WordPress is a very powerful and flexible blog/content management system, but the thousands of plugins really help to extend the basic functionality. Here are 13 essential plugins that you should immediately install after finishing the WordPress installation.
Akismet
This one should be a no-brainer. Akismet uses their web service to check the comments on your blog to see if it looks like spam. The plugin is developed by the creators of WordPress, so it’s integrated nicely and is included in the WordPress install. All you need is a WordPress.com API key to get it up and running.
Custom More Link
One thing that always bothered me about the the read more tag in WordPress is how when you click into the full article, it jumps down to where the more tag was inserted. This plugin allows you to get rid of that and completely customize the link.
Download Custom More Link Plugin
Different Posts Per Page
Let’s say that you want to display 3 posts on the homepage, 10 posts on the category pages, and 20 on the archives. If you want to avoid touching any of the template coding, you can just use this plugin to customize the number of posts that are displayed per page.
Download Different Posts Per Page Plugin
Google XML Sitemaps
While the plugin is called “Google” XML Sitemaps, the automatically generated sitemap is actually also supported by Ask, MSN, and Yahoo. It’s nice to be able to customize a few settings and then never having to think about your xml sitemap again.
Download Google XML Sitemaps Plugin
No Self Pings
Trackbacks are a great way to allow people to link to and discuss your blog articles, but this can also include your own site when you link to your own article. It would probably be better to use a related posts plugin for those, so this plugin is useful for filtering out your own trackbacks.
Redirection
If you are moving from an existing website into WordPress, your URLs will probably be different. This plugin is useful for adding 301 redirects to make sure that users can end up in the right place. You can also keep track of 404 errors or create other redirects with full Regular Expression support.
Search Unleashed
The regular WordPress search leaves a lot to be desired. This plugin fills that desire. You can perform full text searches on all posts, pages, comments, and other meta-data. The search index is automatically updated whenever you add or edit content, so you never have to worry about it being out of date.
Download Search Unleashed Plugin
Subscribe to Comments
You should always give commentors a way to follow their comments. This plugin provides a simple checkbox that commentors can check to receive emails whenever anyone else comments on the post. This has already been built into the core of the WordPress.com blogs, and it will probably eventually make it into the core for WordPress.org as well.
Download Subscribe to Comments Plugin
WP-DB-Backup
Backup your WordPress database on demand or schedule recurring backups. It is always good to have a backup plan in case anything goes wrong, so setup a recurring backup and be done with it. You may not ever need to use the backups, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
WP-PageNavi
Instead of using the WordPress default previous and next links, this plugin adds a more advanced navigation. You can also completely customize the display of the pagination.
wp-typogrify
Instead of using primes for quotes ( ′ & ″ ) use real quotes instead ( ’ & ” ). This plugin will automatically correct quotes and apply additional typographic enhancements. Sometimes it’s the small details that count.
WP Security Scan
The WordPress team does a great job of addressing major security issues as they arise, but there are other steps you can take to secure your site. This plugin will run a scan and help you take the additional protection steps needed.
Download WP Security Scan Plugin
WP Super Cache
The WP Super Cache plugin generates static html files to speed up the loading of your site. If you tend to have large spikes in traffic, this is a must have plugin to help your site from going down. There is also legacy support for the WP Cache plugin if you don’t want to serve html files.
Download WP Super Cache Plugin
Conclusion
These are just a small subset of the essential WordPress plugins to get you started on a site. What other important ones do you recommend?
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )SX March 13th
Thanks. I have some, but will try others.
( )lawrence77 March 13th
wow! thanks all are nice!
( )bee May 14th
Same here, I will try some of them right now. Thank you!
( )Lee Rickler March 13th
With WP being used more and more as a CMS (rather than a simply blog) I would say that akismet is becoming less important.
( )Tony March 13th
Absolutely essential? I don’t think so.
( )Kyle Decot March 13th
Well of course none of them are “essential”. If they would essential then they would be built right into wordpress. I think you are taking the title a little too seriously. I thought this was a good article.
( )Lynn March 15th
Few plugins are essential but many are nice to have.
I really liked this article and I’ll be using a few of these myself. Thanks!
( )Matthew March 13th
Great list as always; one comment though:
IMHO, All in One SEO Pack is a must include on a WordPress install, even more so than a couple listed in this list. I think you can get by without smart quotes or even the Page-Navi, but SEO is a must in today’s market.
( )steve March 14th
I agree. After installing the All in One SEO Pack I’ve seen many more hits from search engines.
