I keep wondering how many plugins are too many for a WordPress site. I’ve seen people running over 45 plugins, while some stick to just 3 or 4. Does having too many plugins cause issues, or does it not matter if you have a good server? What’s the ideal number of plugins to aim for? Would love to hear your thoughts!
There’s no magic number where everything breaks, but the more plugins you have, the more you need to keep up with updates and maintenance. Updates might break things, and old plugins could create security risks.
Stick to reliable plugins and consider replacing some with code snippets when possible. I recently built a big site with about 25 plugins, and it’s working fine.
@West
Thanks, that’s helpful advice!
@West
Quick question: is it worth disabling plugins that aren’t in use? Like admin tools, for example?
Weston said:
@West
Quick question: is it worth disabling plugins that aren’t in use? Like admin tools, for example?
It can help a little. Not all issues go away, but some might. If you’re not using a plugin, it’s better to delete it entirely.
Having too many plugins often happens when multiple developers work on a site or when people add plugins as a quick fix without cleaning up later.
Here are some tips:
- Avoid duplicate functionality (e.g., two plugins for forms or caching).
- Delete inactive plugins instead of leaving them around.
- Check if WordPress can handle a task without a plugin, or if you can use a bit of custom code.
- Only add plugins that genuinely add value or save you a lot of time.
For most projects, I stick to around 10-12 plugins, including caching, forms, and image optimization. That’s usually enough for most needs.
@Ray
Appreciate the detailed tips, thanks so much!
A better way to look at this is to ask, ‘What’s the purpose of each plugin?’
If someone has 45 plugins, it’s often due to poor planning during development. Start by focusing on core features, like WooCommerce for e-commerce, and replace smaller plugins with custom theme development where possible.
@Bao
I’ll definitely start asking myself that before adding new plugins. Thanks!
Not all plugins are the same. A site with 20 well-made plugins can run great, while one with 5 poorly written ones might crawl. Where you can, use custom code instead of plugins for small tasks, like adding tracking codes or editing theme files. Always research plugins before installing them—look at the developer and user reviews.
@Renny
That’s a great point, not all plugins are made equal.
Performance depends more on the quality of plugins than the quantity. You could have 100 great plugins and no issues, or just 1 poorly written one that ruins everything. If you’re not technical, keep track of site performance after each new plugin install to spot any problems.
@Kip
Thanks for the advice, I’ll keep that in mind!
@Kip
What’s the best way to check site performance?
Dane said:
@Kip
What’s the best way to check site performance?
New Relic is great for server-side performance. They have a free plan to get started. For frontend performance, try running a test on https://web.dev/measure/ to see where you can improve.
Any unused plugin is too many. Avoid having multiple plugins that do the same thing. If you need a plugin, that’s fine, but always think about performance, updates, and security before installing.
Arden said:
Any unused plugin is too many. Avoid having multiple plugins that do the same thing. If you need a plugin, that’s fine, but always think about performance, updates, and security before installing.
I’ve seen sites using both Smush and WP Optimize when one would’ve been enough.
@Shan
I’ve come across sites with 4-5 optimization plugins. It’s counterproductive at that point.
Plugins are tools to solve specific problems. If you have too many, you’re likely trying to fix things that could be handled differently, like with custom code. Keep it simple whenever possible.
Mal said:
Plugins are tools to solve specific problems. If you have too many, you’re likely trying to fix things that could be handled differently, like with custom code. Keep it simple whenever possible.
Totally agree, thanks!