diff --git a/deno.lock b/deno.lock
index d3a39963..56823776 100644
--- a/deno.lock
+++ b/deno.lock
@@ -1524,7 +1524,7 @@
         "npm:svelte@^5.55.5",
         "npm:tailwindcss@^4.1.13",
         "npm:typescript@^6.0.3",
-        "npm:vite@^8.0.10",
+        "npm:vite@^8.0.11",
         "npm:yaml@^2.8.4"
       ]
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/client/ui/filter/SmartFilterBar.svelte b/src/lib/client/ui/filter/SmartFilterBar.svelte
index e511c9f0..04fb2270 100644
--- a/src/lib/client/ui/filter/SmartFilterBar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/client/ui/filter/SmartFilterBar.svelte
@@ -46,7 +46,12 @@
 			const stored = localStorage.getItem(storageKey);
 			if (stored) {
 				const parsed: SerializedFilterTag[] = JSON.parse(stored);
-				return parsed.map((t) => ({ ...t, id: uuid() }));
+				return parsed.map((t) => ({
+					id: uuid(),
+					field: t.field,
+					value: t.value,
+					negated: t.negated
+				}));
 			}
 		} catch {}
 		return [];
@@ -211,20 +216,10 @@
 		onchange?.(newTags);
 	}
 
-	function addTag(field: string, value: string, exact?: boolean) {
+	function addTag(field: string, value: string) {
 		const trimmed = value.trim();
 		if (!trimmed) return;
-		let resolvedExact = exact;
-		if (resolvedExact === undefined) {
-			const fieldDef = fieldMap.get(field);
-			const fieldSuggestions = fieldDef?.suggestions?.(items) ?? [];
-			const trimmedLower = trimmed.toLowerCase();
-			resolvedExact = fieldSuggestions.some((s) => s.toLowerCase() === trimmedLower);
-		}
-		updateTags([
-			...tags,
-			{ id: uuid(), field, value: trimmed, negated: false, exact: resolvedExact }
-		]);
+		updateTags([...tags, { id: uuid(), field, value: trimmed, negated: false }]);
 		inputValue = '';
 		valueInputValue = '';
 		activeFieldDef = null;
@@ -293,7 +288,7 @@
 				const field = fieldMap.get(selected.value);
 				if (field) selectField(field);
 			} else {
-				// No field match — create tag with default field
+				// No field match: create tag with default field
 				const trimmed = inputValue.trim();
 				if (trimmed && defaultField) {
 					addTag(defaultField.key, trimmed);
@@ -301,7 +296,7 @@
 			}
 		} else if (phase === 'value' && activeFieldDef) {
 			if (highlightedIndex >= 0 && highlightedIndex < suggestions.length) {
-				addTag(activeFieldDef.key, suggestions[highlightedIndex].value, true);
+				addTag(activeFieldDef.key, suggestions[highlightedIndex].value);
 			} else if (valueInputValue.trim()) {
 				addTag(activeFieldDef.key, valueInputValue);
 			}
@@ -314,7 +309,7 @@
 			const field = fieldMap.get(selected.value);
 			if (field) selectField(field);
 		} else if (phase === 'value' && activeFieldDef) {
-			addTag(activeFieldDef.key, suggestions[index].value, true);
+			addTag(activeFieldDef.key, suggestions[index].value);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/lib/client/ui/filter/match.ts b/src/lib/client/ui/filter/match.ts
index c3297cf6..81db79f6 100644
--- a/src/lib/client/ui/filter/match.ts
+++ b/src/lib/client/ui/filter/match.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ function matchesNumberCondition(actual: number, condition: NumberCondition): boo
 	}
 }
 
+function stringValues(rawValue: string | number | string[] | null): string[] {
+	if (rawValue == null) return [];
+	if (Array.isArray(rawValue)) return rawValue;
+	return [String(rawValue)];
+}
+
 export function applySmartFilters<T>(
 	items: T[],
 	tags: FilterTag[],
@@ -64,35 +70,41 @@ export function applySmartFilters<T>(
 
 	const fieldMap = new Map(fields.map((f) => [f.key, f]));
 
-	return items.filter((item) => {
-		return tags.every((tag) => {
-			const field = fieldMap.get(tag.field);
-			if (!field) return true;
+	const matchedItems = items
+		.map((item, index) => {
+			let exactRank = 0;
+			const matchesAllTags = tags.every((tag) => {
+				const field = fieldMap.get(tag.field);
+				if (!field) return true;
 
-			const rawValue = field.accessor(item);
+				const rawValue = field.accessor(item);
 
-			let matches: boolean;
+				let matches: boolean;
 
-			if (field.type === 'number') {
-				const condition = parseNumberCondition(tag.value);
-				if (!condition || rawValue == null) return !tag.negated;
-				matches = matchesNumberCondition(Number(rawValue), condition);
-			} else {
-				const tagLower = tag.value.toLowerCase();
-				if (rawValue == null) {
-					matches = false;
-				} else if (tag.exact) {
-					matches = Array.isArray(rawValue)
-						? rawValue.some((v) => v.toLowerCase() === tagLower)
-						: String(rawValue).toLowerCase() === tagLower;
-				} else if (Array.isArray(rawValue)) {
-					matches = rawValue.some((v) => v.toLowerCase().includes(tagLower));
+				if (field.type === 'number') {
+					const condition = parseNumberCondition(tag.value);
+					if (!condition || rawValue == null) return !tag.negated;
+					matches = matchesNumberCondition(Number(rawValue), condition);
 				} else {
-					matches = String(rawValue).toLowerCase().includes(tagLower);
-				}
-			}
+					const tagLower = tag.value.toLowerCase();
+					const values = stringValues(rawValue);
+					const hasExactMatch = values.some((v) => v.toLowerCase() === tagLower);
 
-			return tag.negated ? !matches : matches;
-		});
-	});
+					matches = values.some((v) => v.toLowerCase().includes(tagLower));
+
+					if (matches && !tag.negated && hasExactMatch) {
+						exactRank += 1;
+					}
+				}
+
+				return tag.negated ? !matches : matches;
+			});
+
+			return matchesAllTags ? { item, index, exactRank } : null;
+		})
+		.filter((result): result is { item: T; index: number; exactRank: number } => result !== null);
+
+	return matchedItems
+		.sort((a, b) => b.exactRank - a.exactRank || a.index - b.index)
+		.map((result) => result.item);
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/client/ui/filter/types.ts b/src/lib/client/ui/filter/types.ts
index 9c8877c3..1efcc9a3 100644
--- a/src/lib/client/ui/filter/types.ts
+++ b/src/lib/client/ui/filter/types.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ export interface FilterTag {
 	field: string;
 	value: string;
 	negated: boolean;
-	exact?: boolean;
 }
 
 export type SerializedFilterTag = Omit<FilterTag, 'id'>;