WordPress is a flexible content management system that makes it easy for almost anyone to build a professional-looking website or blog and start publishing. It is SEO-friendly from the start, and businesses of every size use it successfully.
One of the best things about WordPress is its plugins. Plugins are add-ons you can install to improve your site. Some change the appearance of your site, some make managing your blog easier, and others speed it up or give you more control over SEO and security.
The right plugins make your life easier as a site owner and improve your site in many ways, and some are practically required if you want to optimize your blog. Plugin choices change over time, so we have updated this list to include the ones we would recommend today. Check each plugin’s current version, reviews and compatibility with your WordPress version before you install it.
Yoast SEO helps every post rank better
Yoast SEO (originally called WordPress SEO by Yoast) is a one-stop shop for search optimization. It lets you control the page title and meta description that show up in search results, generates your XML sitemap, adds structured data and gives you readability and content guidance for each post. Other good SEO plugins exist, but Yoast remains one of the most widely used on WordPress sites.
W3 Total Cache speeds up your pages
W3 Total Cache can speed up your website using caching. Certain images and other elements do not need to be loaded from scratch each time a visitor lands on your page. Faster pages help keep impatient visitors from leaving, and speed is part of the page experience Google looks at. Many hosts also provide server-level caching, so check what yours offers before you add another layer.
YARPP keeps readers on your site with related posts
Yet Another Related Posts Plugin (YARPP) places related posts at the bottom of each article, giving readers an easy way to find more of your content. This is a good way to keep people on your site longer. It replaces NRelate and Zemanta, which are no longer available.
Akismet blocks comment spam
One downside of WordPress is that it can attract spam comments, which can turn moderation into a constant chore. Akismet is a reliable plugin for filtering spam out of your comments and forms, and it makes life much easier for bloggers and site owners.
Smush compresses your images
Smush (originally WP Smush.it) reduces the file size of the images you upload by compressing them without noticeably changing how they look. Smaller files load faster and speed up your site. Other image optimization plugins can also convert images to modern formats such as WebP.
UpdraftPlus backs up your site on a schedule
Regular backups are essential for every site owner, a kind of house insurance for websites. UpdraftPlus lets you schedule automatic backups, store them in the cloud and restore your site quickly if something goes wrong. It replaces BackUpWordPress, which we listed in the original version of this article.
Shareaholic makes sharing easy
If you want word about your site to spread, make it fast and easy for visitors to share your content. Shareaholic adds social sharing buttons to your posts. Choose a lightweight option and show only the networks your audience actually uses.
Site Kit by Google brings analytics and Search Console into WordPress
Site Kit by Google is the official plugin that connects your site to Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Search Console and other Google tools. Instead of adding tracking code to your pages by hand, you can see how your site is performing right from your WordPress dashboard. It replaces the older Google Analytics plugin that worked with Universal Analytics, which Google has retired.
Solid Security hardens your login and site
Solid Security, formerly iThemes Security and before that Better WP Security, offers many ways to improve the security of your blog, including login protection, two-factor authentication and file change monitoring. Security is an important consideration for any business.
WP-Optimize keeps your database clean
WP-Optimize removes old post revisions, spam comments and other clutter from your database and can also compress images and cache pages. A tidy database helps keep your site fast and avoids errors.
Redirection prevents broken links
When you change a URL or delete a page, visitors and search engines who follow the old link land on an error page. Redirection helps you set up 301 redirects and tracks 404 errors so you can fix them. That protects your traffic and your SEO.
Contact Form 7 gives visitors a way to reach you
Contact Form 7 is a free, widely used plugin for building contact forms. You can customize fields and messages, and it works with spam protection tools. Other form plugins, such as WPForms and Gravity Forms, are also popular choices.
WP Mail SMTP makes sure your emails arrive
By default, WordPress sends email in a way that spam filters often reject, so form notifications and password resets can disappear. WP Mail SMTP sends your site’s email through a proper email provider so that your messages are delivered.
Disqus is an optional upgrade for your comments
Disqus replaces the default WordPress comment system with a hosted one that makes it easy for users to post and for you to manage conversations. It is optional, because WordPress comments paired with Akismet work well for most sites, and a third-party comment system can add to page load time.
Too many plugins can slow your site and cause conflicts
These are all useful plugins, and most sites can benefit from a number of them. But you can have too much of a good thing. Having too many plugins can slow down your site, cause errors when plugins conflict with one another, create security risks when they are not kept up to date and take up server space. Find your minimum effective dose: install only what you need, keep every plugin updated and delete any you no longer use. Fourteen is a lot, so choose the ones that fit your site. This list is a good place to start.
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