WordPress plugins for beginners… which ones are really useful?

Review
1

If you’re starting out with WordPress, you might be thinking about which plugins to install first. Plugins are tools that can add extra features to your site and make things easier. Here are five plugins many beginners find helpful:

  1. Jetpack
  2. Yoast SEO
  3. Contact Form 7
  4. WPForms
  5. W3 Total Cache

These plugins can help with site functionality, search optimization, and improving performance. They’re a good starting point, but remember to only install what you need.

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Why do we need two plugins for forms? Isn’t one enough?

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Toni said:
Why do we need two plugins for forms? Isn’t one enough?

That’s exactly the issue with auto-generated lists like this. You have to double-check everything.

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Toni said:
Why do we need two plugins for forms? Isn’t one enough?

Out of curiosity, which one do you think is better?

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Keegan said:

Toni said:
Why do we need two plugins for forms? Isn’t one enough?

Out of curiosity, which one do you think is better?

I usually stick to Elementor’s built-in forms. It’s basic but does the job without adding extra plugins.

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This seems incomplete… do we really need all of these?

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Payne said:
This seems incomplete… do we really need all of these?

Curious about your thoughts on these:

  1. SEO plugins like SEO Framework versus Rank Math. Do you have a preference?
  2. For forms, do you lean towards Ninja Forms or Gravity Forms? Why?
  3. What’s your take on Wordfence versus other options like Ninja Firewall? Some say Ninja Firewall offers server-level protection, which seems handy.

Would love to hear your input!

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@Jesse
I prefer SEO Framework for its simplicity—it’s lightweight and doesn’t come with unnecessary features. For forms, I use Ninja for quick setups and Gravity for more complex needs. As for Wordfence, I use it along with Cloudflare for added security and alerts.

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I’d replace Yoast with Rank Math or All In One SEO. Yoast feels a bit heavy for most sites.

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Gale said:
I’d replace Yoast with Rank Math or All In One SEO. Yoast feels a bit heavy for most sites.

Rank Math is my go-to. It offers more features than Yoast, especially in the free version.

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@Denim
Totally agree. Plus, you can add multiple focus keywords with Rank Math for free, unlike Yoast.

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Thanks for sharing this. It’s a decent list for beginners.

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I’d skip Jetpack and use Contact Form 7 instead of WPForms. Also, Wordfence is worth considering for security.

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Why are posts like this allowed here?

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If you’re just starting, I’d recommend learning WordPress first before installing plugins. Less is more.

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Jetpack feels unnecessary unless you really need a specific feature. For SEO, I’d recommend Rank Math over Yoast. For forms, Gravity Forms is solid if you’re willing to pay.

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Here’s my personal list for beginners:

  1. GenerateBlocks for page design
  2. LiteSpeed Cache for optimization (if supported by your host)
  3. SEO Framework for SEO
  4. Contact Form 7 for forms
  5. Wordfence for security

These are lightweight and get the job done without overwhelming new users.