My Top Four Must-Have WordPress Plugins
I hesitated to publish this article for a long time, as revealing the exact plugins used on a live WordPress site poses a security risk. If a zero-day vulnerability is found, attackers could exploit it. However, I ultimately decided to go ahead because the four plugins I’m discussing deserve recognition. Their intuitive design and the developers’ hard work make them stand out. More importantly, they’re too good to keep hidden—WordPress admins everywhere should know about them. Raising awareness about high-quality plugins benefits the entire community, helping others enhance their websites while supporting developers who create valuable tools. While security is always a priority, sharing useful resources can contribute to a safer and more efficient WordPress ecosystem. So, without further ado, here are four exceptional WordPress plugins you should definitely check out.
FluentSMTP for SMTP Authentication
WordPress has a built-in mailing function, and PHP, the language behind WordPress, supports PHPMail(). However, many web hosts disable these functions due to security risks, as they lack authentication and can be exploited by spammers. The solution? An SMTP authentication plugin. I’ve tried many SMTP authentication plugins over the years but ultimately settled on FluentSMTP. Its polished interface, fallback/backup connections, and excellent documentation make it stand out. I currently use it with Brevo (formerly Sendinblue), but it also supports Amazon SES, Mailgun, SendGrid, Postmark, SMTP2GO, Google Workspace, Microsoft, and custom SMTP servers. If your host allows, it even works with PHP mail. If you’re using a different SMTP plugin, I highly recommend giving FluentSMTP a try—you won’t regret it. It’s a game-changer for reliable email delivery in WordPress. BTW: Did I mention that it’s free?
Social Snap Lite for Social Sharing
I don’t remember the plugin I used before finding Social Snap Lite, but clearing the share count cache is a nightmare. I have to enter a custom URL in the address bar—manageable for me, but not for my non-tech-savvy clients. Social Snap Lite simplifies this with a one-click cache reset. Plus, it offers two ways to pull share counts: from the Facebook API or the SharedCount API. This flexibility is crucial now that the plugin is temporarily removed from the WordPress repository for review, disabling Facebook API support. Fortunately, the SharedCount API keeps my share counts active. The free version supports only a few social networks, but you can upgrade for more. If you are looking for a reliable and user-friendly social sharing plugin, Social Snap Lite is a solid choice. Social Snap Lite makes sharing posts on social media and managing share counts hassle-free.
Truendo for Consent Management
Truendo’s free Consent Management Platform (CMP) helps websites comply with GDPR and CCPA through automated cookie scanning, a customizable consent banner, and basic reporting. While it ensures legal transparency, it has limitations, such as fewer customization options, limited third-party integrations, and no advanced analytics or premium support. Despite these limitations, I chose Truendo because the Essential plan (free) offers unlimited sessions and impressions, and page views, meeting my monthly traffic requirements—features that none of the other plugins I tested provided. Although the free plan lacks many features available in paid plans, it still offers essential tools for compliance. For advanced features like detailed consent logs and reporting, upgrading to a paid plan would be necessary. If you’re looking for a CMP that meets basic needs without restrictions on traffic, Truendo’s free plan is a solid option.
JetPack the Multipurpose Plugin
While WordPress plugins are incredibly useful, they can overwhelm your web server, particularly on shared hosting, if you aren’t careful about choosing well-coded plugins or if you install too many. The Core JetPack Plugin is a multipurpose plugin that combines several features into one. The core JetPack plugin supports SEO, AI-driven content enrichment, JetPack VaultPress backup (a premium feature), uptime monitoring, related posts, contact form, CDN, site verification, sitemaps, and many other features I’m not even using. (You can deactivate any functions you don’t need.) In essence, JetPack has replaced at least nine plugins that I previously used, making site management simpler and improving overall performance. It’s an all-in-one solution that significantly reduces the number of plugins I need to maintain, ensuring my website runs smoothly without unnecessary overhead. If you’re looking to streamline your WordPress site, JetPack is worth considering.
Caution: JetPack can sometimes lead to resource overload on shared servers. However, I haven’t experienced this issue while using NameCheap.
Wrap Up
And that’s a wrap! I hope the risks I took in sharing this blog post have been worth your time. Before making any changes, always remember to back up your WordPress site to avoid potential issues. Test these plugins on your own installation to see how they can improve your site’s performance and functionality. Whether you choose to implement them or not, staying informed about the best tools available is key to enhancing your website’s security and usability. Each plugin mentioned offers unique features that make WordPress site management more efficient, so experiment and find the ones that work best for your needs. Thanks for reading, and best of luck with your WordPress journey! By staying proactive, you’ll ensure your site runs smoothly, remains optimized, and continues to thrive. Stay curious and keep exploring new tools!
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