WordPress occupies almost 34% of market share of the global content management systems. This success ratio can be attributed to its innumerable functionalities. The CMS acquires its functionalities through the default software inclusive of it or the plugins explicitly added to it. Since, majority of the plugins are designed for WordPress, most of these code bits are meant for WordPress. However, there are some plugins which work across varied content management systems but they are not so effective as users choose a plugin on the basis of its application.
As there are thousands of plugins with unique features, it is not possible to install all of them on websites despite their utilities. User communities are often confused in choosing the most required plugins for their websites. Since we extensively write about WordPress plugins, we are often asked about the must have plugins for WordPress sites. Since this question tops the FAQs, we have decided to list the most important plugins categories for WordPress websites.
The most required plugins for any WordPress website:
Cache plugins:
Cache storage is an exclusive shortcut storage to retrieve the web pages without having to go to the main memory every time. This is essential for every website for active performance and for preventing slow loading. The more the loading time, the higher the bounce rate will be and lesser its performance is considered to be.
Leading Cache Plugins:
We have many cache plugins in the WordPress repository. However, WP super cache is the leading one with two million plus installations. WP Total Cache and WP Fastest Cache are the next popular plugins in the lot.
SEO plugins:
Search engine optimization sounds Greek and Latin to many web users as every web-admin is not a technical person. In the pursuit of offering the best content to the users, Google sets a secret algorithm for SEO optimization which keeps changing. Every website needs to practice the SEO optimization methods to stand out of the list. Installing an SEO plugin is essential to get notified about the best mistakes of content management and to get suggested about the right practices. This information helps in attracting the Google crawlers and indexers.
Leading SEO plugins:
Out of the many SEO plugins available the leading one is the Yoast SEO with 5 million plus active installations. ALL in one SEO pack and RankMath are the most popular plugins after the initial one.
Contact plugins:
As every website need customers without whom the site is of no value, contact plugins make sure that the site admins stay in touch with the clients. There are varieties of contact plugins. They can be WhatsApp plugins, chatbots, messenger plugins or contact form plugins. The WhatsApp plugins create WhatsApp connectivity or group chat connectivity and both along with web page sharing options. The chatbots and messengers create a live chat set up. The contact forms plugin creates various forms where customers can leave their contact details for contacting the web-admins.
Leading contact plugins:
Click to chat is the leading WhatsApp plugin with 100000 plus active installations. WP Chatbot is the live messenger and Contact form 7 plugin is a forms plugin as the name suggests.
Analytics plugin:
If you know the strengths and weaknesses of your site, you can work accordingly to make it hit the targeted audience. Though google analytics are available for every site, you don’t need to virtually visit the analytics page if the plugin is added. It lets you know the sources through which your clients land on your page so that you can increase the chances.
Leading Analytics plugins:
Google Analytics Dashboard plugin for WordPress by MonsterInsights is the leading analytics plugin of the lot with 2 million plus active installations. Google Analytics Dashboard plugin for WP by ExactMetrics follows the former one to occupy the next place.
Back up plugins:
The websites may be at extreme risk of losing data when they are updated at regular intervals. They need a backup as a preventive measure in case any damage occurs. The webmasters strictly suggest a website backup before the site admins go for an update as a security precaution. The entire website may be at the risk of losing without a backup. Since every admin is not a technical mastermind to take a manual backup, we can confidently rely on a backup plugin.
Leading Backup plugins:
Updraftplus WordPress backup plugin leads the lot with 2 million plus active installations! Duplicator-WordPress Migration plugin and BackWPup-WordPress backup plugins are the next popular ones in this segment.
Security plugins:
A website is a virtual store. Just like a physical store needs security, a web store also needs security from malware and bugs. Security plugins build a safety wall against the hazardous elements with malicious intentions. Without security to your site, it seems like a compromise.
Leading security plugins:
Social sharing plugins:
It’s time to take your business to the masses. Since the masses follow social media extensively, it is important for every website to take a plunge. In spite of reaching every platform for sharing, install a simple plugin that can do the job for you to save your precious time. Utilize the time for some other important job.
Leading social sharing plugins:
WordPress social sharing plugin-Sassy Social share is the top most plugin in the WordPress repository. The rest to follow are Social media share buttons and Social sharing icons plus WordPress Social Sharing Plugin-Social Warfare.
Page builder plugins:
Majority of the developers prefer to use page builders for website making than going for coding business. Page building plugins make website making a child’s play. It is not an exaggeration to say that many startups are using page building plugins instead of going to developers. The number of blocks used for constructing such as text, images, lists, pricing tables, headings, carts and many more. Insert the necessary block and the job is done. So, this is yet another must have plugin for WordPress websites.
Leading page builder plugins:
Elementor tops the charts undoubtedly with its free and pro versions. So far, three million installations have happened in the free version. Beaver and Divi are the next toppers in the segment.
E-commerce plugins:
Whoever want to create an online shoppe need e-commerce plugins to create products and services pages, cart page, check-out pages etc. A simple commerce plugin can make your website a selling platform. Though all websites are not selling sites, the sites meant for selling can’t ignore these.
Leading e-commerce plugins:
WooCommerce is a known plugin and not only in e-commerce, this can be called as one of the most installed plugins across categories in the WordPress repository. Although there are a couple of other plugins in this segment, they are quite farther and they need to assemble themselves with rigorous attempts to at least come closer to WooCommerce. Easy Digital Downloads follows it humbly.
Localization plugins:
As the name suggests, a localization plugin once installed can acquire in-browser editing functionality for translating files on wordpress platform. It also helps the software developers by translating the templates and other docs with the help of exclusive tools.
Leading localization plugins:
Loco Translate is the leading software in this segment. WP Multilang is yet another classic plugin for the same purposes.
Some people may not need a few plugins. For example, a blogger may not need WooCommerce as blogging does not need any products to be sold. People visit a blog site to know the writer’s perspective on specific topics. Page builders may also not hold good for every website. Some site owners approach developers for site making business and such people may not need page builders as they get the work done on payment. But the rest of all the other plugins are essential for almost all websites. Cache, SEO, contacts, analytics, backup, security, social promotion etc. are the crucial elements for any website to progress. Install these essential plugins on your WordPress website and stay confident and happy!!