Here’s my usual list of plugins when I start a new WordPress site. Would love to know what you think. Are there any plugins I’m missing or using unnecessarily? Drop your suggestions below.
I think Really Simple SSL isn’t needed anymore unless your hosting setup requires it. Most modern setups handle SSL automatically.
Nuri said:
I think Really Simple SSL isn’t needed anymore unless your hosting setup requires it. Most modern setups handle SSL automatically.
Totally agree. If your hosting supports HTTPS, there’s no need for extra plugins.
Nuri said:
I think Really Simple SSL isn’t needed anymore unless your hosting setup requires it. Most modern setups handle SSL automatically.
Exactly, just enable HTTPS on your host and WordPress does the rest.
@Nuri
It works well most of the time, but sometimes you’ll find leftover http links in the database. I’ve used Better Search Replace to fix this in the past.
ACF Pro and Search & Filter Pro are great for customizing sites. I might stop using ACF once WordPress native Fields API is more complete though.
Hadi said:
ACF Pro and Search & Filter Pro are great for customizing sites. I might stop using ACF once WordPress native Fields API is more complete though.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll definitely check out AdvancedForms. I was also considering Tally.so, but their pricing is a bit much for me.
Hadi said:
ACF Pro and Search & Filter Pro are great for customizing sites. I might stop using ACF once WordPress native Fields API is more complete though.
AdvancedForms is worth trying if you’re already using ACF. It’s lightweight and powerful.
Have you tried NinjaFirewall? I prefer it over Wordfence for better and quicker updates.
Taylor said:
Have you tried NinjaFirewall? I prefer it over Wordfence for better and quicker updates.
Noted. I’ll give it a look. Thanks for the suggestion.
For my clients, I usually install Rank Math Pro, WP Rocket, and Imagify for optimization, plus Wordfence for security. Backup is handled by JetBackup.
Kai said:
For my clients, I usually install Rank Math Pro, WP Rocket, and Imagify for optimization, plus Wordfence for security. Backup is handled by JetBackup.
Solid picks. How’s your experience with Divi? I found it a bit messy the last time I used it.
@Hunter
Divi has its quirks, but once you learn its flow, it’s pretty straightforward. Clients like it because it’s user-friendly for small updates.
I keep my setup super light—just Classic Editor, Yoast SEO, and WooCommerce if needed. I prefer coding custom solutions for anything extra.
Kingsley said:
I keep my setup super light—just Classic Editor, Yoast SEO, and WooCommerce if needed. I prefer coding custom solutions for anything extra.
That makes sense for someone with coding skills. For non-coders, plugins are a lifesaver though.
I avoided Rank Math for a long time, but now that I’ve switched, I love it. Makes SEO so much easier.
Aubrey said:
I avoided Rank Math for a long time, but now that I’ve switched, I love it. Makes SEO so much easier.
Same here. I used to prefer SEO Framework, but Rank Math has all the features I need in one plugin.
Why use Really Simple SSL? If your host supports HTTPS, you don’t need it anymore. It doesn’t add extra security.
Winslow said:
Why use Really Simple SSL? If your host supports HTTPS, you don’t need it anymore. It doesn’t add extra security.
Good point. I’ve been questioning its necessity in 2023, but some devs still swear by it.
It’s wild that WordPress still doesn’t have a folder system for media by default. Plugins like FileBird are helpful, but it feels like such a basic feature to miss.