We are living in an online era. Everything now happens online. For that, we need a lot of websites every day. Everyday people are creating new websites for their business. WordPress has made it easier. People who don’t know coding or who don’t have any knowledge about web development can also create websites effortlessly using the WordPress CMS system. As of 2024, there are about 1.98 billion websites on the web. More than 835 million sites use WordPress. And, with over 2 million downloads every year, WordPress usage continues to rise steadily. The percentage is 43.2% of all the websites in the globe.

WordPress emerges as a prominent and adaptable platform, renowned for its intuitive interface, customizable features, and vast array of plugins, garnering favor among individuals, enterprises, and bloggers alike. Yet, with a staggering 59,791 free plugins offered in the WordPress repository, navigating the selection process can be overwhelming.

 

Before we start, let’s quickly understand what WordPress plugins are. You can think of a plugin as an app/software, like those we use on our mobile phones or PCs, which provides us with specific functionality that we need. Plugins also work in the same way. We can use a specific plugin for a specific purpose or functionality, so we are not required to write any code.

 

The Must Needed Plugins: 

 

WordPress Page Builder plugin:

Nowadays, when someone wants to create a WordPress website, they must use a page builder plugin for better design and functionality. Here are some of the most popular WordPress page builder plugins: 

1. 1. Elementor
   2. Beaver Builder
   3. Divi
   4. Brizy
   5. Visual Composer
   6. Themify Builder

Contact form plugin:

Normally, all websites have a page or option for a contact form so that visitors can easily reach out to the website’s authority. Therefore, a contact form plugin is a necessity for almost all WordPress websites. Selecting the right contact form plugin for WordPress depends on your specific needs and preferences. Here is a short list of the most used contact form plugins:

1. 1. Contact Form 7
   2. WPForms
   3. Gravity Forms
   4. Ninja Forms
   5. HappyForms
   6. Formidable Forms

Speed booster plugins:

Speed booster plugins for WordPress can help optimize your site’s performance by minimizing loading times and improving overall speed. Website loading speed is crucial for optimal user experience. Visitors are happy when the website loads fast. It also helps to improve Google SEO rankings. There are many other benefits available. Here are some plugins for making a website faster:

1. 1. WP Rocket
   2. LiteSpeed Cache
   3. W3 Total Cache
   4. WP Super Cache
   5. WP Fastest Cache
   6. Smush

Security plugins:

Security plugins play a crucial role in protecting your WordPress site from various threats such as malware, brute force attacks, and vulnerabilities.

1. 1. 1. Wordfence Security
      2. iThemes Security
      3. All In One WP Security & Firewall
      4. Security Ninja
      5. Sucuri Security

SEO Plugins:

SEO plugins for WordPress can help optimize your website for search engines, improve visibility, and increase organic traffic. Here some most popular SEO plugins:

1. 1. Yoast SEO
   2. All in One SEO Pack
   3. Rank Math
   4. SEOPress

 

E-commmerce plugin:

To set your WordPress website as an online store you must need an e-commerce plugin to get the functionality of an online store. For this plugin you can choose WooCommerce without any thinking. Because  93.7% of all WordPress ecommerce websites use the WooCommerce plugin. 

 

Backup Plugins:

Regular backups are essential for ensuring the security and integrity of your WordPress website. Here are 5 plugins that can help you schedule and automate backups:

1. 1. UpdraftPlus
   2. VaultPress (Jetpack Backup)
   3. BackWPup
   4. BackupBuddy
   5. Duplicator

Choosing the appropriate plugins for your WordPress website can have a profound effect on its performance, safety, and overall user satisfaction. Though the vast array of plugins available might feel daunting, concentrating on these essential ones is an excellent place to begin. It’s crucial to periodically reassess and maintain your plugins to ensure they stay compatible with the latest WordPress version.

 

In essence, it’s about finding the right equilibrium between augmenting your site’s functionality and maintaining its efficiency. Through thoughtful plugin selection and integration, you can craft a dynamic and streamlined website that caters adeptly to your audience’s requirements. Enjoy the process of discovering the perfect plugins!