Last updated on August 11th, 2026 at 10:03 am
As of late 2026 the official WordPress Plugin Directory now includes more than 69,000 free plugins. After years of building, fixing, migrating, and optimizing WordPress websites, I’ve tested more plugins than I can remember. This is my practical list of the ones I actually use and recommend to clients, agencies, and developers.
My best WordPress plugins article published on LinkedIn in 2023 is still performing well, so I expanded it with my latest recommendations. And each plugin listed here has earned its place by solving a real problem without adding unnecessary bloat.
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)
Enables custom field creation for posts/pages, offering greater control over content. I use ACF when a website needs reusable information that should be entered consistently instead of manually formatted on every page.
- best for: Custom WordPress development
- cost: Free with a paid version
- keep active? Yes, when the website depends on it
To learn more visit Advanced Custom Fields on wp.org.
Akismet Anti-Spam: Spam Protection
Checks comments and contact form submissions against a global database of spam to prevent your site from publishing malicious content. I use it on websites where comments or compatible forms attract significant spam, but I do not install it automatically when those features are not being used.
- best for: Spam prevention
- cost: Free for qualifying personal use with paid commercial plans
- keep active? Yes, the longer its active the more it learns
To learn more visit Akismet Anti-Spam on wp.org.
All-in-One WP Migration (AIOWPM)
Transfer your entire WordPress site with just a few clicks. I use this plugin strictly for quick incremental backups before I manipulate any files or plugin settings. For daily/automatic backups, however, they should be done server-side (within your hosting account) rather than rely on ANY plugin.
- best for: Website migrations
- cost: Free with paid extensions
- keep active? Temporarily
learn more: visit All-in-One WP Migration on wp.org.
Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster
Improve loading times by disabling unnecessary CSS and JavaScript files. One of my most favorite plugins for decreasing HTTP requests by preventing page-specific styles and scripts from loading.
- best for: Advanced performance cleanup
- cost: Free with a paid version
- keep active? Only when properly configured
learn more: visit Asset CleanUp on wp.org.
Better Search Replace
Easily update content in the database without SQL knowledge. I use the pro version because it shows exactly where queries are found before I choose to fix or replace any items such as links or even raw code within specific databases.
- best for: Database updates
- cost: Free with a paid version
- keep active? Temporarily
learn more: visit Better Search Replace on wp.org.
Broken Link Checker
Automatically scans and alerts you of broken links and missing images. It can consume server resources, so I normally use it for a specific cleanup project instead of leaving it active indefinitely.
- best for: Content audits
- cost: Free
- keep active? Temporarily
learn more: visit Broken Link Checker on wp.org.
Bulk WP
Removes posts, pages, attachments, users, meta and more using various filters and conditions. This free plugin has saved me so many hours, and clients so much money in maintenance costs. Bulk WP will be in my technical SEO toolkit moving forward.
To learn more visit Bulk Delete on wp.org.
Call Now Button
Places a big Call Now icon to the bottom of the mobile devices like cell phones and tablets. Because your mobile visitors probably have a phone in their hands this plugin will allow them to call you with one simple touch of the button.
- best for: Mobile lead generation
- cost: Free with paid options
- keep active? Yes, when calls matter
To learn more visit Call Now Button on wp.org.
Classic Editor
Restores the classic editing interface for WordPress. I still use it on established websites built around classic themes, shortcodes or workflows that do not benefit from converting to the block editor.
It’s also good for a little troubleshooting at times.
- best for: Traditional WordPress editing
- cost: Free
- keep active? Yes, when required
To learn more visit Classic Editor on wp.org.
CMS Tree Page View
Your whole site, laid out as one clear tree. Drag a page to move it, click to edit, and shape your structure in seconds.
To learn more visit CMS Tree Page View on wp.org.
Code Snippets
Add custom PHP code to your WordPress site without editing core files. I use it for small customizations that do not justify creating a separate plugin. A broken PHP snippet can still cause serious problems, so test the code and keep a backup.
- best for: Small custom WordPress functions
- cost: Free with a paid version
- keep active? Yes, when snippets are in use
To learn more visit Code Snippets on wp.org.
Column Shortcodes
Easily add multi-column layouts to your pages and posts. I use it on older websites that need simple responsive columns without replacing the existing editor or theme.
- best for: Classic Editor layouts
- cost: Free
- keep active? When required
To learn more visit Column Shortcodes on wp.org.
Duplicate Page
Clone pages or posts quickly and easily. I use it when building groups of pages that share the same structure, such as service or location pages. Always replace duplicated titles, URLs, metadata and content before publishing.
- best for: Faster page creation
- cost: Free
- keep active? Optional
To learn more visit Duplicate Page on wp.org.
Elementor
Drag-and-drop page builder for creating professional WordPress designs. I use it when working on a website already built with Elementor. I do not add a page builder unless the project genuinely needs one because it becomes part of the website’s long-term infrastructure.
