Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google Custom Search VS Site Search 360

Compare Google Custom Search VS Site Search 360 and see what are their differences

Google Custom Search logo Google Custom Search

Google Custom Search enables you to create a search engine for your website, your blog, or a collection of websites.

Site Search 360 logo Site Search 360

Site Search 360 enhances and improves your built-in CMS or product search with autocompletion, semantic search, filters, facets, detailed analytics, and a whole lot of customization options.
  • Google Custom Search Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-10
  • Site Search 360 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-05

Site Search 360 is a smart, ad-free search interface for your website. With a simple drag-and-drop integration, get your search up and running in no time! Let your visitors find exactly what they are looking for, right away.

Features of Site Search 360 include: * Quick and easy visual configuration of your search bar, suggestions and results with our Search Designer * Instant search-as-you-type results, autocomplete and popular searches * Smart categories and Faceted Search * Key information (e.g. brand, price, date) can be automatically extracted and shown directly in your search snippets * Semantic search: built-in dictionaries in 19 languages + the ability to add your custom synonyms * Analytics to help you get the most out of your search: what your visitors look for the most, what results they click on, what queries bring no results, etc. * Full control over search results: boost, reorder, redirect and map * Integration with Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager * Import of Google Custom Search promotions * Low-to-no-code Search Designer to customize your search appearance and results and avoid search abandonment * FAQ page search * Search Secure Content * Awesome support: via live chat, email, or phone

Site Search 360

$ Details
freemium $9.0 / Monthly ("1,500 pages/products", "2,000 monthly searches")
Platforms
Wordpress REST API Cross Platform Weebly Drupal Shopify Magento Lightspeed Duda Cloudflare Shopware Oxid Zapier
Release Date
2017 January

Google Custom Search features and specs

  • Ease of Integration
    Google Custom Search is straightforward to integrate into websites and applications, offering a user-friendly setup process with comprehensive documentation and support.
  • Advanced Search Capabilities
    It leverages Google's powerful search algorithms, providing fast, accurate, and relevant search results, benefiting from features like synonyms and advanced language understanding.
  • Customization Options
    Users can customize the search experience to match their website's look and feel, including adjusting the search box, results display, and controlling which sites are indexed.
  • Cost-Effective
    Offers a free tier with sufficient features for small to medium websites and relatively affordable paid plans for larger sites and custom needs.
  • Monetization via AdSense
    Integrates with Google AdSense, allowing website owners to generate revenue through ads displayed alongside search results.
  • Automatic Updates
    Automatically updates search indices, ensuring that the search results are always current without requiring manual input or intervention.

Possible disadvantages of Google Custom Search

  • Ad Inclusions in Free Tier
    The free version of Google Custom Search includes ads in the search results, which might be undesirable for some websites or users.
  • Limited Customization in Free Version
    The free tier has limited customization options compared to the paid versions, which might restrict certain advanced features or modifications.
  • Dependency on Google’s Ecosystem
    Relying on Google Custom Search means relying on Google’s ecosystem, which could be a risk if there are future policy changes or if the service is discontinued.
  • Data Privacy Concerns
    Some organizations might have concerns about data privacy and control, as the search data is processed and stored by Google.
  • Keyword Restrictions
    Certain keywords and search terms might be restricted or censored, limiting the scope of searchable content based on Google's policies.
  • Cost for Advanced Features
    Access to advanced features and higher query limits requires a paid subscription, which could be a significant expense for large-scale or heavily trafficked websites.

