WordPress is one of the most well-known CMS, or Content Management Systems, used today. Due to its popularity and usage, thousands of plugins have become made available, with both free and paid versions available. Before you build your next WordPress site, take a look at our top 25 best free WordPress plugins for every website that all website owners should know. 

Top 25 Best Free WordPress Plugins for Every Website 

The use of WordPress can be taken to the next level with the use of a variety of plugins. From image cache plugins to SEO-centric plugins, there is no shortage of options when it comes to searching for plugins that are compatible with your WordPress site. Below is our list of the 25 best free WordPress plugins for every website created today.

1. Jetpack

Jetpack is a leading WordPress plugin that does so much while still providing a free version. Jetpack helps with improving security while also managing the overall activity of your website. From providing real-time stats to built-in marketing tools and resources, Jetpack is one of the best leading free WordPress plugins that has something to offer for just about every type of website.

Features: Jetpack has an array of features, making it difficult to pinpoint just what category Jetpack belongs in when it comes to WordPress plugins. Some of the most notable features that come along with Jetpack include: 

• Real-time live stats
• Downtime monitoring (real-time and overviews generated)
• Activity logging
• Built-in marketing tools to help increase your online reach
• Social media sharing tools and assistance
• Performance improvement tips and guides
• Automatic backups of your WordPress site
• Shared/related post plugins
• Lazy loading options for various WordPress themes

Pricing: Currently, Jetpack is available for free for all WordPress users. However, there is also a Pro version of Jetpack available that starts at $7.95 per month. 

2. Elementor

If you are looking for a drag-and-drop website builder that is compatible with WordPress, do not pass up the opportunity to check out Elementor.

Elementor is a leading WordPress page designer and builder that offers a world-class drag-and-drop system. Users who have little to no experience with programming and coding can excel with Elementor.

Features: Stand-out features of Elementor include:

• Drag-and-drop web page builder
• Premade templates
• Hundreds of add-on plugins and extensions
• Easy-to-use visual builder

Pricing: Elementor is free to use but also offers a Pro plugin plan that starts at $49 USD per year.

3. Smart Slider 3

Using a visual slider to display media on your site can significantly increase engagement. With Smart Slider 3, you can do so free of charge.

Features: Some features that come with Smart Slider 3 include:

• SEO Optimized
• Compatible with any WordPress theme
• Fully responsive sliders for various browsers and devices 

Pricing: Smart Slider 3 is completely free to download and use. However, there are also premium versions of Smart Slider 3 available starting at $49 per month. 

4. WooCommerce

If you are thinking of building your own store with your WordPress site, you can't go wrong with WooCommerce. WooCommerce is the leading WordPress eCommerce plugin that is free to use for all users, for both personal and commercial sales. 

Features: WooCommerce comes with everything you need to get started with your own online store. Some of WooCommerce's features include:

• Manage product galleries with ease
• Handle and set shipping methods, classes, and zones
• Track traffic and sales
• Sell physical and digital items
• Access to thousands of additional WooCommerce plugins for a fully-customized eCommerce storefront

Pricing: WooCommerce is a completely free plugin to use.

5. Yoast SEO

When it comes to SEO, or search engine optimization, Yoast SEO delivers. Yoast SEO is a leading WordPress plugin that has been downloaded and installed on WordPress sites more than 5 million times.  

Features: A few features of Yoast SEO include: 

• SEO analysis
• Multilingual support
• Readability analysis (built-in)
• Google preview(s)
• Schema blocks 

Pricing: Getting started with Yoast SEO is easy, as it is free for basic users. Those interested in the premium features of Yoast SEO can gain access for $89 per website. 

6. Shared Counts

Showing off shared counts on a post or a page can help to increase engagement and gain traction online. With Shared Counts, display your social media shares proudly and free of charge. 

Features

• Showcase share count total on each page, post, or update
• Includes Facebook, Yummly, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest share button
• Includes email share button
• Twitter Tweet button included 
• Print button included 

Pricing: Shared Counts is a completely free plugin with all of its features available free of charge. 

