The 10 WordPress Plugins I Install on Every New Site

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Most 'best of' lists in this space are recycled garbage. Let us try to do better.

These are the ones we keep coming back to. Not the ones with the best marketing — the ones we genuinely install on most projects.

1. The obvious first pick

If we had to pick one, this would be it. Not the most exciting on the list, but it solves the problem 95% of sites have and gets out of the way. Free version is generous enough that most people never need to upgrade.

2. The one for performance nerds

If you obsess over Lighthouse scores, this is non-negotiable. The configuration takes 30 minutes the first time and pays for itself within a week.

3. The one that surprised us

We didn't expect to recommend this. After three months of using it, we can't imagine going back. The setup is a little awkward but the payoff is huge.

4. The underrated free option

Most lists skip this one because there's no affiliate program. That's exactly why we're including it. Free, well-maintained, solves a specific problem better than the paid alternatives.

5. The one for serious projects

If you're running anything client-facing, you'll outgrow the free tier within three months. Just budget for it now.

6. The 'set it and forget it' one

Install it, configure it once, never think about it again. The best kind of tool.

7. The one with the best support

Their team has answered our tickets within four hours every time. That's worth a real premium when something breaks at 2 AM.

8. The newcomer worth watching

Less than two years old, but rapidly catching up to the incumbents. If you're starting fresh today, give it a serious look.

9. The one for advanced users only

Power and flexibility at the cost of a steeper learning curve. Not for everyone, but for the right project there's nothing better.

10. The one we'd build an agency around

If we were starting an agency tomorrow, this is the first license we'd buy.

How to pick from this list

Don't install all ten. Pick the two or three that solve the specific problems you actually have. Adding more plugins than you need is the single most common WordPress mistake — and the easiest to avoid.

If you want our recommendation for a specific niche, browse our current top picks or start with our #1 choice.

Disclosure: some links are affiliate links. Full disclosure.

— The RevealTheme Team