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WordPress Guide → Plugins → Best Free
Top 10 free WordPress plugins that every site needs
Every WordPress site has different goals, but there are a few plugins that almost every site can benefit from. These plugins boost SEO, improve security, make your site easier to manage, and offer a better experience for visitors.
Let’s look at 10 of the best free WordPress plugins that deserve a spot on just about any site.
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1. Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is one of the most popular and trusted SEO plugins for WordPress. It helps users optimize their content for search engines with features like keyword analysis, readability checks, and meta tag editing. The plugin integrates seamlessly with the WordPress editor and provides real-time feedback as you write.
Key features:
- On-page SEO suggestions
- Readability analysis
- XML sitemap creation
- Control over meta titles and descriptions
Best for: Site owners who want to improve their search visibility without needing deep SEO expertise.
2. WPForms Lite
WPForms Lite is a drag-and-drop form builder that makes it easy to create contact forms, newsletter signups, surveys, and more. It’s beginner-friendly and doesn’t require any coding knowledge. The plugin comes with pre-built form templates to help you get started quickly.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop form builder
- Mobile-friendly forms
- Spam protection with reCAPTCHA
- Pre-built templates
Best for: Beginners who need simple and reliable forms on their website.
3. Elementor
Elementor is a powerful page builder plugin that lets you create custom layouts using a visual editor. You can design pages with rows, columns, and widgets, all in real-time. It works with almost any theme and doesn’t require any coding.
Key features:
- Live drag-and-drop editor
- Pre-designed templates and blocks
- Mobile-responsive controls
- Integration with other plugins and tools
Best for: Site owners who want full design control without hiring a developer.
4. WooCommerce
WooCommerce is the go-to plugin for turning a WordPress site into a fully functional ecommerce store. It supports both physical and digital products and offers flexible payment, shipping, and inventory management options. It’s also extremely customizable and has a large extension ecosystem.
Key features:
- Product pages and catalog management
- Secure payment gateways
- Shipping and tax configuration
- Integration with third-party tools
Best for: Anyone building an online store using WordPress.
5. UpdraftPlus
UpdraftPlus is one of the most popular backup plugins for WordPress. It lets you schedule automatic backups and store them remotely in services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Amazon S3. Restoring backups is quick and easy, even for beginners.
Key features:
- Scheduled and manual backups
- Remote storage options
- One-click restore functionality
- Backup encryption
Best for: Site owners who want a reliable and user-friendly backup solution.
6. Wordfence Security
Wordfence Security is a comprehensive security plugin that protects your site from malware, brute-force attacks, and other threats. It includes a firewall, malware scanner, and login security features. The plugin provides real-time traffic monitoring to detect suspicious activity.
Key features:
- Web application firewall
- Malware scanning
- Login security and CAPTCHA
- Real-time threat monitoring
Best for: Anyone who wants to secure their WordPress site with minimal setup.
7. LiteSpeed Cache
LiteSpeed Cache improves your website’s speed by caching static content and optimizing performance. It integrates with LiteSpeed Web Server but also works on other server types. The plugin includes features like image optimization, database cleanup, and browser caching.
Key features:
- Full-page caching
- Image and CSS/JS optimization
- Browser and object caching
- CDN integration
Best for: WordPress users looking to improve site speed and performance.
8. Redirection
Redirection is a simple yet powerful plugin for managing 301 redirects and tracking 404 errors. It helps maintain good SEO by fixing broken links and ensuring smooth navigation for users. The plugin supports conditional redirects and keeps logs of all activity.
Key features:
- Easy redirect creation
- 404 error logging
- Conditional redirect rules
- Import/export functionality
Best for: Site owners who need to manage URL changes and fix broken links.
9. Block Visibility
Block Visibility gives you control over when and where Gutenberg blocks appear. You can show or hide blocks based on user role, screen size, login status, or custom conditions. This adds a layer of design flexibility and content personalization.
Key features:
- Conditional display rules for blocks
- Support for user roles and login status
- Responsive visibility options
- Integrates directly into the block editor
Best for: Creators and developers who want to personalize content visibility across a site.
10. Site Kit by Google
Site Kit is Google’s official plugin for WordPress. It connects your site to key Google tools like Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, and PageSpeed Insights. The plugin provides a unified dashboard to see how your site is performing without leaving WordPress.
Key features:
- Easy setup with Google services
- Dashboard for traffic and performance data
- PageSpeed Insights integration
- Search Console query tracking
Best for: Site owners who want simple access to Google tools and performance data.
Are all WordPress plugins free?
Free plugins are a great starting point and often provide plenty of features for small to medium websites. Many of the plugins on this list have premium versions that unlock advanced features, priority support, or deeper integrations.
But they’re not all free. Premium plugins are usually worth it if you need advanced functionality, automation, or high-level support. But for many users, the free versions are more than enough to build a fully functional, secure, and fast WordPress site.
Getting started with free WordPress plugins
Choosing the right free plugins can make your WordPress site faster, safer, and easier to manage. Every plugin on this list is popular for a reason: it adds real value without costing a cent.
Start by installing the plugins that match your site’s current goals, whether that’s growing traffic, collecting leads, or adding ecommerce features.
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Additional resources
What is a WordPress plugin? →
A complete beginner’s guide to WordPress plugins and how to manage them
7 best WordPress forum plugin (free and paid picks) →
Explore top WordPress forum plugins to build online communities with features like profiles, Q&A, and moderation tools.
How to check if a plugin is safe →
Simple steps to evaluating a plugin before you install and activate it