What are the plugins you can’t live without for a new WordPress site?

Review
1

Hi everyone,

I’m setting up my first blog and could use some advice. What plugins do you consider must-haves for any blog, no matter the niche? I’m especially interested in plugins for functionality, security, SEO, and user experience. Any tips or recommendations would be great.

Thanks!

2

It depends on where you’re hosting your site. If it’s self-hosted (LEMP), I handle most speed, security, and backups on the server side. If it’s with WPEngine, they handle a lot of it for me.

Regardless, these are always on my list:

  • Site Builder: GeneratePress Premium + GenerateBlocks
  • Forms: Forminator
  • Custom Post Types: Pods
  • SEO: The SEO Framework
  • For nostalgia: Simple Editor

For shared hosting, I’d add:

  • Backups: Duplicator
  • Caching: Autoptimize + Async JavaScript
  • Firewall: NinjaFirewall
  • Email: PostSMTP
3

Here’s a solid list of plugins to start with:

  • SEO: Yoast SEO or Rank Math
  • Security: Wordfence or Sucuri
  • Caching: WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache
  • Backups: UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy
  • Page Building: Elementor or Beaver Builder
  • Forms: Contact Form 7 or WPForms
  • Image Optimization: Smush
  • Email Marketing: Mailchimp for WordPress

These cover the basics for most sites. Just avoid adding too many plugins as it can slow things down.

4

@Joey
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll check these out.

5

Instead of just listing plugins, maybe we should ask which ones are coded well and efficient?

6

Here’s my setup for any business site:

  • Building: OceanWP/Astra/Neve + Elementor Pro/Visual Composer
  • Management: MainWP
  • Backup: WP All-in-One Migration or BlogVault
  • Security: Virusdie or MalCare
  • Speed: SiteGround Optimizer (if on SG) or WP-Optimize, EWWW, or ShortPixel
  • SEO: SEOPress or Squirrly SEO
  • Forms: WP Fluent Forms
  • Analytics: Clicky or HockeyStack
7

@Emerson
Thanks for this! I’ll definitely try out some of these.

8

You should look into multi-factor authentication (MFA). Here’s a plugin I’ve used: Two-Factor Authentication. Would love to know what others are using for security!

9

Here’s my go-to list:

  • WPOptimize for caching and compression
  • Yoast SEO for search engine optimization
  • WebP Express for converting images
  • ACF for custom fields

Always have backups, either via your hosting or a plugin.

10

I always add these:

  • Security: Wordfence or Defender
  • Caching: Hummingbird or WP Super Cache
  • Image Optimization: Smush
  • SEO: Yoast
  • Backups: UpdraftPlus
11

Jin said:
I always add these:

  • Security: Wordfence or Defender
  • Caching: Hummingbird or WP Super Cache
  • Image Optimization: Smush
  • SEO: Yoast
  • Backups: UpdraftPlus

Lol, isn’t that cheetah plugin actually called ‘Fastest Cache’?

12

Jin said:
I always add these:

  • Security: Wordfence or Defender
  • Caching: Hummingbird or WP Super Cache
  • Image Optimization: Smush
  • SEO: Yoast
  • Backups: UpdraftPlus

Why use Smush? Have you tried ShortPixel or Imagify?

13

@Kai
No real reason, just what I’m used to.

14

Jin said:
@Kai
No real reason, just what I’m used to.

You should compare them—they might surprise you with better results.

15

This article might help you choose the best security plugin: WooCommerce Security Plugins.