Dev builds custom AI search for WordPress because ChatGPT costs too much and takes 3 seconds—now it's free after months of vector database drama

A developer, GronRafal, has created a custom AI search plugin, Queryra, for WordPress, opting not to use ChatGPT due to its limitations. WordPress's default search function is inadequate, only matching exact keywords, and ChatGPT plugins have issues with cost, speed, and accuracy. Queryra trains on a website's specific content, providing more relevant results, and is free after initial setup, with search times under 500ms. The plugin was approved on WordPress.org on January 29, 2026, after addressing 15 security issues, and is available on GitHub. GronRafal chose to open-source the plugin to build trust and encourage community contributions. The developer is working on adding features, including a forever free tier, simple pricing tiers, and Stripe integration. Queryra's custom AI approach has resulted in faster searches, better accuracy, and cost savings, making it a significant development in the WordPress ecosystem, with potential implications for the search market and AI-powered solutions.