Site Search 360 features and specs

  • Easy to Set-up and use
    Quick and easy visual configuration
  • Clean UI
    Mobile-optimized and accessibility-conscious
  • Search Functionality
    Instant search-as-you-type suggestions and full-blown faceted results
  • Semantic Search
    Built-in dictionaries in 19 languages + custom synonyms
  • Analytics dashboards
    Check your search trends, most-clicked results, 0-result queries, etc.
  • Full Control over Search Results
    Boost, reorder, redirect, add custom banners
  • Integrations
    Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, WordPress, Weebly, Lightspeed, Cloudflare, Zapier, Integromat
  • Google Custom Search Migration
    Import your GCSE promotions and synonyms for a seamless transition
  • Filters and Facets
    Key information (e.g. brand, price, date) can be automatically extracted and shown directly in your search snippets
  • Index Different Content and Document Types
    PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint documents, FAQ pages, and YouTube videos
  • Awesome support
    Live chat, email, or phone
  • Popular searches
    Automatically suggest most searched items on your site
  • Video indexing
    YouTube Video Indexing as optional add-on
  • Image Optimization
    Image Optimization as optional add-o
  • Unlimited Products
    All plans (free and paid plans)
  • Unlimited Finders
    All plans (free and paid plans)
  • Engagement Analytics
    from 100 (free) to 10,000 (Genie plan) engagements
  • Engagement Insights
    Product Finder 360 dashboard surfaces data that will support and help you optimize your customers online shopping experience.
  • Upload Images
    All plans (free and paid plans)
  • Support Forum
    Free and Scarab plans
  • Email Support
    included in Lamp and Genie plans (from $79 per month)
  • Revenue Tracking
    From $29 per month
  • Auto update products
    From $29 per month
  • Manage recommendations
    included in Lamp and Genie plans (from $79 per month)
  • Capture leads
    included in Lamp and Genie plans (from $79 per month)
  • Behavioral Insights
    included in Lamp and Genie plans (from $79 per month)

Google Custom Search videos

Create a Google Custom Search Engine To Monetize Your Site

Site Search 360 videos

Site Search 360 - Search made simple

More videos:

  • Demo - Product Finder 360 - guide your shoppers to the products they need
  • Tutorial - How to supercharge your search with Site Search 360 v13!
  • Review - Client testimonial: DIS Archive & Library teams up with Site Search 360 for a successful site search experience
  • Tutorial - How to successfully implement semantic search on your website or online store

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google Custom Search and Site Search 360)
Custom Search Engine
37 37%
63% 63
Search Engine
44 44%
56% 56
Custom Search
34 34%
66% 66
Search API
37 37%
63% 63

Questions and Answers

As answered by people managing Google Custom Search and Site Search 360.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Site Search 360's answer:

​Site Search 360 leverages a combination of advanced technologies to deliver its search solutions. The platform utilizes Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud computing, ensuring scalability and reliability. It also integrates Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager for data tracking and analysis. Cloudflare is employed to enhance security and performance, while Amazon CloudFront is used for content delivery. For frontend development, Site Search 360 offers a React component, enabling seamless integration with React applications. Additionally, the platform is built to integrate with various systems, including PIM, ERP, and CRM, providing a flexible and comprehensive search solution.

What's the story behind your product?

Site Search 360's answer:

​Site Search 360 was developed by the search experts at Zoovu (formerly SEMKNOX GmbH), based in Dresden, Germany. With over a decade of experience in semantic product search, Zoovu created Site Search 360 to enhance on-site search functionality for websites and apps. The platform aims to improve user experience by providing quick and accurate content searches, contributing to increased visitor engagement and customer conversion rates. ​

What makes your product unique?

Site Search 360's answer:

Site Search 360 stands out due to its ability to provide highly customizable, AI-powered search solutions that enhance user experience and engagement. It supports dynamic ranking, multilingual capabilities, and integrates seamlessly with various systems like PIM and CRM. Additionally, it offers in-depth analytics and insights into consumer behavior to continuously improve search relevance, while ensuring privacy and security with GDPR compliance and SOC 2 Type 2 certification.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Site Search 360's answer:

Customization and Flexibility: Site Search 360 offers highly customizable search options, allowing businesses to tailor the search experience to their specific needs and customer preferences.

AI and Machine Learning: The platform uses advanced AI and machine learning algorithms to optimize search results and continuously improve accuracy, ensuring that users get the most relevant content.

Seamless Integration: It easily integrates with a variety of systems like CRM, PIM, and eCommerce platforms, making it a versatile solution for businesses with diverse technology stacks.

Actionable Analytics: The platform provides detailed analytics and insights that help businesses understand user behavior and refine their search strategies, driving more engagement and conversions.

Security and Compliance: Site Search 360 adheres to strict privacy standards with GDPR compliance and SOC 2 Type 2 certification, ensuring that businesses can trust it with sensitive data.

These features make it a strong contender for businesses looking for a customizable, scalable, and secure search solution.

How would you describe your primary audience?

