Table of Contents
- What Is Klevu?
- Key Features of Klevu
- AI-powered site search
- Smart category merchandising
- Personalized product recommendations
- Search analytics and insights
- How Does Klevu Work?
- Klevu Pricing and Plans
- Klevu Pros and Cons
- Ease of Setup and Integration
- Performance and Search Relevance
- Klevu vs Expertrec: Which Is Better for Ecommerce Search?
- Where Expertrec stands out
- Best Klevu Alternatives in 2026
- Is Klevu Worth It in 2026?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict
The modern shopper doesn’t have the time or energy to scroll through countless products looking for one specific item. The expectation is that search results should be fast, relevant, and custom-made for the online shopper.
That is where Klevu comes in. Klevu utilizes AI-powered search technology, product recommendations, category merchandising, and personalization to provide shoppers with a convenient shopping experience.
But is Klevu a good investment for e-commerce companies in 2026? How much does it cost, how hard is it to implement, and are there other options available?
In this review, we will take a look at Klevu’s features, pricing, performance, integrations, benefits, and downsides while comparing them to Expertrec.
What Is Klevu?
Klevu is an AI-based platform for product discovery and ecommerce search that aims to enhance the way customers search and discover products on the internet.
Unlike traditional search engines, which only depend on exact keyword matching, Klevu employs NLP (Natural Language Processing) and machine learning technologies to provide relevant results based on shoppers’ queries.
The platform offers four key functionalities:
- AI Site Search: assists users in locating products via natural language search.
- Smart Category merchandising: automatically arranges product listings according to popularity and merchandising rules.
- Product recommendations: proposes trending, complementary products to customers.
- Personalization: uses data related to shopping preferences & behavior to provide tailored product discovery experience.
Klevu targets medium and big-sized ecommerce companies, mainly online retailers with vast product inventories and numerous categories.
A noteworthy recent development is that Klevu has become part of Athos Commerce, a company that ensures collaboration among Klevu, Searchspring, and Intelligent Reach.
Key Features of Klevu
Klevu provides more than just a basic search function for websites. It provides searching features that optimally assist users in discovering products.
AI-powered site search
Klevu allows users to search for products using queries containing spelling errors, impromptu sentences, or different vocabulary.
So, for instance, if someone searches for something like “watter-proof jaket”, they can find necessary waterproof jackets nonetheless.
Some features that clustering can make use of include:
- Autocomplete while searching.
- Natural language processing.
- Error recognition and allowance.
- Synonyms and inflections processing.
- Relevance of search results.
- Popular and recent search suggestions.
All these features can help reduce unsuccessful search attempts when searching through vastly extended product catalogues
Smart category merchandising
Klevu allows merchandising teams to exert control over how products are displayed on category pages. Companies can give prominence to desired products and exclude others from the category pages or determine category-specific terms and regulations.
For example, a fashion retailer can introduce a seasonal collection while keeping track of best-selling items during the promotional period.
Personalized product recommendations
With Klevu, it can show suggestions such as:
- Customers Who Bought This Product Also Bought
- Intelligent merchandising of categories
With Klevu, merchandising teams can determine what products appear in categories.
Various functions allow companies to select products according to a desired criteria, highlight important items or exclude those that are irrelevant.
As an example, a retailer can either amplify a seasonal product line or keep on display the best-performing products during a promotions.
Search analytics and insights
Klevu gives analytics that allow businesses to track how customers interact with search and category pages.
Merchants may monitor search terms, product views, category views, click-through rates, and sales metrics.
The insights thus gained help to determine popular search terms, unsuccessful searches, and much-needed improvements for better product visibility.
How Does Klevu Work?
Klevu’s functioning is based on linking the product database of an ecommerce store with the search engine and discovering system.
Klevu’s functioning process includes the following steps:
Indexing the database
Information about products, product features and other information is collected and indexed.
Processing of the search query
When a shopper submits a request, Klevu processes it based on its search functions and AI technology.
Ranking of the outcomes
Products are sorted according to relevance of the signals from machine learning and merchandising rules established.
Individualized searching
Recommending and showing products help the shopper find other products.
Efficiency analysis
Analytics related to the search and categories provide the merchant with data for improving customer shopping.
