No matter what niche your site belongs to, it’s bound to benefit from the right WordPress plugins. After all, their usability and functionality are the backbones of the WP site-building.
However, with tens of thousands of them at your disposal, it’s easy to get confused and wonder which ones are worth it. Not to mention that you can stumble upon some that look promising but fail to deliver.
That’s why we’ve decided to save your time and present you with currently trending must-have WP plugins. So buckle up and read our narrowed-down leaderboard of essential plugins this year!
Elementor – a page building wonder
Before you begin running your website, you have to build it first. Other than choosing the best WordPress theme, you have to think about the page layout and design as well. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to hire a professional to help you, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Elementor drag-and-drop page builder lets you play with the design of your website without any knowledge of coding skills. It has a plethora of options when it comes to widgets, blocks, and pages, as well as a user-friendly interface.
Another great thing about Elementor is that is is free of charge, though there is a Pro version as well. What makes it one of the absolute must-have WP plugins is that you are able to adjust mobile, desktop, and tablet views separately. Overall, it’s definitely going to be a budget beginner blogger’s dream.
Building a website is as important as the quality of content you're writing
Pretty link for link management
We can all agree that businesses with online presence gain more clients – that’s the whole point of e-commerce. But with the rising competition, how do you make your site stand out? It’s not enough to make sure all the links are working – you need to use shorter links and achieve a cleaner look. A messy affiliate link may seem intimidating and can ward off clients. This tool will help you create attractive and memorable links instead. But this isn’t the only thing Pretty Links can take care for you.
Another feature that makes it one of the best must-have WP plugins is link tracking. Not only will this help you to gather important data about our clicks, but it will also give you an idea of the effectiveness of your content. Basically, it will give you additional information to help you improve your site functions on a daily basis.
NextGen Gallery, a perfect visual solution
While on the subject of images, did you know there is no need to browse Pixabay every time you want to upload an image on your site? A much simpler solution is one of the numerous WP gallery plugins and saves your time. NextGEN is one of the oldest and most popular galleries plugins on WP, thanks to its advanced image management features. It’s especially for photographers and artists looking to create their portfolio, as it offers watermark and hotlink protection.
Installing the plugin is free, but you can upgrade to the Premium version for top features as well. For example, NextGEN also has eCommerce functionality, meaning you can sell images on your site too. All in all, if you’re looking for a top-quality gallery, this is definitely among the must-have WP plugins for you!
Cerber security, one of the must-have WP plugins for securing your site
Don’t make the mistake of thinking it will never happen to you – security breaches are more common than you think. That’s why it’s essential you install one of WP plugins to ensure website security against malware, spam, and hackers. You’ll be able to create separate IP lists for allowing or blocking certain IP addresses, thus regaining control over who visits your site. Then there is the malware scan option, which will keep your website free from viruses.
There’s also an additional level of security beyond just a username and password in the form of a verification code. As a cherry on top, there’s the anti-spam and anti-bot Cerber engine, which will keep your comment section clean. The overall site protections it offers skyrocketed Cerber security among the must-have WP plugins this year. Like many others, this is a ‘freemium’ WP product but try the free version first.
Securing your website against hackers is essential for your online business
Monarch, the king among social media plugins
If you’re still using social media just for posting selfies, you’ve been missing quite a lot. Over the years, it has evolved from self-promotion to an online marketing platform. That’s why you should look for ways to enhance your social media integration. Monarch plugin will help you increase traffic from social networking sites with the usage of sharing buttons. You’ll be able to decide on the placement and the ign of the social sharing buttons, you have all the modern designs to choose from. You will have full control over the plugin, and a powerful control panel will make things easier for you. Now that’s what we call one of the must-have WP plugins!