Site Search 360's answer:

Small-to-medium-sized businesses as well as larger enterprises looking for an innovative yet affordable search solution.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Site Search 360's answer:

​Site Search 360 serves a diverse range of clients, including both small businesses and large enterprises. Notable customers include: - Sparkasse - Progres Mode - Helsana Group - Einhell - the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) and organizations such as Stanford University and Zurich.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Google Custom Search and Site Search 360

Google Custom Search Reviews

We have no reviews of Google Custom Search yet.
Be the first one to post

Site Search 360 Reviews

  1. Guest
    · Marketing Manager at ConnectShip ·
    Inexpensive and easy to set up

    Basic install/setup was done in about an hour. Had some questions on customization and their support staff is quick to respond and very helpful. Very good value for the price!

    🏁 Competitors: ElasticSearch
    👍 Pros:    Inexpensive|100% customizable|Great customer support|Easy to use|Great value for the money
    👎 Cons:    Little slow
  2. Joe Kraebel
    · Working at PTS ·

    We have been very happy with SiteSearch 360 as it was an easy search solution to deploy to our website as well as easy to manage. It is also affordable compared to some others out there.

    🏁 Competitors: SearchSpring
  3. Austin Verburg
    · Developer ·
    Great Product and Customer Service!!

    The plugin not only vastly improved the search experience of our clients using it, but the customer service configuring the plugin was spot on! Quick responses and in-depth one-on-one help got the plugin set up exactly how we needed it to be!


Top 9 Best WordPress Search Plugins To Improve Default Searches
The last honourable mention goes to Site Search 360, another premium service that has a WordPress plugin. It’s a customisable solution that looks great, but, thankfully, prices are more sensible.
Source: winningwp.com
Top 10 Site Search Software Tools & Plugins for 2022
This custom site search solution is fast, comprehensive, and easy to install. You can get it up and running in just a few minutes. Site Search 360 offers all the essentials to provide a seamless search experience including smart semantic search, search analytics, and auto-complete suggestions for instant results. You can also customize it to perfectly fit your needs and your...
Best WordPress Search Plugins (Top 10+ Reviewed)
Site Search 360 is an excellent WordPress plugin that replaces the standard WordPress search bar with a fast search bar with lots of customizations and features. This plugin is also mobile-ready which means it works seamlessly on mobile devices.
19+ Best WordPress Search Plugin(s) - Comparison+Tips (2022)
Site Search 360 is a very polished plugin that delivers an excellent experience for both web administrator and web user. It comes with its own search designer that makes short work of customising search to your specific requirements. It offers content grouping, autocomplete, semantic search, instant results, API and JavaScript integration, cross-domain search and a whole lot...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Google Custom Search should be more popular than Site Search 360. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Google Custom Search mentions (7)

  • Creating your own federated microblog
    Google offers Programmable Search Engine [0], a service where you can create site-specific search box. That's probably good enough for most small personal websites. [0] https://developers.google.com/custom-search/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 days ago
  • Is there a way to search keywords faster?
    Google's programmable search engine comes to mind: https://developers.google.com/custom-search/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How important are Google search operators/ Google dorks compared to other tools?
    Dorking is not only a very useful technique to find not-indexed results and unvoluntarly exposed content, it it also helps to improve beginner's analyst mindset. You can take it as an introduction to basic query language. What I can strongly suggest is to test your skills by creating your own google custom search engine (https://developers.google.com/custom-search/) that will faciltate your onlime search by... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Brave Search passes 2.5B queries in its first year
    It looks like is targeted towards website owners and not the general public. https://developers.google.com/custom-search. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Google-clone - Google Search Clone Built Using React/Next js And Tailwind CSS
    A functional replica of Google's search page, you can use it for searches. Styled with Tailwind CSS to Rapidly build and look as close as possible to current google search page, the search results are pulled using Googles Programmable Search Engine and it was build using Next.js the react framework. - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
View more

Site Search 360 mentions (1)

  • Revisiting site search + SQLite as a search engine
    Site Search 360 - https://sitesearch360.com - $9/month. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google Custom Search and Site Search 360, you can also consider the following products

Algolia - Algolia's Search API makes it easy to deliver a great search experience in your apps & websites. Algolia Search provides hosted full-text, numerical, faceted and geolocalized search.

ElasticSearch - Elasticsearch is an open source, distributed, RESTful search engine.

Sooqr - Sooqr Search provides relevant and innovative site search engine for the website.

Apache Solr - Solr is an open source enterprise search server based on Lucene search library, with XML/HTTP and...

Klevu - Klevu offers instant site search solution for eCommerce stores.

Swiftype - The simplest way to add search to your website or application. Sign up for free.