Great list, very useful. Thanks! I especially like the Custom More Link and the Page Navigation ones. Oh, and the different number of posts per page. There’s been times where I’ve needed all these features but gave up on it as I’m far from a programming genius.
( )mary March 13th
Thanks for this list, it’s one of the better ones that I’ve seen. Some of these I didn’t know about, such as the one to prevent self pings – will be very useful for me. I also like the security one.
Thanks again!!
( )Rishi Luchun March 13th
Nice, thanks for these
( )paul March 13th
I have a wordpress plugin question. I am attempting to create a back-end message board for all the writes that use the site. Is there a plug-in for that?
( )paul March 13th
writers*
( )iPad March 13th
Thanks, this is great… But this tut is repeated dude… I mean, c’mon
( )Sebastian March 13th
uh, I’ve never seen it… so it’s new to me.
Not everyone read’s blogs all day…
( )Meshach March 13th
Thanks for this!
( )Mikkel March 13th
Nice! Thanks, some of them have I never heard about.
( )Stephen Orsini March 13th
great stuff here… thanks for the advice. Your site is very helpfull.
( )insic March 13th
WP Security Scan? cool i must try it.
( )Antony_256 March 13th
Subscribe to Comments is for old versions. Check out Comment Reply Notification for similar functionality. All the others rock!
( )Aaron Riddle March 13th
Great list! I have a few installed but there are some that I was completely unaware of.
( )devno March 13th
great list
( )now i have 4 new useful plugins
Thx man!
FSMdotCOM March 13th
WP security Scan does a great job. it also tell you , that you need to change some permissions. try to change them and see if you can access the site anymore. and you cant change them back from the ftp client either. you need to go to cpanel or w/e and change them.
i installed it, saw what it “recommends” me to do, and uninstall it. But that’s just me….
( )Samantha Armacost March 13th
Thanks for these plugins, some I was already using.
I have been on the lookout for a comment reply notification plugin, the ones that I have tried fail to notify. However, this one uses a class of “wrap” which I also do, resulting in a rather awkward layout for the subscription manager. So if using a class of “wrap” in your theme be prepared to delve into the plugin’s php.
( )Ron Callari March 13th
Trevor, thanks – excellent breakdown of plug-ins. But where did you find the DIGG plug-in… i’ve searched high and low for it – but can’t find it? Can you email me with some insight here?
( )Benni March 13th
These are some nice plugins. I know most of them already, but some are new to me.
Thanks for this list
( )lawrence77 March 13th
your gravatar is amazing!
( )Benni March 15th
Well, that´s just me
Lawrence77 March 15th
Oh, Nice!
but why you are angry in this gravator?
sergi bosch March 13th
i was tres psyched when i saw your tweet about this.
( )lawrence77 March 13th
thanks man!
( )good list!! :0
Tadd March 13th
I also use:
Global Translator
PageMesh
Platimum SEO Pack
WP Auto Tagger
I use these on nearly all my sites and I use most of the plugs on this list with the exception of a few. A few that I’ll be adding to my list very soon! Thanks!
( )crysfel March 13th
thank you!! i have some of them, but i’ll use some other, thanks again.
( )Rainbow March 13th
It misses Platinum Seo Pack! But, that’s a great list! Thanks
( )Shane March 14th
I’ll second that.
( )dixHuit March 13th
I use a few of these already but will try the rest out.
I always install the Tiny MCE Advanced plugin on any new WordPress sites – I find that the regular post editor always leaves clients wanting more.
( )Paris Vega March 13th
I agree. Tiny MCE Advanced should definitely be in this list.
( )Sirwan March 13th
more stuff like this please.
( )saurabh shah March 13th
wowww… nice list… !!!
( )Nate March 13th
Thanks for the list!!!
( )Dave March 13th
Although I use WP constantly, I haven’t seen all of these. Most “must have” lists look exactly like what I already use, so this is great. Thanks for some good ideas!
( )Stijn March 13th
I am glad to see all of the plugins I use are listed right here. Must mean I’m on to something good. Nice list.
( )christian March 13th
great list!
( )milemann March 13th
“Different Posts Per Page” is made by some strange guys. i’ve got tons of obscure spam since i test it.
The same job (without spamming) make “Custom Query String Reloaded” by http://www.transycan.net/
greetz
( )mil
SX March 13th
I second that. Beware.
( )Cobber99 March 14th
I third that. I installed “Different Posts Per Page” and now get a ton of SPAM from the author. Completely lame. SPAM from a plug-in author? There is a special ring of hell for this behavior. I tried “Custom Query String Reloaded” per milemann March’s recommendation above and am much happier.