Implementation:
Companies can use the ready-made themes for the store or create special headless solutions using Klevu’s JavaScript libraries and APIs.
Klevu Pricing and Plans
Pricing is something that many businesses will need to think about when evaluating Klevu, especially businesses with increasing search traffic.
Klevu does not have one price for every ecommerce platform. On its listing on the Shopify App Store, the following prices are indicated:
| Feature | Listed price |
|---|---|
| Site Search | $649/month |
| Category Merchandising | $549/month |
| Recommendations | $449/month |
The listing also discusses a 14-day free trial and the limits of what will be offered with Klevu.
These prices listed on Shopify can only provide a benchmark for what the pricing of Klevu might be but the actual pricing will have to be confirmed directly with the company.
For small retailers, some of these costs can be relatively significant, especially if a variety of functionalities needs to be considered.
AI-Powered Ecommerce Search
Make Product Discovery Faster with ExpertRec
Upgrade your ecommerce search experience with ExpertRec. Help shoppers discover products faster with AI-powered search, semantic search, autocomplete, smart filtering, product recommendations, and search analytics.
Smarter Search • Better Product Discovery • Powerful Analytics
Klevu Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Artificial intelligence search and spelling correction capabilities | Can be costly for small-scale businesses |
| Sophisticated merchandising functions | Needs careful setup and management |
| Tailored product proposals | Advanced options available only in more expensive plans |
| Analysis of search queries and categories | Implementation can involve some technical work |
| Compatibility with API and headless solutions | Costs need high attention |
| Multiple languages supported for search | Comprehensive features may be wasted in case of small scale |
Overall: Klevu is a profitable e-commerce solution, but its cost and implementation efforts require a drop of consideration prior to a serious decision.
Ease of Setup and Integration
Klevu is compatible with many ecommerce platforms and offers custom implementation products such as APIs, SDKs, and JavaScript libraries.
It enables integrations with ecommerce platforms, third-party platforms, and headless shops.
The steps involved in implementation depend on the particular platform being used and the catalogue requirements.
Basic integration can be performed without much difficulty, while complex capabilities such as advancing merchandising and developing customized storefronts will require deeper technical expertise.
Performance and Search Relevance
Search efficiency involves both the speed at which results are delivered and their suitability. Klevu achieves this through features such as typo correction, machine learning, natural language processing, synonyms and automated classification of products.
For instance, users looking for “comfortable office shoes” should be able to find appropriate boots even if other words are used to label the products.
Klevu’s merchandising tools provide companies with the opportunity to automatically classify their goods as well as use manual adjustments, which is helpful when running seasonal promotions or introducing new products.
However, the quality of actual search depends on various factors, including attributes of the catalogue, product description, indexing and configuration. In order to ensure the required level of search efficiency, companies should perform real-life testing of search queries and study the CTR and conversion instead of relying on claims.
Klevu vs Expertrec: Which Is Better for Ecommerce Search?
Klevu and Expertrec are similar in terms of their ability to enhance the search function on a website to make product identification and customer satisfaction more efficient. However, the features they provide and their pricing schemes differ.
While Expertrec provides AI website searching features like semantic searching, autocomplete, filtering, search analytics, merchandising, and personalization in its offering.
| Comparison | Klevu | Expertrec |
|---|---|---|
| AI-powered search | Yes | Yes |
| Semantic search | AI/NLP-based discovery | Yes |
| Typo tolerance | Yes | Yes |
| Autocomplete | Yes | Yes |
| Product recommendations | Yes | Yes |
| Merchandising | Advanced category merchandising | AI merchandising and product pinning |
| Search analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Personalization | Yes | Yes |
| Multilingual support | Yes | 30+ languages |
| Headless support | APIs and SDKs | REST API and JavaScript SDK |
| Shopify integration | Yes | Yes |
| WooCommerce support | Integration options | Dedicated integration |
| Pricing | Shopify Site Search from $649/month | Standard from $299/month |
Thus, Expertrec can be a potential platform for any ecommerce team to check their website searching ability along with merchandising features without paying for their corresponding price of Klevu Shopify Site Search.
Where Expertrec stands out
Expertrec is an option businesses should consider.
