Websites using Swiftype

Okay, let s break down Swiftype, now known as Elastic Site Search, covering its overview, revenue (with some caveats), alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

Overview: Swiftype (now Elastic Site Search)

• What it is: Swiftype started as a search-as-a-service platform specifically designed for websites and applications. In 2017, it was acquired by Elastic (the company behind Elasticsearch) and rebranded as Elastic Site Search. It s built on top of the powerful Elasticsearch engine.
• Core Functionality: It allows businesses to easily add powerful and relevant search to their websites or applications without needing to manage the underlying infrastructure. This includes features like:
  • Typo Tolerance: Handles misspelled search queries.
  • Synonyms: Understands related terms.
  • Relevance Tuning: Control the order of search results.
  • Faceting & Filtering: Allows users to refine searches.
  • Analytics: Provides insights into search behavior.
  • Crawler: Indexes content from various sources, including webpages.
  • API Access: Offers flexibility for customization and integration.

Revenue Information (Tricky to Pinpoint Exactly)

• Public Company: Elastic is a public company (ESTC) and reports its overall revenue, not specifically for Site Search.
• No Separate Figures: Elastic doesn t break out revenue for individual products like Site Search within their financial reports.
• Part of the Elastic Cloud Offering: Site Search is a component of the broader Elastic Cloud offering, which includes Elasticsearch, Kibana, and other products.
• General Elastic Revenue: For context, Elastic s total revenue is substantial and is growing. This reflects the demand for their search and analytics capabilities.

Alternatives to Elastic Site Search

There are many alternatives to consider, depending on the specific needs and scale of the website or application. Here s a breakdown:

• Open Source (You Manage):

  • Apache Solr: A powerful open-source search platform similar to Elasticsearch. Requires more technical expertise to set up and maintain.
  • Elasticsearch (Self-Managed): If you want the full power of Elastic s technology, you can run Elasticsearch directly, but this requires a dedicated infrastructure and expertise.

• Managed/Cloud-Based Search:

  • Algolia: Known for its blazing-fast search speed and excellent developer experience.
  • Searchspring: Popular in the e-commerce space, offering advanced merchandising features.
  • Coveo: Enterprise-focused search platform with AI-powered capabilities.
  • Doofinder: Easy-to-integrate search solution, suitable for various website sizes.
  • Lucidworks Fusion: AI-powered platform, often used in more complex data scenarios.
  • Google Custom Search Engine (CSE): A simpler option for smaller websites, but can lack customization options.

• E-commerce Specific Platforms (Often with Search Included):

  • Shopify Search: Built into the Shopify e-commerce platform.
  • BigCommerce Search: Part of the BigCommerce platform.
  • Magento (Adobe Commerce) Search: Included in the Magento e-commerce platform.

Pricing

• Usage-Based: Elastic Site Search pricing is generally based on a consumption model. This typically involves:
  • Data Storage: The amount of data indexed for search.
  • Search Queries: The number of searches performed.
• Variable Pricing: Pricing tiers and costs will depend on the specific plan selected within the Elastic Cloud environment.
• Contact Sales: It s best to contact Elastic sales directly for custom quotes based on your specific needs and use case. Elastic offers a free trial that allows you to test out the service before making a financial commitment.

Customer Care Details

• Support Options: Elastic offers a variety of support options:
  • Documentation: Extensive online documentation available for all their products.
  • Community Forums: Active user community for questions and support.
  • Email Support: Included with most plans.
  • Premium Support: For larger enterprises, Elastic offers premium support with faster response times.
• Support Levels: The level of support you get can depend on your pricing plan.
• Self-Service Focus: Elastic tends to emphasize a self-service approach, relying heavily on documentation and community resources.

Key Takeaways:

• Powerful Engine: Elastic Site Search is built on a powerful and scalable search engine (Elasticsearch).
• Flexible Solution: It offers flexibility through its API and customization options.
• Scalable: Suitable for both small and large websites/applications.
• Part of a Broader Ecosystem: It s part of the larger Elastic Cloud environment, giving access to other tools.
• Contact Sales for Pricing: You need to contact Elastic directly for detailed pricing information.
• Solid Support: While relying on documentation, it does offer comprehensive support, especially on the premium plans.

Recommendation:

If you need a robust, scalable, and highly customizable search solution built on top of Elasticsearch, Elastic Site Search is a strong contender. However, be prepared for a usage-based pricing model and the need to potentially dive into technical documentation. For simpler use cases or less technical teams, some of the alternatives (like Algolia or Doofinder) might be easier to implement. Carefully evaluate your needs and budget before making a decision.