( )w1sh March 14th
Sweet! Just when I was about to use it!
GO Spam-Devils!
( )Cassie March 13th
Thanks for the list!
( )Jerome March 13th
Nice list, I think the all in One SEO Pack plugin should be added to the list.
( )Hans Kristian Anderson March 13th
I think you have an excellent list
( )Kevon Garcia March 13th
excellent post by my good friend Trevor Davis
some of them I know about already and some of them I happened to come across now…
( )joe March 13th
My name is joe and i endorse this list*
(well, a couple at least)
( )Rahul Chowdhury March 14th
These plugins are great. I already use two-three of these and I will give the rest a try.
( )Philo March 14th
Great List!
( )Ken March 14th
many thanks
( )Matthieu March 14th
Thanks for this good list of plugins.
( )Wicky March 14th
Great list. Thanks.
Can anybody suggest a good admin permissions manager? Ideally, I want something that will allow me to completely limit the backend to only allow the editing of content?
Ta
( )Jash Sayani March 14th
Wow, great list! I used PHP my Admin for Wordpress database backups, but I guess this plugin will simplify a lot of it
It would be great if it support auto-emailing the backups as well….
( )Maigret March 14th
Yeah that list is so good but 13 plugins isn’t enough in WordPress… because many of them are excellent.
If you like plugins, have a look at my peronnal list.
I hope you’ll enjoy it !
( )Aaron Irizarry March 14th
nice list! installing some now!
( )Behrang March 14th
cool plugins…
another cool plugin is antivirus for wordpress :
http://playground.ebiene.de/1577/antivirus-wordpress-plugin/
( )Alex McCabe March 14th
i really want a plugin, that enables a ‘back’ button on the posts for when you click read more or the title. the user shouldnt have to click thair back button on the browser window
( )taylan March 14th
Useful add-ons. thanks.
( )Anh dep March 14th
Thanks for sharing this!
( )Marianne March 15th
How about the automatic upgrade plugin? I have read good stuff on it.
( )Jonas March 15th
Great collection! thanks guys! =:)
( )Jaime Rodas March 15th
Great list, thank you for sharing
( )intereye.de March 15th
You should have a look at this “Better Feed Plugin”:
http://planetozh.com/blog/my-projects/wordpress-plugin-better-feed-rss/
It’s very useful to customize your feeds.
( )T-Law March 15th
These are great, thanks
( )Jan March 15th
Nice one!
( )Cam March 15th
THATS what pagenavi does! i don’t know why i never got that. thanks once again!
( )LiLi March 15th
Thank you so much for this
( )Sirwan March 15th
I heard WP super cache conflicts with alot of scripts like BBPress.
( )Nick March 15th
Thanks! I have a lot of these, but page-navi, subscribe to comments and the better search are all useful to me.
( )Ryan March 15th
Just getting into wordpress recently, this list should help we sort a few things out! Also, its obviosuly not essential but i have been using wp-e commerce to build a e commerce site and its pretty great!
( )andy March 15th
if you’re a developer, phpexec is pretty useful
( )Adrian Turner March 15th
time to check my list of plugins… thanks!
( )www.zhulie08.co.nr March 15th
Aduh da yang bisa menjelaskan nda ke aku nie, bahasanyah agak bisa kurang aku pahami nie.. tolong donk yah… beserta maksud dan tujuannyah masing2. makacih…
( )doubleolee March 16th
this is great! i’m just starting to learn wordpress so this should be very useful
( )Yatrik March 16th
Very good list indeed. I was looking something for redirection.
( )Ryan March 16th
Fantastic for my blog
Cheers mate. Appreciated entirely.
( )Wayne Helpard March 16th
Some great plug-ins there but I also think the WP E-Commerce from Instinct is deserving of at least recognition, it’s just not needed all the time because obviously not everybody has something to sell.
Gotta try that Security Scan plug-in out!!
( )Renzo March 16th
This is a good list, a plugin that I would mention is: cforms
It is very handy to customize your contact forms and such.
WP Super Cache rocks!
( )Wil Waldon March 16th
Great little list. Akismet saved the day soooo many times!
( )Gionata Nencini March 17th
Dear Trevor Davis.
Thanks for this usefull article.
I’d like to ask you if Akismet is suitable for self hosted WP 2.7.1?
I am using statpress at the moment, but not sure if I am happy with it.
;-P
Regards.
Gionata Nencini
( )Mike March 17th
Great list! I was surprised as to how many of these I already used!
( )Judd Lyon March 17th
Headspace2 & More Fields are two powerhouses as well IMO.