- best for: Visual page building
- cost: Free with a paid version
- keep active? Yes, when the website depends on it
To learn more visit Elementor on wp.org.
Gravity Forms
Build professional contact forms, surveys, and more with advanced features. It is not the cheapest option, but it is dependable, flexible and well supported.
- best for: Professional lead-generation forms
- cost: Paid
- keep active? Yes
To learn more visit gravityforms.com.
MapGeo – Interactive Geo Maps
Add interactive and responsive maps to your WordPress site. I use it when location-based information needs to be more useful than a static image or basic embedded map.
- best for: Geographic and service-area content
- cost: Free with a paid version
- keep active? Yes, while active maps are published
To learn more visit Interactive Geo Maps on wp.org.
Popup Maker
Create custom popups for lead generation, promotions, or announcements. I use it selectively. A useful popup can increase conversions, but an aggressive one can annoy visitors and hurt the experience.
- best for: Offers and lead capture
- cost: Free with paid extensions
- keep active? When needed
To learn more visit Popup Maker on wp.org.
Redirection
Manage and create 301 redirects to fix broken links and improve SEO. I use it during redesigns, migrations and content consolidation projects where old URLs need to point somewhere useful.
Agencies also prefer it because of its simple UI/UX and support. But if you’re comfortable editing the .htaccess file, that’s your best bet.
- best for: Redirects and 404 monitoring
- cost: Free
- keep active? Yes, but monitor it weekly then plan for removal after ~6 months.
To learn more visit Redirection on wp.org.
Regenerate Thumbnails
Update image thumbnails to reflect new sizes or settings automatically. I normally use it during redesigns and migrations, then remove it when the job is finished.
- best for: Image-size corrections
- cost: Free
- keep active? Temporarily
To learn more visit Regenerate Thumbnails on wp.org.
Relevanssi – A Better Search
Improve WordPress search functionality for better results and user satisfaction. I use it on content-heavy websites where visitors need to search through many posts, pages or custom content types.
- best for: Internal website search
- cost: Free with a paid version
- keep active? Yes. The longer you use it, the more hyper-focused keyword data you’ll get, which is very valuable for SEO.
To learn more visit Relevanssi on wp.org.
Shortcoder
Create reusable custom shortcodes for advanced functionality. It is useful when the same content needs to appear across multiple pages and be managed from one place.
- best for: Reusable content
- cost: Free
- keep active? Yes, when shortcodes are in use
To learn more visit Shortcoder on wp.org.
Show Current Template
See which template is being used on a page for easy debugging. It is a simple troubleshooting tool that saves time when working with unfamiliar or complicated themes.
- best for: Theme troubleshooting
- cost: Free
- keep active? Temporarily
To learn more visit Show Current Template on wp.org.
Simple History
Track all site changes to monitor updates and edits. I usually install this first on client websites because it helps answer one of the most important troubleshooting questions: What changed before the problem started?
- best for: Change tracking and troubleshooting
- cost: Free
- keep active? Yes
To learn more visit Simple History on wp.org.
String Locator
Quickly find and edit text strings in your WordPress files, themes, and plugins. Ideal for customizing or debugging code efficiently with a simple search interface.
While auditing a local law firm site, I discovered this incredible tool and immediately paused my work to add this must-have plugin to the list.
WP Fastest Cache
A simple yet powerful plugin for caching WordPress pages. I use one caching solution at a time. Running multiple caching plugins together can create conflicts.
- best for: Basic website caching
- cost: Free with a paid version
- keep active? Yes, as an alternative to WP Rocket
To learn more visit WP Fastest Cache on wp.org.
WPFront Notification Bar
Display an eye-catching notification bar for special events or offers. It is useful for temporary notices, promotions, scheduling changes and other important updates.
- best for: Website announcements
- cost: Free
- keep active? When needed
To learn more visit WPFront Notification Bar on wp.org.
WP Rocket
The easiest way to make your WordPress website faster and boost your Google PageSpeed score. Get more traffic, better engagement, and higher conversions effortlessly.
This premium plugin should only be setup by an experienced developer due to its immense library of optimization features. If done incorrectly, it could deindex URLs from Google – I saw this happening during a quick audit a couple days ago.
- best for: Website speed optimization
- cost: Paid
- keep active? Yes
To learn more visit wp-rocket.me.
Yoast SEO
The ultimate SEO tool for keyword optimization, readability analysis, and site rankings. I use it because it gives clients a manageable interface without requiring them to understand technical SEO.
- best for: On-page and technical SEO
- cost: Free with a paid version
- keep active? Yes
To learn more visit Yoast SEO on wp.org.
Fewer Plugins Means Fewer Vulnerabilities
Every plugin you install adds more code to maintain and another potential source of conflicts and security issues. So install only what your website actually needs. Enable auto-updates if appropriate, and delete plugins that no longer serve a purpose.
Not sure which plugins should stay or go? Connect with me here and ask for a free website audit.
