost | Semantic AI | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woo native | Included | No | On-premise MySQL |
| Relevanssi | €99/year Pro | No | On-premise MySQL improved |
| SearchWP | €99-399/year | No | On-premise + own index |
| FacetWP | €99-249/year | No (filters only) | Filter add-on |
| Doofinder | €49/month – €349/month | Only on Advanced | SaaS |
| Findalo | €0 Free – €49/month Pro | AI from Pro | SaaS · official WP plugin |
How to install Findalo on WooCommerce
Frequently asked questions
What does Findalo add over WooCommerce's native search?
WordPress started as a content manager and its search covers the basics. Findalo adds capabilities built for catalogs: typo tolerance, synonyms and semantic search, automatic filters and facets, and multi-language with WPML auto-detected.
Are SearchWP, FacetWP, and Relevanssi viable alternatives?
Yes for stores that want everything on-premise. SearchWP (€99-399/year license) and Relevanssi (€99/year) improve internal search; FacetWP (€99-249/year) adds filters. But the engine is still MySQL — no semantic AI, no merchandising or boost rules, and no search analytics. Findalo offloads the engine and brings semantic AI from €49/month.
How does the official Findalo plugin for WooCommerce work?
Standard WordPress plugin. You install it like any other (Plugins → Add → Upload), configure slug + feed token, and the plugin posts your catalog to Findalo every time you change a product. Compatible with WPML and Polylang, auto-detected.
Is it compatible with caches like WP Rocket or LiteSpeed?
Yes. The widget loads client-side via a small loader in wp_head; cached HTML doesn't matter. Tested on WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache, W3 Total Cache, and Cloudflare APO.
And with the most-used themes (Astra, Hello Elementor, Blocksy, Storefront)?
Verified on all four. The widget detects the theme's search form via a configurable CSS selector and overrides it. No rewriting templates or PHP.