Adding search to any website without coding - the guide
Looking to add a search bar to your website but don't know where to start? This simple guide will show you how to add search functionality to your website without technical knowledge. A search bar helps visitors find content quickly, improves user experience, and keeps people on your site longer.
A search bar is like a helpful guide for your visitors. Instead of clicking through many pages trying to find information, they can simply type what they're looking for and get results instantly. This makes your website much easier to use. A study by Forrester Research found that 43% of website visitors go immediately to the search box when they arrive on a site, and that speaks for itself.
How In-Site Search Improves Your Website
When people can find information fast, they enjoy using your website more. They won't get frustrated and leave because they can't find what they need. When visitors can easily search for more topics that interest them, they tend to stay on your website longer. This extra time spent browsing is good for your business. Many website owners spend hours creating great content that visitors never see because it's buried in older posts or deep in the website. A search bar brings this hidden content to light.
You can set also up your search bar to highlight specific content you want visitors to see. For example, your most popular posts or special offers can appear at the top of search results.
Even if you're not tech-savvy, adding a search bar is simpler than you might think. In this guide, I'll show you several easy ways to add this powerful feature to your website, no coding required!
Easy Ways to Add a Search Bar to Your Website
In this section, I'll walk you through different methods to add search functionality to your website:
- No-coding-required options - Perfect if you want a simple solution without touching any code
- Plugin solutions - Easy to install if you use platforms like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace
- Third-party services - Powerful search tools that work with almost any website
You don't need to be a technical expert to add a great search feature to your website. Let's look at each option so you can choose the one that feels most comfortable for you!
Adding Search Using Plugins for WordPress and Other Platforms
If you're using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, adding a powerful search bar is even easier with plugins. These are pre-built tools you can install with just a few clicks.
WordPress Search Plugins
SearchWP makes WordPress search better by finding what users are really looking for. It searches all your content, including custom fields, and shows the most relevant results first.
- Log into your WordPress admin dashboard
- Go to "Plugins" → "Add New"
- Search for "SearchWP"
- Click "Install Now" then "Activate"
- Go to "Settings" → "SearchWP" to configure
- Choose which content types to include (posts, pages, products)
- Add the search form to your site using either a widget or shortcode
Relevanssi fixes WordPress's weak search by showing the most relevant results first. It handles misspellings, highlights search terms in results, and can search in PDF documents.
- Install and activate like any WordPress plugin
- Go to "Settings" → "Relevanssi"
- Click "Build the index" to catalog your content
- Customize which content appears in search results
- Your existing WordPress search forms will automatically use Relevanssi
Ajax Search Lite (Free) or Ajax Search Pro (Paid)
Ajax Search shows results instantly as users type, without needing to reload the page. It includes filters, category options, and displays images alongside search results.
- Install from the WordPress plugin directory
- Configure settings through the new menu item
- Choose from different search bar designs
- Use the included widget, shortcode, or block to add to your site
Other Platform Plugins
Adding search to Wix or Shopify is simple using their built-in app stores. Just install the recommended search app, follow the setup wizard, and place the search component where you want it on your site.
Shopify Apps
- Go to the Shopify App Store
- Search for "search" or "search filter"
- Popular options include "Smart Search & Filter" and "Search by Boost"
- Click "Add app" and follow the installation steps
- Configure through the app's settings page
Wix Apps
- Go to the Wix App Market
- Search for "search"
- Install "Super Search" or "Site Search" apps
- Follow the setup wizard
- Place the search component on your pages
Most of these plugins work effectively with minimal setup, making them ideal for website owners who want better search without technical complexity. Once installed, your visitors will enjoy a much more helpful search experience!
What if I am not using a platform, or not sure
There are also other services that let you add search with a simple copy and paste - and they work for any website, regardless of the platform.
AddSearch offers excellent customization options and works well with dynamic content. It provides detailed analytics about search queries, though the free plan is limited in features and search volume.
- Create an AddSearch account
- Enter your website address
- Choose how you want your search to look
- Copy the code they give you
- Add it to your site using your website builder's HTML section
Swiftype delivers extremely accurate results and allows you to customize rankings manually. It's used by many large companies for its powerful features, but its pricing is on the higher side for small websites and can be complex to fine-tune.
- Create a Swiftype account
- Follow their simple setup guide
- Copy the code they provide
- Add it to your website's custom HTML area
SiteSearch360 is particularly good for e-commerce sites with its product search capabilities and automatic synonym detection. The setup is very straightforward, though the free version has limitations on the number of pages indexed.
- Sign up for a SiteSearch360 account
- Enter your website URL
- Customize your search appearance and settings
- Copy their installation code
- Paste it into your website's header section
- Add their search box code where you want the search to appear
Algolia is incredibly fast with real-time results as users type. It's highly customizable and powers search for many major websites. The downside is that it has a steeper learning curve than other options and may require developer help for advanced features, though their basic implementation is still accessible for beginners. It is also on the costly side of solutions presented here.
- Create an Algolia account
- Follow their setup wizard to connect to your site
- Choose how you want search results to display
- Copy their provided JavaScript code
- Add it to your website using your platform's code editor
- Place their search UI component where you want visitors to search
Finally, let's look at Easy Site Search - our service. We built it as a simpler alternative to Algolia, with minimal configuration and a more affordable price. Easy Site Search requires no complicated setup beyond placing a widget on your website, though customizations are available if needed. To start using it, check out our setup guide. But it all just narrows to a few easy steps:
- Log in and add your website (or multiple websites)
- Copy provided snippet to your website
- Click the "Verify" button in the admin panel
That's it - your website now supports search. No coding or configuration necessary - everything happens automatically.
Try it out today!
Summary
These tools give you a working search bar without needing to know how to code. They're perfect for small business websites, blogs, and personal sites where you want to help visitors find your content more easily. Many can be added in just a few minutes, and the value they bring makes a real difference in user engagement and time spent on your site.