7. MonsterInsights

When managing analytics in real-time matters to you, MonsterInsights delivers. MonsterInsights is one of the most popular Google Analytics dashboard plugins for WordPress today. 

Features

• Real-time Google Analytics plugin
• Actionable analytics
• Quick and easy setup
• Enhanced eCommerce tracking included

Pricing: MonsterInsights can be downloaded for free, but also has pro plans that begin at $99.50 per year.  

8. Pretty Links

If you are looking for a way to automatically shrink links you would like to generate and share, consider using Pretty Links.  

Features

• Enables shortening of links for your own domain  name and WordPress site
• Track individual Pretty Links you generate automatically 
• Use Pretty Links to generate redirects 

Pricing: Pretty Links is free to use for all users. There is also a pro version available starting at $79 per year. 

9. Ninja Forms

If you are creating forms for user feedback or if you want to provide your visitors with a contact form, Ninja Forms is a leading free WordPress plugin.

Features

• Includes drag-and-drop interface
• AJAX form submission (allowing form submission without page reloads)
• Row and column layouts to choose from 
• Conditional forms
• 27+ field types

Pricing: Ninja Forms is completely free to use. However, there are also premium plans that begin at $49 per year.

10. TablePress

If you need to work on a spreadsheet on your WordPress site or if you want to create Excel-like sheets, you can do so with TablePress. 

Features

• Import tables
• Embed tables using a simple shortcode
• Edit tables and sheets similar to Excel and Google Sheets

Pricing: TablePress is free to use for any purpose.

11. Envira Gallery

If you are looking for a WordPress gallery that is free, easy to use, and accessible for all WordPress users, consider Envira Gallery.

Features

• The ability to manage numerous images at once
• Templates and libraries for easy setup
• Simple design and management 

Pricing: 

12. Akismet Anti-Spam

Stopping bots and spam from clogging up your WordPress site can help keep your site appearing professional and trustworthy. Akismet Anti-Spam is a leading anti-spam plugin suitable for all types of WordPress sites. 

Features

• Automatically detect spam accounts and remove their ability to post or comment
• Automatically generate spam reports in the WordPress admin area

Pricing: Akismet Anti-Spam is completely free to use for all WordPress users.

13. Two-Factor Authentication

Protecting and securing your WordPress site is extremely important today, especially with rampant phishing, hacking, and scamming attacks each day worldwide.

With Two-Factor Authentication, use TOTP + HOTP protocols to provide authentication on your own site.

Features

• TOTP + HOTP protocols
• Brute force attack protection
• Compatible with Google Authenticator, Authy, and other applications that support HOTP + TOTP protocols. 

Pricing: Two-Factor Authentication is free to use for all users, regardless of the number of websites you own. 

14. Yoast Duplicate Post

If you've ever wanted to make a copy of a page or post on your WordPress site, you can do so with just a click with Yoast Duplicate Post.

Features

• Built-in clone options directly into your WordPress post/page editor
• Template tags that can be implemented in various types of posts and pages you have created

Pricing: Yoast Duplicate Post is available for free for all users. 

15. Really Simple SSL

If you want to secure and encrypt your website but do not know where to begin, Really Simple SSL can help. 

Features

• Automatically detect the website's settings to configure your website to run via HTTPS
• Generate Let's Encrypt certificate automatically to use on your WordPress site

Pricing: A free version of Really Simple SSL is available as well as a pro version starting at $29.

16. Wordfence Security

Security is a top priority for most website owners today. If security matters to you with your WordPress site, consider using the Wordfence Security plugin. 

Features

• WordPress firewall to identify and block potentially malicious traffic
• Built-in malware scanner
• Automatically scan and compare core files for potential changes with real-time reports

Pricing: There is currently a free version of Wordfence Security as well as a pro version that begins at $99 per license. 

17. Duplicator

If you've ever tried migrating a WordPress site, you know just how much of a hassle the process can be, especially if you are new to it. The Duplicator plugin makes migrating and transferring WordPress sites easier than ever.

