I just started building a website using WordPress. It’s going to be a mix of a portfolio site and an online shop for my custom leather clothing and bags. Basically, I want it to handle both e-commerce and blogging.
I’m open to free or paid plugins, as long as they’re good and make sense for my needs. Any recommendations?
Start with a theme that fits your design needs. Astra is a good option and even comes with an AI-based website builder, which is free.
For e-commerce, I’d suggest avoiding WooCommerce if you want something simpler and cheaper. SureCart might be a better fit without all the extra paid add-ons.
Don’t forget a backup plugin. WPVivid is a solid free option for that. You should also look into a caching plugin, but it’s better to use a host with LiteSpeed servers so you can use the free LSCache plugin.
Hosting: Invest in a reliable host like Kinsta, Cloudways, or SiteGround. Good hosting gives you speed and security without needing tons of plugins.
Themes: Hybrid themes like Kadence or GeneratePress work great without overloading your site.
Plugins: Stick to the essentials. My go-to plugins are ClassicEditor, Forminator, WP Armour, and The SEO Framework.
E-commerce: SureCart is a good alternative to WooCommerce if you want less complexity.
For extra security, WordFence combined with Cloudflare works well. For caching, a fast host and optimized media (e.g., using WebP images) usually handle most issues. Always have an off-site backup too!
Can you share a bit more about what you’re looking for? If you want an e-commerce setup, WooCommerce is the standard choice. For SEO, Yoast SEO or Rank Math are great options. You might also want a contact form plugin like Gravity Forms. Let me know what other features you’re thinking about!
@Zeke
I’d like something for SEO, security, and making the site run smoothly without bugs or lag. Also, something for analytics and maybe a plugin for contact forms. Oh, and a mobile-friendly plugin would be great too!
@Rey
For SEO, I’d go with Yoast SEO (Premium) or try Rank Math if you want something new. WP Rocket is great for caching and speed, while Gravity Forms works well for contact forms. For analytics, I’d recommend manually adding the tracking scripts instead of a plugin to keep things light.
I’ve built a personal toolkit of essential WordPress plugins over time, swapping out free options for premium ones I got through lifetime deals. This setup works for both my projects and agency work.
Check out my list here for some ideas. It’s organized into categories to make things easy.
If you want something easier than WordPress, consider Squarespace or Webflow. They handle hosting and don’t require plugins. If you stick with WordPress, look for hosting with LiteSpeed servers for better performance.