Essential plugins for WordPress: the best according to use

WordPress remains the most used CMS in the world. More than 40% of websites are built with this platform thanks to its flexibility, active community, and huge catalog of plugins.

But precisely that variety can complicate things: which ones do you really need? And which ones can slow down your website?

In this updated guide, we show you the essential plugins for WordPress in 2025, organized by use: SEO, performance, security, forms, translation, and much more. The goal: to help you build a faster, safer, and optimized website without installing more than necessary.

Why use plugins in WordPress?

Plugins are the soul of WordPress. Each one adds a specific functionality, from a contact form to a cache system or a firewall. Installing a plugin is as simple as clicking, but choosing the right ones requires judgment.

Main benefits:

• Functionality without code: add advanced features without the need to program.
• Total flexibility: you can customize WordPress to fit your project.
• Productivity: automate tasks and simplify technical processes.
• Scalability: allow your website to grow step by step, without redoing it.

Risks of overusing plugins:

• Each plugin consumes resources. If you use too many, your website can become slow.
• Some generate compatibility conflicts with your version of WordPress or PHP.
• Those that are not updated are open doors to vulnerabilities.

👉 In summary: plugins are powerful, but they require management. The key is to install only those that bring real value to your project.

Criteria for selecting good plugins

Before clicking “Install now”, take a few seconds to review these key points:

• Security: download them only from the official repository or from trusted developers.
• Compatibility: make sure the plugin is compatible with your version of WordPress and PHP.
• Update frequency: a regularly updated plugin is a sign of active maintenance.
• Reputation and support: check ratings, number of installations, and user support.
• Resource usage: avoid those that load too many scripts or slow down the backend.

Essential plugins by functionality

Below we show you the best WordPress plugins, grouped by their function.

Each one has been tested by the community and maintains active support with the latest versions of the CMS.

SEO & optimization

SEO remains key to attracting organic traffic. These two plugins lead the market:

• Yoast SEO: the classic par excellence. Allows you to optimize titles, meta descriptions, URLs, and structured schema (schema.org). Additionally, it analyzes the readability of your texts to improve the reading experience.
• Rank Math: the modern alternative. Lighter and with artificial intelligence integration, it facilitates mass optimization and keyword analysis.

👉 Both are compatible with Google Analytics and Search Console, and integrate with most modern themes.

Cache and performance

Speed is one of the most important ranking factors in 2025. A good cache plugin reduces load times and improves the score on Google PageSpeed.

• LiteSpeed Cache: designed for LiteSpeed servers. Combines compression, image optimization, and server-level cache.
• WP Super Cache: generates static versions of your pages to serve them faster. Ideal for blogs or small sites.
• W3 Total Cache: offers advanced cache control, CDN, and file minification integration. Perfect for high-traffic sites.

Security

In 2025, automated attacks on WordPress continue to grow. Protect yourself with a solid system:

• Wordfence Security: includes firewall, malware scanner, and real-time alerts.
• Sucuri Security: monitors your site and offers cleaning in case of hacking. Its premium version includes CDN and DDoS mitigation.

💡 Tip: combine your security plugin with an active SSL certificate (available in all cdmon plans).

Forms and lead capture

Forms are the bridge between you and your users. Whether to receive messages, capture leads, or subscribers, these are the most effective:

• Contact Form 7: lightweight, free, and highly customizable.
• WPForms: visual interface with ready-to-use templates, ideal for landing pages and campaigns.

Both integrate easily with Mailchimp, HubSpot, or ActiveCampaign.

Backup and restoration

Making periodic backups is one of the best decisions you can make if you manage a WordPress site. An error in an update, a faulty plugin, or an attack can leave you without access to the content, and only a recent backup can save you.

The most recommended plugins in 2025 are:

• UpdraftPlus: allows you to schedule automatic backups and restore them with a single click. Compatible with Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3, it is one of the most used for its reliability.
• Duplicator: ideal for migrating your website or creating manual backups. Allows you to clone complete sites (files + database) and move them easily between servers or test environments.

At cdmon we recommend combining any of these plugins with our own automatic backups, available in all hosting plans. This way you guarantee a quick restoration even if something fails in WordPress.

💡 Tip: keep a local copy and another in the cloud for maximum security.

Anti-spam and comments

Spam remains a common nuisance. Fortunately, WordPress has an official solution:

• Akismet Anti-Spam: automatically filters suspicious comments. Free for personal blogs and paid for commercial sites.

Avoid manually moderating hundreds of spam messages and keep your comments clean.

Translation and multilanguage

If your audience is in several countries, you need an effective multilingual plugin that allows you to offer a consistent experience in all languages.

• GTranslate: automatically translates your website using the Google Translate API. It is quick to implement and requires no technical knowledge.
• Polylang: perfect for those looking for a light and flexible option. Allows you to manage multiple languages manually, translating content, menus, and taxonomies without relying on external services.
• WPML: the professional standard. Offers advanced translation of pages, dynamic strings, and custom elements. Its premium version is ideal for corporate projects or online stores.

💡 All are compatible with WooCommerce, so you can easily create an international online store with full control over the languages and SEO of each version.

Extra integrations

• Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed: displays your Instagram or Facebook feed directly on the website.
• RSS Aggregator: aggregates content from other sources (ideal for news portals or communities).
• Broken Link Checker: detects broken links and allows you to fix them without manually editing the posts.

Plugin comparison