If you are building a WordPress website, one of the first things you will need is the right set of plugins. The right plugin can improve your SEO, make your site faster, protect your content, and create a better experience for your visitors.
There are thousands of plugins out there. Some are helpful, some are outdated, and a few are truly essential. In this post, I am sharing 10 of the most useful free WordPress plugins you should consider using. These are the plugins I personally trust and recommend because they are popular, reliable, and widely used by millions of WordPress users around the world.
For each plugin, I will also include a quick alternative. You will see what each plugin does, why it matters, and how it compares to others with similar features. This will help you decide which one fits your website best.
Whether you are running a blog, an online store, a personal portfolio, or a business site, this list will give you a clear idea of what to install and why. These plugins can help you save time, improve your rankings, and build a better website.
Let’s get started with the tools that actually make a difference.
There are more than 60,000 (Sixty Thousands) FREE Plugins in WordPress.
Table of Contents
Quick Look: Our Top 10 WordPress Plugins
This is a table showing the most popular WordPress plugins of all time. First, take a quick look, and then we will discuss each of the plugins in detail.
| Plugin | Best for | Free Version |
| Rank Math SEO | SEO optimization | ✅ Yes |
| Elementor | Visual page building (drag and drop) | ✅ Yes |
| WPForms | Creating forms (contact, signup, etc.) | ✅ Yes (Lite) |
| WooCommerce | Building an online store (eCommerce) | ✅ Yes |
| Wordfence Security | Firewall and malware protection | ✅ Yes |
| All-in-One WP Migration | Website backup and migration | ✅ Yes (Basic) |
| Polylang | Creating a multilingual website | ✅ Yes |
| LiteSpeed Cache | Speed optimization (caching) | ✅ Yes |
| Jetpack | Security, performance, site stats | ✅ Yes (Basic) |
| Akismet Anti-Spam | Spam protection for comments | ✅ Yes |
Now let’s get into the details!
1. Rank Math SEO
Rank Math SEO helps improve your blog’s visibility on search engines like Google. It gives suggestions on how to write better titles, where to add keywords, and how to structure your posts so they are easier for search engines to understand. It even gives each post an SEO score and shows you what to improve.
Why I use it
I use Rank Math SEO because it teaches me how to make my blog easier to find on Google. It helps me write in a way that search engines like without making things too complicated. I feel more confident knowing my content is optimized the right way.
| Feature | Free Version | Pro Version |
| Keyword usage guidance | Analyze one keyword | Analyze multiple keywords |
| Writing suggestions for SEO | Yes | Yes |
| Helps Google understand your content better (schema) | Basic support | Full support |
| Automatically redirect old links | Not included | Included |
| Track keyword rankings on Google | Not included | Included |
Other alternatives:
- Yoast SEO (Very popular, easy to use)
- SEOPress (Simple and clean interface)
- The SEO Framework (Fast and automatic suggestions)
2. Elementor Page Builder
Elementor is a visual page builder that lets you design your website by simply dragging and dropping elements like images, text, buttons, and more. It works inside your WordPress dashboard and does not require any coding skills. You can create custom pages exactly how you imagine them.
Why I use it
I use Elementor because I want full control over how my website looks. I do not know how to code, but this plugin lets me design pages that look clean and professional. It makes me feel like a designer even though I am not one.
| Feature | Free Version | Pro Version |
| Drag and drop page builder | Yes | Yes |
| Ready-made templates | Basic templates | Premium templates |
| Mobile responsive design | Yes | Yes |
| Custom header and footer design | Not included | Included |
| Build product and sales pages | Not included | Included |
Other alternatives:
- Beaver Builder (Reliable and stable)
- Visual Composer (Complete website builder)
- SiteOrigin Page Builder (Lightweight and easy to use)
3. WPForms
WPForms is a beginner-friendly form builder that helps you create contact forms, feedback forms, surveys, and email sign-up forms. It works with a simple drag and drop interface and includes smart tools like spam protection and mobile responsiveness.
