The average number of hours spent by a developer searching for appropriate WordPress Plugins is approximately 9 hours.

I'm kidding.

Sure, it may not actually take nine hours of plugin searching (although it sometimes feels like it), but finding, configuring, and refining your plugin setup can be time-consuming. Over the years, I’ve honed a list of go-to plugins that I regularly install depending on the type of WordPress build I'm working on.

Here’s my curated list of must-have WordPress plugins, organized by the main site needs they address—from structure and design to security, SEO, and beyond.

Structure and Build

• Child Theme Configurator – essential for creating child themes allowing you to make customisations without modifying the core theme files.

• Contact Form 7 – a versatile form builder that’s flexible, reliable and works with various add-ons.

• Flamingo – a helpful plugin to store submissions from Contact Form 7 enabling easier message tracking and management.

Design and Layout

• CoBlocks – a Gutenberg blocks plugin that expands your design options.

• Top Bar – use this plugin to create announcements or calls to action at the top of the site.

• Ghost Kit – another Gutenberg extension offering unique blocks that enhance the design possibilities of WordPress.

• Simple Banner – display promotions or announcements at the top of the website.

• Ultimate Addons for Gutenberg – extends Gutenberg functionality with additional styling options and custom blocks.

• Elementor – a powerful drag-and-drop page builder to create beautiful, complex layouts without custom code.

Security and Management

• ManageWP - Worker – manage updates, backups and performance checks for multiple WordPress sites.

• Wordfence Security – security plugin that protects against malware, hacking attempts and unauthorised logins.

• Themeify – for customising WordPress themes safely and efficiently, offering tools that simplify theme management.

Marketing and Analytics

• Yoast SEO – SEO plugin for optimising on-page elements like meta descriptions, title tags and site structure.

• Yoast Duplicate Post – saves time by enabling quick duplication of posts and pages quickly.

• Easy Forms for Mailchimp – a must-have for integrating Mailchimp and making it easy to capture leads.

• Smash Balloon Instagram Feed – seamlessly integrates Instagram feeds onto your site.

• HurryTimer – adds scarcity marketing features like countdown timers to boost conversions on sales and offers.

• ExactMetrics – simplifies Google Analytics integration and provides insights directly in your WordPress dashboard.

• All-in-One SEO – an alternative to Yoast, offering advanced SEO tools and schema markup features.

• Hotjar – provides heatmaps and user behaviour insights to understand where users click, scroll and interact most.

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

• TutorLMS – a full-featured LMS plugin with quiz capabilities, content dripping, and grading.

• Sensei – developed by the WooCommerce team, it integrates well with WooCommerce and is great for paid courses.

• LearnPress – a flexible, beginner-friendly LMS with extensive add-ons.

• Simple WordPress Membership – manage membership-based learning with access control and content restriction.

E-Commerce and Payments

• Woo Partial.ly – allows customers to set up payment plans, making larger purchases more accessible.

• WooCommerce PayPal Checkout Gateway – simplifies payment processing with PayPal integration.

• Mailchimp for WooCommerce – syncs WooCommerce customers with Mailchimp for post-purchase engagement.

• WooCommerce Services – offers additional features like automated tax calculations and shipping label generation.

• Appointment Booking Calendar - add scheduling or appointment management capability to your website.

Finding the right plugins is essential for a successful WordPress site. Each of these plugins has earned a spot on my list by providing reliable, efficient solutions that streamline setup and enhance user experience. Whether you’re building a blog, a membership site or an e-commerce store - these plugins cover the core essentials for any WordPress build.