Watch
Search Pulse in 30 seconds
A short look at Search Pulse, the Shopify app that adds a search bar showing products as shoppers type, and shows what customers search for, including the searches that find nothing.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Before you begin
Decide where search should appear
Search Pulse can show a floating search button, a search bar placed in a theme section, or nothing, and you choose separately for home, product, collection, blog and other pages.
A button in a corner of the page that opens search. Works as soon as the app embed is on.
Add the "Search Pulse search bar" block to a section, such as your header, for an always-visible search box.
Search Pulse works with Online Store 2.0 themes that support app embeds and app blocks, including Shopify's free themes.
Step one
Install the app
- Open Search Pulse in the Shopify App Store and select Install.
- Approve the read-only access to your products and store content.
- Open Search Pulse from your Shopify admin. The home page shows a getting-started checklist that ticks itself off as you go.
Your 14-day free trial starts straight away. You won't be charged unless you choose a plan.
View Search Pulse on the Shopify App StoreStep two
Switch on the app embed
- In Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Themes and select Customise.
- Open App embeds in the theme editor.
- Switch on Search Pulse and click Save.
Check the app embed is on in the theme you're previewing, and that search isn't switched off for that type of page in Search settings.
Step three
Choose where search shows
- In Search Pulse, open Search settings.
- For each type of page, choose a floating search button, a search bar in a section, or off.
- For a search bar, add the Search Pulse search bar block to a section in the theme editor.
Step four
Choose what search shows
Shown as shoppers type, with the full results in a pop-up.
Include your help pages and articles, or switch them off.
Let shoppers narrow results by product type, brand and price.
Hide out-of-stock products or chosen brands from results.
Step five
Match your store
- Set colours, the search icon, font, position and sizes.
- For the floating button, check it doesn't clash with chat or cookie banners.
- Use custom CSS only if the standard settings aren't enough.
You can hide your theme's search icon so shoppers only see one. Check Search Pulse shows on every page type you need first.
Step six
Fix searches that go wrong
Group words that mean the same thing, such as hoodie, sweatshirt and pullover, or add common misspellings.
Send a search such as "returns" straight to a page. Shoppers go there when they press Enter; while typing they see a "Go to…" link.
Put a product at a set place in the results for a search.
Use Search preview in the app to check the results. Preview searches aren't counted in your analytics.
Step seven
Check your analytics
- Open Search analytics to see searches, searches that found nothing and searches that led to a click.
- Use Add synonym or Add redirect next to any search that found nothing.
- Download the data as a CSV if you want to look at it in a spreadsheet.
- Read the weekly email (Mondays) listing searches that found nothing. You can switch it off in Search settings.
Questions
Search Pulse questions
What does Search Pulse do?
It adds a search bar or floating search button to your Shopify store that shows products, collections, pages and blog posts as shoppers type, and shows you what shoppers search for.
How much does it cost?
$4.95 a month or $48.95 a year, with a 14-day free trial. Every feature is included and there are no limits on products or searches. Billing is through Shopify.
Does it work with my theme?
It works with Online Store 2.0 themes that support app embeds and app blocks, including Shopify's free themes.
Can I see what customers search for?
Yes. Analytics shows your top searches, searches that found nothing and searches that led to a click, and you can download them as a CSV. A weekly email lists searches that found nothing.
Does it fix spelling mistakes?
Not automatically. You can add common misspellings to a synonym group so they find the right products.
Will it replace Shopify Search & Discovery?
It adds its own search box and results. You can keep using Search & Discovery for collection filters.
What data does it store about shoppers?
Only the words typed into search, the number of results and which result was clicked. No names, emails or IP addresses. Data is deleted 48 hours after you uninstall.
How do I cancel?
Uninstall the app from Settings → Apps in Shopify. Charges stop straight away.
Built and supported by a small UK team
Give shoppers a search bar that finds things
One plan with everything included: $4.95 a month or $48.95 a year, with a 14-day free trial.