Why I use it
I use WPForms because I want people to contact me easily without me needing to build forms from scratch. I can create any kind of form in just a few clicks and it always looks neat and works well. I also appreciate that it stops spam messages before they reach me.
| Feature | Free Version | Pro Version |
| Drag and drop form builder | Yes | Yes |
| Form templates | Basic templates | Advanced templates |
| Email notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Spam protection | Yes | Enhanced protection |
| Accept online payments | Not included | Included |
Other alternatives:
- Ninja Forms (Great for beginners)
- Contact Form 7 (Simple and popular)
- Formidable Forms (Good for advanced forms)
4. WooCommerce
WooCommerce turns your WordPress website into a fully functional online store. You can sell physical products, digital downloads, or services. It handles everything from product listings and inventory to payments and order management.
Why I use it
I use WooCommerce because I want to sell products on my website without needing to hire a developer or build a new platform. It gives me all the tools I need to run a store and it integrates nicely with the rest of my blog.
| Feature | Free Version | Pro Version |
| Sell physical or digital items | Yes | Yes |
| Manage inventory and pricing | Yes | Yes |
| Basic payment options (like PayPal) | Yes | Yes with more options |
| Add features like bookings and subscriptions | Not included | Available through extensions |
| Customize checkout process | Basic setup | Advanced features with plugins |
Other alternatives:
- Easy Digital Downloads (Best for digital products)
- BigCommerce for WordPress (Great for large stores)
- Ecwid Ecommerce (Fast and simple setup)
5. Wordfence Security
Wordfence is a security plugin that protects your website from hackers, malware, and bad login attempts. It includes a powerful firewall, real-time scanning, and alerts when something suspicious is happening.
Why I use it
I use Wordfence because I want my website to stay safe and protected. It watches over my site and tells me immediately if there is a problem. I feel much better knowing that I am not leaving my site open to threats.
| Feature | Free Version | Pro Version |
| Malware scanning and hacker protection | Yes | Yes |
| Get alerts when someone tries to break in | Yes | Yes |
| Block access from certain countries | Not included | Included |
| Real-time threat updates | Delayed | Instant updates |
| Two-factor login security | Yes | Yes |
Other alternatives:
- Sucuri Security (Cloud firewall protection)
- iThemes Security (Covers many basic threats)
- Shield Security (Good brute force defense)
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6. All-in-One WP Migration
All in One WP Migration helps you move or back up your entire website. You can export everything, including content, themes, plugins, and settings, and then import it to a new host or location. It does not require technical skills or coding.
Why I use it
I use this plugin because I want an easy and reliable way to back up my website. It gives me peace of mind knowing I can save all my work and restore it if something goes wrong. I have used it more than once and it never let me down.
| Feature | Free Version | Pro Version |
| Export full site with database and files | Yes | Yes |
| Simple drag and drop import | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud storage backup options | Not included | Included |
| Bypass upload size limits | Not included | Included |
| Search and replace during migration | Yes | Yes |
Other alternatives:
- UpdraftPlus (Great for backups)
- Duplicator (Popular for site cloning)
- Migrate Guru (Fast migration with large sites)
7. Polylang
Polylang allows you to create a multilingual website. You can write posts in more than one language, add a language switcher for users, and manage translations easily within WordPress. It also helps with SEO in different languages.
Why I use it
I use Polylang because I want my blog to be available in English, Malay, and Chinese. This plugin helps me offer content in three languages and keeps everything organized. It also ensures my site remains search engine friendly, no matter which language people read in.
| Feature | Free Version | Pro Version |
| Add multiple languages to your site | Yes | Yes |
| Manual translation of pages and posts | Yes | Yes |
| Custom language switcher | Yes | Yes |
| WooCommerce compatibility | Not included | Included |
| SEO-friendly URL support | Yes | Yes |
Other alternatives:
- TranslatePress (Visual translation interface)
- WPML (Powerful and full-featured)
- Weglot (Fast setup, cloud-based translations)
8. LiteSpeed Cache
LiteSpeed Cache improves your website’s performance by making pages load faster. It uses caching, compresses images, and reduces the size of code to help your site run smoothly. Faster websites keep users engaged and help with better rankings on Google.
