But what are plugins and what are they used for? They are components of software that are added to an existing program to achieve new or specific functionality, without having to implement code. In the case of a website built in WordPress, for example, they are useful for speeding up page loading, improving security, safety or aesthetics.
We know that choosing the right plugin is never easy or obvious. After all, WordPress is one of the most popular CMSs in the world and one of the most used by developers to create their clients’ websites. Precisely because of this, the offer is very high and varied.
There are so many opportunities and deciding on which are the best tools to rely on – also avoiding incompatibilities with the template or WordPress updates – should be done very carefully. In this guide, among the many available, we recommend 5 really useful ones. Let’s look at them right now!
Question: are you already familiar with WordPress? Do you also know the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
Best WordPress plugins: 5 tips for you
Among the many extensions available for the WordPress world we have selected 5 interesting proposals if you have a showcase site, an e-commerce or a blog. For each there are both free and premium versions. Obviously in the paid ones the features are many more (you will have to evaluate if you really need them).
These are all safe plugins, but compatibility with your site should be tested before installation. In this case, if you are unfamiliar with them, you could turn to website building experts to choose the right extension according to your needs and to install it. This way, you will be assured that the portal will work properly.
1. W3 Total Cache for a fast site
We know that the speed of a site is critical. It is for people who want to see the content they are looking for on search engines right away, and it is for Google, which values it as an important growth factor for the brand.
Installing, therefore, a caching plugin can be important for increasing the page loading speed of your site. W3 Total Cache, for example, is one of the most widely used add-ons for this purpose. How does it work? The plugin creates a copy of the pages of the website and shows them to visitors each time they log in, without reloading the same pages every time. Other useful alternatives with the same function can be: WP Rocket, Wp Super Cache or LiteSpeed Cache.
2. Sucuri Security for total site protection
It is essential for a site to be secure, inaccessible to hackers, especially if you are dealing with sensitive data and are involved in online commerce. The Sucuri Security plugin is one of the best plugins for total security and protection of your portal.
It gives you constant monitoring on file integrity, scans the site for malware and blocks them. It also notifies you if something is wrong so that you can take action instantly. Other similar add-ons? Try Wordfence Security, All In One WP Security & Firewall, MalCare Security.
The issue of security for a website is critical.
We even wrote an article on it, read it here: How to Increase WordPress Security
3. WP Smush Image Compression to reduce images.
The size of the images uploaded to your website can cause page loading slowdowns and affect SEO.
If you don’t want to give up the quality of your photos, or graphics, but you also don’t want a slow site or one that is penalized by search engines, you can install a plugin like Smush Image Compression that compresses, resizes and optimizes them on its own. The alternatives? EWWW Image Optimizer, Imagify, ShortPixel, TinyPNG or Optimus.
4. wpDataTables to create product comparison tables.
An interesting plugin if you have an e-commerce on WordPress — or if you have a price comparison site — is wpDataTables. What does it allow you to do? It independently creates tables or charts using only the data you provide it with, adding images and specific buttons for your call-to-actions at your discretion.
This is ideal if you want to customize data visualization, either with eye-catching graphics or simple tables with unified cells. Other useful options may include: Ninja Tables, TablePress, Visualizer.
5. Slider revolution for high-impact images and videos
Do you like impactful websites with slides of images or interactive videos? If so, one of the best plugins you can rely on is Slider revolution. Apurely aesthetic extension for those who want to make a redesign or create a modern, eye-catching site from scratch.
You can use it to create an intriguing homepage, to build a page where you can showcase your portfolio of work or clients or photo and video galleries with a “wow effect.” It’s ideal if you want a visual impact that is important and not obvious. Other similar solutions? For example: FooGallery, MetaSlider or Soliloquy.
Speaking of beautiful sites, read:
How to improve your business website: 9 tips to make it more attractive
How to choose the right plugin for your WordPress site?
In this list we have made a selection of the most interesting plugins for 2024, recommending the best ones also based on the opinions of those who use them. There are, however, many other interesting alternatives to be evaluated according to the type of your portal and your real needs.
Indicatively to choose the right extension, the ideal is to focus on what you really need. Otherwise, the risk is to install multiple products and then not use them.
Also, always remember that it is good:
- Prefer only add-ons that are always being updated (others may be unsafe or not compatible with your site!).
- Choose only official or trusted source WordPress plugins (to protect your portal)
- Assess compatibility with other extensions, the template, and all technical elements
Another tip: Always back up your site before installing or updating a plugin, even an official and secure one, because some add-ons can compromise the operation of the portal.
In short, both the choice and the installation are to be made very lucidly. That’s why it can be helpful to turn to an expert, such as our communications agency, who, after listening to your needs, can best advise you. Moreover, it can intervene in a timely manner in case of technical mishaps.
Want to discover the best WordPress plugins for your site? Do it together with us!
