What is a WordPress plugin? WordPress plugins act as extensions that add specific features or functionality to a WordPress website, enhancing its capabilities and customisation options.
Stuck choosing the right WordPress plugins for your new website? Don’t waste time searching endlessly! We’ve curated a list of the top essential plugins to get you started, saving you hours of research.
These plugins are carefully chosen for beginners and prioritise ease of use, security, and value. While most plugins on this list are completely free, some offer additional features through a freemium model (meaning a paid upgrade).
Best For SEO
Let’s be honest, getting your website found is crucial these days. Without strong SEO, your brilliant content might be hidden from the very people who need it most. That’s where these recommended SEO plugins come in, helping you unlock your website’s full potential.
Top Of The Pops
- Yoast: (Top Pick) This free plugin is our favourite, offering simple yet powerful tools to optimise your website for search engines. Upgrade to the premium version for advanced features like keyword research and internal linking suggestions.
- Rank Math: Another popular choice, Rank Math boasts a user-friendly interface and features like schema markup and keyword rank tracking. Again, a premium version unlocks even more tools including a neat Google Search Console integration to further boost your SEO game.
- All in One SEO: This versatile plugin is another highly popular choice, covering everything from title tags and meta descriptions to sitemaps and social media integration. Like the others, it has a free plan with premium options for additional bells and whistles.
Remember, while these plugins are fantastic helpers, creating high-quality content remains key. Focus on providing value to your audience, and the search engines will naturally take notice.
Bonus tip: Don’t forget about local SEO! If your business serves a specific area, optimise your website for local searches using tools like Google My Business and Bing Places For Business.
Best Contact Forms
Making it easy for website visitors to connect with you is essential. After all, without a simple way to get in touch, valuable leads and potential customers could slip through your fingers. But don’t worry, the world of contact forms is vast and varied, offering options to suit every need.
Top Of The Pops
- Gravity Forms: (Top Pick) Gravity Forms stands out for its robust features and flexibility. While it’s premium only, it packs a punch with conditional logic, multi-page forms, and advanced integrations. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife of contact forms.
- Contact Form 7: A classic and popular choice, Contact Form 7 is free and easy to use. It’s perfect for basic form needs but lacks some of the bells and whistles of its paid counterparts. If simplicity is your jam, this veteran plugin could be your match.
- Ninja Forms: Offering both free and paid versions, Ninja Forms strikes a balance between ease of use and advanced features. Its drag-and-drop interface makes form building a breeze, while paid plans unlock conditional logic, payment integrations, and more.
Free vs. Paid? Choose Your Weapon:
The best choice for you depends on your needs and budget. Consider how complex your forms need to be, what features are essential, and how comfortable you are with a paid plugin.
Best For Newsletters
Maintaining communication with your customers and visitors is a cornerstone of any successful marketing strategy. Newsletters help you nurture leads, foster loyalty, and keep your brand top-of-mind. But choosing the right platform can be tricky.
Top Of The Pops
- Mailchimp for WordPress (Top Pick): Streamline your workflow with this seamless integration plugin. Connect your existing Mailchimp account and sync your subscriber lists to email campaigns directly within your WordPress dashboard. Ideal for those already invested in the Mailchimp ecosystem.
- MailerLite: Known for its user-friendly interface and free plan, MailerLite makes email marketing accessible to everyone. While the plugin acts as a bridge to their service, MailerLite offers robust features like automation and landing pages. Perfect for budget-conscious beginners.
- MailPoet: Want all-in-one convenience? MailPoet integrates directly into your WordPress site, allowing you to manage subscribers, design emails, and send campaigns without ever leaving your dashboard. Great for those who prefer a self-hosted solution with added control.
Choose Your Champion:
The best plugin for you depends on your existing tools, budget, and desired level of control. There are other great integrations if the above do not suit your needs.
Best For E-Commerce
Ready to launch your online store? You’ve got two major players in the game: WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads. While both are powerful options, the best choice depends on your product type.
WooCommerce (Top Pick):
- Selling Spree: WooCommerce is an eCommerce powerhouse, handling both physical and digital products. It boasts hundreds of extensions and payment gateways, making it a flexible and adaptable choice.
- Extensions: Need niche functionality? WooCommerce has a vast library of extensions. From product add-ons to subscriptions, there’s likely something for everything.
- Scale with Ease: Starting small and dreaming big? WooCommerce can grow with your business, readily scaling to accommodate higher volumes and diverse product offerings.
Easy Digital Downloads
- Digital Delights: Designed specifically for digital products like ebooks, music, and software, Easy Digital Downloads simplifies your setup and streamlines the customer experience.
- Focus on the Core: Its focus on digital goods means it offers features specifically tailored to this niche, like content protection and recurring subscriptions.
- Simplicity Shines: If you’re selling exclusively digital products and value a user-friendly interface, Easy Digital Downloads could be your perfect match.
The Best Choice?
Ultimately, the best platform depends on your specific needs. If you’re selling physical and/or digital products and want maximum flexibility, WooCommerce might be the way to go. But if digital downloads are your sole focus and you value simplicity, Easy Digital Downloads could be your champion.
Learn More
Best Page Builders
Crafting visually appealing and user-friendly websites doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Page builders, like Gutenberg, Elementor, and Bricks, transform your WordPress site into a canvas where you can unleash your creativity.
Top Of The Pops
- GenerateBlocks: (Top Pick) GenerateBlocks stands out as the ideal option for those seeking a seamless extension to WordPress’ native Gutenberg block builder. It seamlessly enhances the block builder, adding advanced features like dynamic content, colour, spacing, and layout control without the need to write any code.
- Gutenberg: WordPress’ native Gutenberg block builder is our preferred option along with GenerateBlocks due to its lightweight nature, ensuring your website remains fast and responsive. It has a growing collection of blocks, making it easy to create visually engaging pages and layouts. This is already part of the WordPress core so there is nothing to install.
- Elementor: If you prefer a drag-and-drop interface, Elementor is the undisputed king of WordPress page builders. Its intuitive interface and vast array of pre-built layouts make it a powerful tool for creating stunning websites with minimal coding expertise.
- Bricks: Looking for a more hands-on approach to page building? Bricks, a newcomer to the scene, offers a pared-down experience with a focus on simplicity, flexibility and speed. It’s a great choice for those who prefer to get their hands dirty and have more control over their page designs.
Choosing Your Perfect Match
The best page builder for you depends on your preferences, skills, and project requirements. If you want a lightweight and intuitive option, Gutenberg + GenerateBlocks is a solid choice. If you prefer an easy drag-and-drop interface, Elementor is your go-to. And if you’re looking for a more hands-on experience, without the bloat, Bricks could be your match.
Remember: Experiment with each builder, explore their features, and consider your website’s speed and performance when working with these tools.
Final Words
These essential plugins are just the launchpad. As you explore, thousands more options await, ready to unlock your website’s full potential. Dive in, customise, and create – the boundless world of WordPress is yours to explore.
If you need help with any of the above plugins or others please get in touch.