Why I use it
I use LiteSpeed Cache because speed is important for my visitors and for SEO. It makes my pages load quickly without me needing to do anything complicated. I noticed that my site performs better and visitors stay longer.
| Feature | Free Version | Pro Version |
| Server-level caching | Yes | Yes |
| Image optimization | Yes | Yes |
| Minify HTML, CSS, JavaScript | Yes | Yes |
| Lazy loading images | Yes | Yes |
| CDN integration (QUIC.cloud) | Yes | Yes |
Other alternatives:
- WP Rocket (Premium performance plugin)
- W3 Total Cache (Feature-rich and popular)
- Autoptimize (Great for code optimization)
9. Jetpack
Jetpack is a powerful all-in-one plugin that offers tools for security, performance, backups, social sharing, and analytics. It is created by the same team behind WordPress and works well with most themes and setups.
Why I use it
I use Jetpack because it gives me many helpful features in one plugin. I can see my website stats, share posts on social media, and protect my site without needing extra tools. It helps me manage my blog more easily and saves time.
| Feature | Free Version | Pro Version |
| Site stats and analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Security monitoring | Basic | Enhanced protection |
| Lazy loading images | Yes | Yes |
| Social sharing buttons | Yes | Yes |
| Downtime alerts | Yes | Yes |
Other alternatives:
- Site Kit by Google (Google stats and analytics)
- MonsterInsights (Powerful analytics tool)
- Shield Security (Extra protection tools)
10. Akismet Anti-Spam
Akismet blocks spam comments from reaching your blog. It checks each comment automatically and filters out the ones that are fake or harmful. This keeps your comment section clean and safe.
Why I use it
I use Akismet because I do not want to waste time deleting spam comments every day. It works quietly in the background and keeps my blog safe from unwanted messages. It also helps my readers feel comfortable when leaving real comments.
| Feature | Free Version | Pro Version |
| Spam comment detection | Yes | Yes |
| Works with popular form plugins | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic spam filter updates | Yes | Yes |
| Dashboard spam log | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced support and analytics | Not included | Included |
Other alternatives:
- Antispam Bee (Simple and GDPR-friendly)
- CleanTalk (Cloud-based spam blocker)
- WP Armour (Anti-spam with no CAPTCHA)
Summary
Not all plugins are created equal. I’ve made the mistake of installing 30+ plugins on one site and it got slow, glitchy, and eventually crashed.
What I’ve learned is this: You don’t need a lot of plugins. You need the right ones.
The 10 plugins I’ve shared here are the ones I keep coming back to. They help me:
- Write better content
- Get found in search
- Keep my site fast and secure
- Make my visitors feel taken care of
And most importantly — they give me peace of mind. I hope they help you too.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should I install first on a new WordPress site?
Start with these essentials:
- SEO plugin (e.g. Rank Math)
- Caching plugin (e.g. LiteSpeed Cache)
- Form plugin (e.g. WPForms)
- Security plugin (e.g. Wordfence)
- Backup plugin (e.g. All-in-One WP Migration)
From there, add design tools like Elementor or eCommerce plugins like WooCommerce depending on your site type.
Which WordPress plugin is best for SEO in 2025?
Rank Math SEO is currently the most feature-rich free SEO plugin available. It supports multiple focus keywords, schema markup, Google Search Console integration, and real-time content analysis. If you’re new to SEO, Yoast SEO is also a solid beginner-friendly option.
Can I use Elementor and WPForms together on my website?
Yes, absolutely. Elementor is for page design, while WPForms is for creating forms like contact or newsletter signups. They work perfectly together and won’t conflict.
Is WooCommerce really free?
Yes. The core WooCommerce plugin is free and gives you everything you need to start an online store. However, you may need paid extensions later for advanced features like subscriptions, bookings, or custom product options.
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