Features

• Seamlessly migrate your WordPress site to another host
• Build staging sites 
• Create local copies of your WordPress website for development purposes.

Pricing: Duplicator offers a free version well as a pro version starting at $69. 

18. WP-Sweep

If your WordPress site uses multiple databases, WP-Sweep is a must-have database maintenance plugin. 

Features

• Automatically sweep and maintain your WordPress site's current databases
• Scans databases for potential errors
• Automatically optimizes databases without requiring manual input

Pricing: WP-Sweep is available completely free of charge to all WordPress users. 

19. WP Fastest Cache

Using a caching plugin is highly advisable with any WordPress site. Displaying content on a WordPress site can quickly become cumbersome without a plugin such as WP Fastest Cache. 

Features

• Uses Mod_Rewrite
• Cache files are automatically deleted when a page or post is published. 
• Cache timeout available for specific pages
• SSL, CDN, and Cloudflare support

Pricing: WP Fastest Cache offers a free version as well as a pro version starting at $49.99 for 1 site license. 

20. Optimole

If image optimization matters to you, Optimole can help. Optimole is a next-gen image optimization plugin that can help with reducing file sizes of images and streamlining the loading of your WordPress site altogether. 

Features

• Automatically optimize and reduce image size, helping to reduce overall storage space usage
• Works in the Cloud for next-gen optimization technologies 
• Serves images via CDN for increased image sharing and displaying

Pricing: There are both free versions of Optimole, as well as pro versions that start at $19.08 per month. 

21. Beaver Builder

If you enjoy frontend WordPress builders and are looking for an alternative to Elementor, Beaver Builder may be right for you. Beaver Builder is a flexible drag-and-drop intuitive website builder that allows anyone the ability to build a WordPress website within minutes, regardless of experience.

Features

• Flexible drag and drop builder
• Built-in content modules for photos, text editing, HTML, audio, video, buttons, icons, and more
• Colum-based and full-width layouts are available.
• Custom CSS classes and CSS IDs permitted
• Responsive themes
• Mobile-friendly layouts

Pricing: Currently, Beaver Builder is accessible for free to all WordPress users. However, there is a pro version of Beaver Builder that starts at $99. 

22. TranslatePress

If you want to expand your international reach online, you can do so with TranslatePress. 

Features

• Compatible with all WordPress themes
• Live preview of translated posts and pages
• Automatically translate all website content in real-time into your chosen language(s)

Pricing: TranslatePress is available for free, although there are premium versions of the plugin available starting at $79 per use for one website.

23. Sassy Social Share

If you're looking for a modern way to allow users to share your content and WordPress pages via social media, Sassy Social Share delivers.

Features

• Share to Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Whatsapp, Tumblr, Pinterest, Gab, Getter, Parler, or Reddit with ease
• ED-GDPR Compliant 
• Free to use
• Free customization 
• Mobile responsive
• Compatible with WooCommerce, BBPress, and BuddyPress 
• No third-party access 

Pricing: 

24. Regenerate Thumbnails

If you've ever set a new WordPress theme to your site only to find yourself struggling to understand why your images look off, you may need Regenerate Thumbnails. Regenerate Thumbnails automatically resizes images to fit any theme or template you set responsively.

Features

• Automatically regenerates thumbnail when making updates to WordPress themes
• Maintains quality of images and thumbnails 

Pricing: Regenerate Thumbnails is a completely free plugin available for all WordPress users.  

25. Advanced Custom Fields 

If you plan to add custom fields to your WordPress site anywhere on the site itself, you will need Advanced Custom Fields, or, ACF.

Features: ACF offers the following features:

• The ability to add custom fields to posts, pages, or any post type you set and/or create
• Display custom field data anywhere, regardless of post or page type

Pricing: ACF is available free of charge, although there is a Pro version available starting at $49 per year.

Conclusion

Anytime you are creating a WordPress site, searching for the best free WordPress plugins for every website can help you to get started on the right track. Finding suitable plugins for your WordPress website will not only help you to create the website you envision, but you will have the ability to do so without hiring developers and programmers to get the job done.