The Standard package offered by Expertrec starts at $299/month and provides access to AI-powered search, search analytics, product pinning, real-time sync, and 50,000 search requests.
The higher packages come with some additional features like AI merchandising, promotional banners, advanced analytics, and a personalized search.
This is a great option for ecommerce teams that want to evaluate website search functions side by side with merchandising and search functions without making a commitment to Klevu’s pricing for its Shopify Site Search feature.
Best Klevu Alternatives in 2026
Explore the Best Klevu Alternatives
Klevu is not the only choice for online shops. Depending on the technical and budget needs, one can evaluate the following suggestions.
Expertrec
Expertrec is an AI-based solution that provides site search, semantic search, autocomplete, product filtering, merchandising, recommendations, and analytics. It may be an interesting choice for businesses that need search and product discovery.
Algolia
Algolia is a search-as-a-service provider that offers advanced search APIs, AI capabilities, personalization tools, and merchandising solutions. It can be used by websites that have developers and complicated search requests.
Searchspring
Searchspring is focused on ecommerce search, merchandising, and personalized shopping. It is another option worth considering for the Athos Commerce ecosystem.
Doofinder
Doofinder provides ecommerce search, autocomplete, recommendations, and merchandising functions. It can be compared to find another product search solution.
Choosing the Right Search Solution
The best solution will depend on such factors as the size of your product catalogue, the number of searches per month, integration needs, and the level of control over merchandising.
Search Volume
Integration
Merchandising Control
Is Klevu Worth It in 2026?
Klevu can indeed be an asset to e-commerce businesses that view product discovery as an important part of the selling strategy.
Klevu’s AI-based search, personalization, merchandising of categories, and analysis allow it to provide retailers with an extensive toolkit for managing large product catalogs.
However, the solution’s pricing is something to be considered. It may be hard for smaller retailers and companies with low search volumes to justify the investment, especially if they do not require all features of the solution.
Before opting for Klevu, you should answer the following questions:
- What is your store’s average monthly number of search requests?
- Do you require advanced merchandising features or basic search capabilities?
- Will the team be using personalization and analysis frequently?
- How much will it cost you to put it in place and maintain it?
- Will the platform be able to provide you with data proving that the service works?
If Klevu does not match your budget or it offers more than you really need, it may be a good idea to review some alternatives, such as Expertrec.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Klevu mainly used for?
Klevu enables enhancements in ecommerce product finding via AI-based site search, as well as auto-completion, recommendation engine, usage of categories and personalization features.
2. How much does Klevu cost in 2026?
According to its listing on the Shopify App Store, its pricing includes Site Search costing at $649/month, Category Merchandising at $549/month, and Recommendations at $449/month.
3. Does Klevu support Shopify?
Yes. Klevu provides its Shopify app with AI-based search and recommendation resources, as well as merchandising options for merchants.
4. Does Klevu support multilingual search?
Yes. Klevu has been developed to be used in different languages, so international ecommerce businesses can benefit from it.
5. Is Klevu suitable for small businesses?
It can be, though small businesses have to evaluate its price rates, limit in services used, and functionality needed.
6. What are the best alternatives to Klevu?
Alternatives like Expertrec, Algolia, Searchspring, and Doofinder should be considered. The appropriate option will depend on the requirements, budget, and the objectives set for Ecommerce.
7. Is Expertrec cheaper than Klevu?
Alternatives like Expertrec, Algolia, Searchspring, and Doofinder should be considered. The appropriate option will depend on the requirements, budget, and the objectives set for Ecommerce.
Final Verdict
Klevu is a business-friendly and helpful search and product discovery service that helps businesses to enhance the shopping experience with the help of AI, merchandising, and personalization.
One of Klevu’s main advantages is its combination of smart search, automated product discovery, and merchandising management solutions. This is very helpful for retailers who have large catalogs and complicated buying processes.
On the contrary, Klevu may not be suitable for all types of businesses. Its pricing, implementation processes, and necessity for advanced features should be taken into account when making a purchase.
If businesses would like to consider different options, they could look at Expertrec, which offers AI-based search, analytics, merchandising, and recommendations along with transparent pricing.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that the best e-commerce search service is not considered the one with more features, but the one which helps the users to find the desired items and provides the desired results for the business.
