What Are the Best Free WordPress Plugins for Beginners? (Web Designer Approved)
One of the best parts of using WordPress? You can add nearly any feature you want with a plugin.
Want a contact form? There’s a plugin for that.
Need better security? Yep, a plugin for that, too.
But not all plugins are created equal. Some are poorly coded or no longer supported, which can slow down your site or create security issues.
Always check reviews (and tried-and-tested top 10 lists like this one!), make sure the plugins are compatible with your version of WordPress, and verify that they’re actively maintained by the developers.
Now let’s walk through the free plugins I actually use—for my own sites and for clients.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my full affiliate disclosure for further information.
TL;DR Summary
Free WordPress Plugins
- Security & Backups: Use Wordfence for protection and UpdraftPlus for automated backups
- Essential Tools: Install Really Simple SSL to secure your site and CookieYes for GDPR compliance
- Speed Optimization: Autoptimize boosts load times; Google Site Kit integrates key Google tools
- SEO & Forms: SEOPress helps with on-page SEO; WS Form builds high-quality contact forms
- Link Tracking & Spam Protection: Pretty Links for cleaner URLs, Antispam Bee to block spam comments
Start Your WordPress Journey Right
If you’re building your first WordPress website and want to learn about everything from choosing a web host to launching your site, I recommend the WordPress Start-Up Kit Course from WP Wonder Lab. This course features an excellent module on managing plugins, and you’ll even get to see how to set them up behind the scenes so you can do the same on your own site.
Whether you’re using page builders like Elementor, Divi, or Thrive Architect to build your website or you’re using the default WordPress editor, this course will help you build your site with confidence.
Now, let’s look at my top 10 free plugin recommendations that I use regularly on my site and clients’ sites:
🔐 Security & Backups
When it comes to protecting your WordPress site, these are two plugins that almost any site can benefit from:
Wordfence
Wordfence helps protect your site from hackers and malicious attacks with features like:
- A robust firewall
- Malware scanning
- Login security
- Real-time threat defense updates
UpdraftPlus
Backups aren’t exciting… until you need them. UpdraftPlus makes it easy to:
- Schedule automatic backups
- Store backups safely in the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
- Restore your site quickly if something goes wrong
- Back up your entire site or just specific parts
🛠️ Essential Tools
These plugins handle critical website functions that every site needs:
Really Simple Security
Really Simple Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) makes switching your site from HTTP to HTTPS seamless. It’s critical for security and user trust—plus, Google prefers secure sites when it comes to showing up in search results.
Want to learn more about why SSL matters? Check out my guide to SSL certificates and website security.
CookieYes
With privacy laws getting stricter, proper cookie consent is essential. CookieYes helps you:
- Display a compliant cookie consent banner
- Manage cookie settings
- Create and maintain a cookie policy
- Stay compliant with GDPR and other privacy laws
Learn more about why you probably need a cookie policy and a cookie consent banner on your website.
Note: I use a plugin from Termageddon + Usercentrics for the cookie consent banner on my own website since it is included with my recommend privacy policy pack, but if you are using another solution for your legal pages, the free version of CookieYes is also a fabulous plugin.
⚡ Performance Optimization
Your website’s speed affects everything from user experience to search rankings. These two plugins help keep your site running smoothly:
Autoptimize
Autoptimize improves your site’s performance by:
- Compressing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files
- Optimizing image loading
- Minimizing server requests
- Improving page load times
Google Site Kit
Google Site Kit is an official Google plugin that connects your WordPress site directly to essential Google tools, including:
- Google Analytics
- Search Console
- PageSpeed Insights
- AdSense
📈 SEO & Forms
Making your website easy to find and interact with is essential. These plugins help optimize your content and create professional forms that convert:
SEOPress
I use and recommend SEOPress for all my client sites. The free version offers:
- Meta title and description editing
- XML sitemaps
- Open Graph support for social sharing
- Content analysis tools
Pro tip: If you’re on my WordPress care plan, you get access to SEOPress Pro at no extra cost, along with other premium plugins I use for client sites.
WS Form
For creating professional forms that actually work, WS Form delivers:
- Drag-and-drop form builder
- Multiple column layouts
- Conditional logic
- Email notification management
🔗 Site Management & Protection
Keep your site professional and protect it from unwanted spam with these trusted tools:
Pretty Links
Pretty Links helps you:
- Create clean, branded short URLs
- Track click statistics
- Manage and organize your links
- Make affiliate links more professional
Antispam Bee
With Antispam Bee, you can keep your comments section clean without annoying your real visitors:
- Blocks spam comments automatically
- No CAPTCHA required
- Privacy-focused (no data sent to external services)
- Simple setup and management
Grab 5 Tips to Keep Your WordPress Website Safe!
How to Stay on Top of Maintenance (With Less Stress)
Installing plugins is just the start. You’ll also need to:
- Run updates regularly
- Monitor for conflicts
- Track what’s working (and what breaks)
That’s exactly why I created the WordPress Website Maintenance Tracker and Planner (with 4 bonus Website Maintenance Checklists)!
It’s a printable PDF system that helps you:
- Record updates and plugin changes
- Monitor backups and security scans
- Log any errors that pop up
- Keep all your important info in one place
- Follow a simple weekly/monthly/quarterly checklist
→ Grab the Website Maintenance Tracker & Planner here
It’s one of the simplest ways to stay organized and avoid emergency website meltdowns.
“Liz has been an outstanding Rockstar intern, providing tech support and encouragement to fellow members of the Rockstar Community. She has a great depth of WordPress knowledge and is happy to share what she has learned with others.
Liz goes the extra mile to help answer and research questions. She is very active in the Rockstar community and her helpful attitude provides a lot of inspiration to others. Liz is a wonderful asset to our community and I hope that she continues to help other WordPress developers with her expertise and valuable skills.”
Want someone else to handle all this for you?
Smart thinking! My WordPress care plans were built for small business owners who want their sites to stay safe, speedy, and secure—without having to handle every little detail.
Care plan clients also get:
- Premium plugin access (SEOPress Pro, Fathom Analytics, Divi, and more)
- Monthly update reports
- Ongoing support from someone who actually knows your site
→ Explore WordPress Care Plans here
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I install and activate a WordPress plugin?
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the “Plugins” section
- Click on the “Add New” button
- Type in the name of the plugin you want to install in the search box, or upload the plugin’s zip file
- Click on the “Install Now” button
- Once the installation is complete, click on the “Activate” button to activate the plugin
How can I tell if a plugin is safe to use?
Look for plugins with recent updates, good reviews, and a large number of active installations. Avoid anything that hasn’t been updated in over a year.
How many plugins is too many?
There’s no magic number, but each plugin should have a clear purpose. I often say: fewer plugins, better performance.
What if a plugin causes problems?
Always back up first. Then deactivate the plugin to see if the issue resolves. Care plan clients can send me a quick message—and I’ll troubleshoot it for them.
