Top Free WordPress Plugins: A Web Designer’s Must-Have List
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Before diving into my top plugin recommendations, let’s talk about why you’d even want to use plugins on your WordPress site. Plugins let you add just about any feature you can imagine with a few clicks.
Want a contact form? There’s a plugin for that.
Need better security? Yep, a plugin for that, too.
But here’s the thing about plugins: since anyone can create them, you need to be selective about which ones you install on your site. 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.
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 Plugins
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
Site Optimization
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
Keep Your Plugins (and Website) Running Smoothly
Keeping track of plugin updates, security scans, and general website maintenance can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be! I’ve created a printable Website Maintenance Tracker and Planner (with a bonus Website Maintenance Checklist) to help you stay on top of everything.
This PDF planner helps you:
- Track all your plugin updates and when they were last run
- Document any issues that come up during updates
- Monitor your backup schedule
- Keep tabs on security scans
- Plan regular maintenance tasks
- Store all your important website info in one place
Plus, you’ll get a printable checklist that breaks down exactly what needs to be done weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually to keep your WordPress site secure and performing at its best.
Want someone else to handle all this for you?
Smart thinking! Check out my WordPress care plans, where I take care of all your plugin updates, security monitoring, and website maintenance.
