Run the diagnostic before reading the list. In your analytics, find what share of sessions use search and what share of those return nothing.
If under a few percent of sessions search, the opportunity is small whatever you install. If the zero-result rate is high, read that report first — a good share of it is usually fixable for free by changing product titles and adding synonyms.
The options
Searchanise — the pragmatic default for a themed Shopify store with a few thousand products. Installs quickly, good synonym and merchandising tooling, predictable pricing.
Algolia — infrastructure rather than an app. Excellent relevance, programmable, built for headless front ends. Requires real implementation and the operations-based pricing can grow.
Klevu — strong on AI-driven relevance and discovery, positioned between the two on effort and cost.
Boost AI Search and Filter — widely used, strong on filtering specifically, which is frequently the actual requirement rather than search.
Shopify Search and Discovery — free, first-party, handles synonyms, filters and some merchandising. Try this before anything paid.
| Best for | Watch | |
|---|---|---|
| Search and Discovery | Free first move | Limited at large catalogue |
| Searchanise | Most themed stores | Less deep than Algolia |
| Boost | Filtering-led catalogues | Search less strong |
| Klevu | Discovery and relevance | Mid-tier cost |
| Algolia | Large catalogues, headless | Implementation cost |
The free Shopify Search and Discovery app covers synonyms, filters and product boosting. A surprising number of stores paying for search have never installed it.
Talk it through
Send us your zero-result report.
We will tell you how much is a free fix and whether a paid search platform is justified for your catalogue size.
Get a readA real read within one business day — not a sales call.
About the author
Manpreet Singh
Founder of Proscube. Leads the studio's Shopify, headless and CRO engineering, and works directly with founders rather than through account managers.
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