( )Mal March 18th
Nice one dude !! I’m trying out the backup one plugin now. I never though I would actually need it because my host does backups… you are getting a HUGE following – well deserved. Cheers -
( )topcool March 19th
Thanks for this great list.
( )I’ll try some of them
Confronta ADSL March 20th
Wow, nice selection, thanks
( )A dancer March 21st
Thanks for the list, here is my add:
Blog Metrics – good for bloggers to get a feeling for their “success” (or not”
Canonical URL’s – until one of the other “seo” plugins will adapt this.
Contact Form 7 – it’s a decent one.
Google Analytics for WordPress – also inserts the adsense-GA code, and tracking for long URL’s
Ozh’ Admin Drop Down Menu – it’s a better navigation to my taste
Shutter Reloaded – pretty image layering
Register Plus – allow some nice customization of the user register page and process.
p.s: you don’t have subscribe to comments on this blog – what a shame
Cheers,
( )Tal
Jean-Marc March 21st
Thanks for the list, what about the fine breadcrumbs plugin http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/breadcrumb-navxt/
Really useful for information architecture
Cheers
( )Jerome March 27th
Thank you for sharing this.
( )eddai March 27th
Headspace should have been in list also..though pretty nice list..thanks
( )mnuh March 28th
Awesome list, keep this good work.. thanks
( )Yohn Doh March 29th
Great article, but you forgot to mention Commentluv!
See it in action:
http://sarcasticmom.com/with-this-ring-i-thee-wed/
Download:
( )http://www.commentluv.com/
Colin April 1st
I love the supercache plugin, i have most of the others, thank you for the great post
Joomla, Wordpress, XP, Tutorials, Guides, Tips, Tricks, Tweaks & reviews
( )Rijal April 2nd
Nice, I like it !
( )Crimes & Justice April 7th
Nice list and essentials they are.
( )João Aliano April 12th
I have to say that Search Unleashed is a great plugin but it can be load intensive on shared hosting environments as it happened to one of my clients a few months ago.
That is not to say SU is to blame. Cheap hostings are really the curse, but some clients dont realise that until its too late. This guy was on a major talk show and whenhis website’s traffic reached a few thousand hits the server crashed. That day, the host asked us to remove the script or they would shut us down until it was fixed…
( )NumninquigO April 16th
nice, really nice!
( )shureiman April 19th
Very useful list. Never know about “No Self Pings” & “Custom More Link” plugins. Thanks a lot.
( )Jaysone April 23rd
Are there any plugins that show your recent posts in the sidebar with the image of the post (thumbnail)? Thank you
( )usman April 30th
thx for telling great plugins. i am find excetion plugin. do u know? from where i can download it.
( )sam May 14th
what about Flutter? first plugin on my list of any build!
( )Kapil May 17th
I love super-cache plugin and Google site map. I think you missed pretty useful plugins like :
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-cumulus/
and
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack/
( )Enk. May 21st
Thats a really lovely list there..
( )Already tried a couple of them, its time for the rest !
Great work !
ningbo weather May 22nd
THANK YOU for this useful article and interesting comments !
( )So many amazing plugins increase Wordpress performance a lot. So why these plugins are not directly duplicated in WP core ?
Is is a legal issue or what ? The code is there and people use it free so it would be easier to include these lines in the release to come.
What is your opinion ?
Thanks you all for your comments
Chandra Wijaya June 7th
Its such a great list you have.. Need to check it which one that i haven’t installed.
( )Sunil Jain July 27th
Thanks for the list
( )here are some must have seo plugins for wordpress to seo optimize their blog
http://www.gupshupblog.com/2009/07/must-have-wordpress-seo-plugins/
hope it helps everyone
bret August 30th
hey i have 45 active plugins some backend stuff—- is this ok
seems to load ok
how many plugins do you guys use ?
very cool list used all of them : )
( )Jomer Gregorio September 13th
Thanks for this post, this is really useful for wordpress users like me.
( )TonyArts September 21st
Hey, I really like the comment with speech boxes and also i like the 13 esstinal plugins!!
I’ve just found a entry which has some interesting entries:
http://www.kinocreative.co.uk/resources/20-useful-wordpress-plugins/
( )Houman ka September 22nd
Hmmmm theyare good, but some of them are not really important to install. but after all thanks for sharing this.
( )Smashing Buzz October 29th
really helping all of listed plugins, which are most helpful stuff. thanks
( )ThisIsOpenMusic! November 10th
Wow… Usually these types of ‘Top 20′ posts are balls. This was actually pretty useful (and no self-ping is a godsend!).
Peace!!!
( )