Shopify Semantic Search: Why Merchants Are Frustrated & What to Do Instead
From 2025 March 18, Shopify’s Semantic Search is no longer optional for merchants using the Shopify Search & Discovery app; it’s now a default feature that cannot be turned off. This means that Shopify’s semantic capabilities are universally applied to all merchants using their app.
While it promises smarter, more intuitive search results, many merchants have reported poor performance with irrelevant or inaccurate search results, frustrating both store owners and shoppers.
In this article, we cover:
- What Shopify Semantic Search is and its key features
- Common issues reported by users
- Why third-party search apps may be a better solution
What is Shopify Semantic Search? A comprehensive feature list
Shopify describes Semantic Search as a major shift from traditional keyword-based search; instead of focusing on exact word matches, it understands the meaning behind a query by considering product descriptions, images, and contextual clues.
Semantic search contrasts with traditional keyword-based search by factoring in the meanings of words, relationships between concepts, image data, and other additional context surrounding a query.
In theory, it allows shoppers to use natural, everyday language when they search. For example, you can type ‘something to wear in the summer’, and still get relevant results like shorts, dresses, or sandals.
Key Benefits of Shopify Semantic Search
More relevant results
By focusing on the intent behind a search, Semantic Search delivers more accurate results than traditional keyword matching. For example, a query like “housewarming gifts” will return practical items for someone moving into a new home, not just products with “gift” in the title.
Automatic Synonym Management
Semantic Search understands synonyms and related terms without manual setup. So, if your catalog says “laptop” but a customer searches for “notebook,” the system connects the dots.
Smarter contextual understanding
Semantic Search understands synonyms and related terms without manual setup. So, if your catalog says “laptop” but a customer searches for “notebook,” the system connects the dots.
Limitations of Shopify Semantic Search: What users are complaining about
While Shopify Semantic Search offers impressive technology (like image recognition) on paper, Shopify merchants have reported several limitations in practice.
Doesn’t power predictive search bar
Semantic Search only works on the actual search results page, not for the predictive search bar in the Shopify Search & Discovery app. Users need to hit ‘Enter’ after searching for a query to land on the search page to get the results enhanced by Semantic Search. This creates inconsistency in the user experience.
Underwhelming image recognition
Although Shopify promotes its image-based search capabilities, many merchants say it delivers poor results because it prioritizes image data over text and returns irrelevant products many times.
Decline in quality of search result
Some store owners feel search results have become less accurate since Semantic Search was enabled. Unfortunately, there’s currently no way to disable it and get the traditional keyword-based results back, as it became mandatory in March 2025.
What’s the Alternative? Try Third-Party Search Apps
Luckily, third-party search apps provide robust alternatives to Shopify’s built-in solution. Thanks to Shopify’s Online Store 2.0 updates (introduced in 2021), integrating or removing these apps is as simple as flipping a toggle. Many also integrate seamlessly into the drag and drop Shopify Theme Editor, where merchants customize them just like any other native Shopify element.
‘Built for Shopify’ apps
Another extra feature to look for is apps with the ‘Built for Shopify’ badge. meet Shopify’s highest standards for security, performance, and design.
One standout example is Prefixbox AI Search & Filter. It’s Built for Shopify and offers both Semantic and AI-powered search utilizing vector search. Prefixbox also offers Semantic search in its predictive search bar (autocomplete search bar), unlimited filters with mini search bar for filter values for both the search and collection pages, and many more features.
Summary
As of March 18, 2025, Shopify’s Semantic Search became a mandatory feature in the Search & Discovery app, aiming to improve results by understanding user intent and context.
While this shift promises more relevant search results and better search experience in general, many merchants report issues such as irrelevant results, underwhelming image recognition, and inconsistent behavior.
With no option to revert to traditional keyword search, frustrated store owners are turning to third-party solutions.
Apps like Prefixbox AI Search & Filter, a Built for Shopify solution, offer advanced features like vector-based AI search, semantic autocomplete, and customizable filters—providing a powerful and user-friendly alternative to Shopify’s built-in system.
Soma is managing wide aspects of Prefixbox’s online presence – let it be social media, content or paid ads. He’s a passionate online marketer based in Budapest, Hungary, with a keen interest in cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions.
