When working with WordPress there will be times when you will need to install a plugin or two. There are a lot of plugins out there that is why I have compiled a list of the best WordPress plugins guide to help you get started.
There are over 59,000 WordPress plugins to choose from. This is an overwhelming number of plugins. Which is why i have this list to make it easier to start your own blog or website.
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I have installed, tested, and used a lot of different plugins. These plugins are plugins I have installed whenever I a start a blog or start a new website for myself or clients.
I do not recommend you install all of these plugins as it will slow your website down. I do recommend that you install the ones you need and test them to make sure they work well on your website.
Best WordPress Plugins for getting started
Contact Form 7
Yoast SEO
WooCommerce
Even more popular than Shopify, WooCommerce is the most widely used WordPress eCommerce plugin as well as the easiest way to create an online store.
Being a full-service eCommerce plugin, it takes care of all the requirements for maintaining a store, including receiving payments and managing merchandise.
You can always extend the core plugin with thousands of free and premium WooCommerce plugins if you can’t find a built-in feature for what you want to achieve.
Price: Free
Insert Headers and Footers
I put Insert Headers and Footers plugin on my getting started list because I install it on all my websites. It allow you to add code snippets to your header and footer sections on your website.
How to upload and install a WordPress Plugin
- Select Plugins from the WordPress Menu.
2. Click on “Add New” from the Plugins page.
3. Click on “Upload Plugin”.
4. Click on “Choose File”. Select the Plugin zip file you want to install. When selected click “Install Now” to start the install.
5. Click “Activate”. Once the plugin is activated you begin to configure and customize the plugin.
How to search and install a WordPress Plugin
- Select Plugins from the WordPress Menu.
2. Click on “Add New” from the Plugins page.
3. Enter your search.
4. Once you have located the plugin you want to install, click “Install Now”.
5. Click “Activate” to begin the install process.
6. Confirm your plugin has been activated.
Repeat the process above for any of the plugins found below.
Best WordPress Plugins for SEO
SEO helps your blog or website get more visitor from search engines. By using SEO best practices a SEO plugin can increase your traffic.
A SEO plugin will write the markup you need to let search engines know who you and what you do.
The markup you need is page or post title, meta description, keywords, sitemaps, social media for sharing.
Yoast SEO
All In One SEO
All in One SEO is a another popular SEO plugins. This plugin offers a free and paid version.
Best WordPress Plugins for Page Building
Elementor Pro
Beaver Builder
Best WordPress Plugins for eCommerce
BigCommerce for WordPress
WooCommerce
Easy Digital Downloads
Barn2
Best WordPress Plugins for Speed Optimization
WP Rocket
W3 Total Cache
Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster
WP Super Cache
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
Best WordPress Plugins for Look and Feel
Pretty Links
Pretty Links is a link management plugin. It converts long URLs to short URLs using your domain. It puts all you links in an easy to manage list and is linked right on the menu on your dashboard.
It is prefect for podcasters, business owners, affiliate marketers and anyone you wants to easiliy create shorts URLs for your WordPress website.
An alternative link cmanagement plugin is ThirstyAffiliates and is used by many affiliate marketers.
Classic Editor
Yoast Duplicate Post
Easy Table of Contents
Extended Widget Options
GDPR Cookie Consent
Mammoth .docx Converter
Shortcodes Ultimate
WP Last Modified Info
CSS Hero
Insert Headers and Footers
Insert Headers and Footers plugin is great when you need to add a piece of code to your website. You add your Google Analytics code, verifications, advertising scripts, etc.
What is great about Insert Headers and Footers is that it allows to add such scripts or code snippets without having to edit your theme itself, it does the work for you.
Best part about Insert Header and Footer is that its free to download, install, and use on your website.
Best WordPress Plugins for Form Building
WPForms
Best WordPress Plugins for Email Marketing
Email marketing is the most effective marketing tool at your disposal by helping business owners keep in touch with there customers even when they leave your website. If you would like to learn more about some of the alternatives check out my article on the best email marketing services.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact is one of the most popular email marketing service providers in the world.
This plugin offers quick and easy setup perfect for the non-techy users. It also has OptinMonster and WPForms integrations built-in.
MailChimp
ConvertKit
Best WordPress Plugins for Membership
memberpress
Best WordPress Plugins for Business
OptinMonster
WeDevs
WP Call Button
Best WordPress Plugins for Customer Service
Tidio
Tawk.to
Best WordPress Plugins for Courses
LearnDash
Best WordPress Plugins for Security
Akismet
WP WordFence
Best WordPress Plugins for Back-Up
UPDraft Plus
I hope you enjoyed learning about the best WordPress plugins and I hope you have your blog or website looking it’s best. This list not a complete list because I am trying to find the next best plugin for my blog when I do I will list it above. If theres a plugin that you think is missing from this list drop me a line and let me know.