Better Search Replace vs WordPress Importer
Compare WordPress plugins and tools side by side. Pick products with “Compare” in the software directory.
| Feature | Better Search Replace v1.4.11 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.3/5 Visit Details | WordPress Importer v0.9.7 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free · ★ 3.1/5 Visit Details |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Active installs | 1M+ | 2M+ |
| Last updated | August 25, 2026 | October 20, 2026 |
| Editions | Better Search Replace · BSR Pro ($) | WordPress Importer |
| Pros | Dry run preview before changing the database; Handles serialised data safely when changing domains | Imports posts, pages, custom post types, comments and terms; Maps authors to existing users; Can fetch attachments from the source site |
| Cons | A wrong replace can break a site, so backups are essential; Upgrade prompts link to the paid BSR Pro edition | Only reads WXR export files, not other platforms; Does not import themes, plugins or site settings; Attachment fetching depends on the source site staying reachable |
| More features | ||
| Other features | Search and replace across database tables, Dry run preview, Choose which tables to change, Serialised-data aware replace, Tools menu screen, Upgrade links to BSR Pro | WXR export file import, Author mapping to existing users, Fetch attachments from the source site |
| Requires WordPress | 6.2 | 5.2 |
| Requires PHP | 8.1 | 7.2 |
| Tested up to | 7.0 | 6.8 |
| Phones home | No | No |