Creating a standout WordPress website takes more than just great design, it is about the right tools too.
Plugins can help you do lots of things on a WordPress site, many of them making it much easier to make changes that would otherwise require complex code. But there are so many to choose from, and some can do more harm than good, so which ones should you choose?
As a web design agency specialising in building WordPress websites, we have tried plenty of them over the years. Based on that hands-on experience, here is our list of ten favourite WordPress plugins to boost your website's performance and user experience in 2026.
Building your website
Our recent guide comparing Squarespace vs WordPress explored how WordPress is free, open-source software for creating websites that gives you lots of options compared to platform-based website builders. These are our favourite plugins for building your WordPress website:
1. DIVI
Let's start with DIVI. DIVI's visual builder makes it incredibly easy to design and customise every part of your website from scratch. With its drag-and-drop interface, you can build polished web pages without needing to write a single line of code.
DIVI comes with a vast library of pre-made layouts and modules, allowing you to quickly build pages with complex functionalities. Plus, it is fully responsive, ensuring your site looks great on any device. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, DIVI offers the flexibility and power you need to create a unique and professional website.
2. ACF
Next up is ACF, short for Advanced Custom Fields. This plugin is great for adding extra content fields to your WordPress edit screens. It allows you to create dynamically linked content with templates, giving you the flexibility to customise your product pages in many creative ways.
With ACF, you can add fields anywhere in WordPress, including posts, users, taxonomy terms, media, comments, and even custom options pages.
This makes it incredibly versatile for developers who need to build sophisticated and dynamic content structures. If you are looking to add more functionality to your site and make content management simple, ACF is the way to go.
Technical, SEO and security
These are the plugins we reach for on almost every client site, long before we add anything niche. If you are unsure where to start, cover security, caching and SEO first; our responsive web design guide explains why speed and structure matter as much as the plugins themselves.
3. Wordfence
Security matters, and that is where Wordfence comes in. This plugin offers enterprise-level security features, like firewall protection and malware scanning, to keep your site safe from hacks and threats. Wordfence includes a real-time threat defence feed, blocking known attackers and protecting against new threats. It also provides security alerts and insights into your site's security status.
With its comprehensive set of tools, including two-factor authentication and country blocking, Wordfence ensures your site remains secure and your data is protected. With Wordfence, you can have peace of mind knowing your website is protected against the latest cyber threats.
4. LiteSpeed Cache
For those on LiteSpeed-compatible hosting, LiteSpeed Cache is worth installing. This plugin optimises your website and improves caching, making your site load faster. It integrates smoothly with your LiteSpeed server to deliver superior performance.
LiteSpeed Cache offers a range of optimization features, including image optimisation, database cleanup, and minification of CSS and JavaScript files. Faster load times mean better user experience and improved SEO, as search engines favour speedy sites (Google refers to this as a PageSpeed score). It is a win-win!
5. Converter for Media
High-quality images are great, but they can slow down your site. The Converter for Media plugin compresses your images without compromising quality, loading your site faster. It supports various image formats and offers lossless and lossy compression options.
This means you can reduce the file size of your images significantly while maintaining their visual appeal. By optimising images, you not only enhance performance but also save bandwidth and improve loading times. It is a simple way to enhance performance and keep your visitors happy.
6. Better Search Replace
Migrating your site to a new domain or server? Better Search Replace makes updating URLs and other text in your database easy. This plugin simplifies the process, ensuring everything works perfectly after the move. It is an essential tool for hassle-free site migrations.
You can perform a dry run to see which fields will be updated before making any changes, reducing the risk of errors. Whether updating links, changing text, or migrating your entire site, Better Search Replace simplify the process and ensures consistency.
7. FluentSMTP
Say goodbye to emails landing in spam folders with FluentSMTP. This plugin changes your WordPress email-sending method from PHP to secure SMTP, ensuring your emails reach their recipients reliably. FluentSMTP integrates with various email service providers and offers detailed email logs so that you can track and manage your email deliveries.
It supports multiple SMTP configurations, allowing you to switch between providers easily. It matters for keeping email delivery reliable so messages reach your audience.
8. Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is a powerhouse for boosting your site's visibility and is one of the best SEO plugins for WordPress. This plugin helps you to optimise your content for search engines with features like keyword analysis, readability checks, and meta-tag management.
Yoast SEO guides you through improving your on-page SEO, offering suggestions and highlighting areas for improvement. It also generates XML sitemaps, making it easier for search engines to index your site. It is our go-to for attracting more organic traffic and improving search rankings. With Yoast, you can ensure your site is optimised for both search engines and users. For a wider comparison of SEO plugins, including Rank Math, All in One SEO and SEOPress, see our guide to the best WordPress SEO plugins.
Three pillars every WordPress site needs
Before you add niche tools, make sure the foundations are covered , most problems we see on client sites trace back to one of these gaps.
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Protect the site
A firewall, malware scanning and login hardening stop most attacks before they reach your content or customer data.
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Speed up delivery
Server-level caching and optimised images keep pages loading quickly, a baseline for both UX and search visibility.
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Make SEO manageable
One SEO plugin, reliable SMTP and clean metadata mean search engines and inboxes both treat your site seriously.
Other WordPress plugins you may need
Not every site needs a booking system or admin shortcuts on day one. Add these when your workflow or business model calls for them.
9. Amelia
If you need a booking system, look no further than Amelia. This plugin automates appointment and event bookings, making it easy for your clients to schedule with you. Amelia offers a sleek and user-friendly interface, both for the front end and the admin panel. It integrates with payment gateways, supports notifications, and allows you to manage appointments, services, and events efficiently.
Whether you run a salon or a fitness studio, Amelia simplifies your booking process and enhances customer experience. It also offers features like recurring appointments, group bookings, and multi-day bookings, providing flexibility for various business needs.
10. ASE
Lastly, ASE, or Admin and Site Enhancements, is a versatile plugin that improves admin workflows and site aspects. It replaces multiple plugins with features like SVG uploads, content duplication, and customisation of the admin interface. ASE simplify your workflow, allowing you to manage your site more efficiently.
It also includes tools for improving the WordPress admin experience, such as hiding unnecessary menu items, adding custom admin columns, and enabling dark mode. ASE makes managing your site easy, allowing you to focus on what matters.
WordPress plugin FAQs
How many WordPress plugins should a website have?
There is no magic number, quality matters more than quantity. Most business sites run comfortably on ten to twenty active plugins. Keep the plugin list short, delete what you do not use, and avoid installing two plugins that do the same job.
Can too many WordPress plugins slow down my site?
Yes, poorly coded or redundant plugins add database queries and scripts that slow pages down. Focus on well-maintained plugins with clear purposes, and use caching plus image optimisation to offset the overhead.
Are free WordPress plugins safe to use?
Plugins from the official WordPress directory are reviewed before listing, but you should still check update frequency, active installs, support responses and recent reviews before installing. Remove anything that has not been updated in over a year.
Do I need a page builder like DIVI on every WordPress site?
Not always. Block themes and the native editor suit many content sites. Page builders earn their place when you need flexible layouts, reusable modules or marketing pages you will iterate often without developer help.
Is Yoast SEO still a good choice in 2026?
Yes. Yoast remains one of the most widely used SEO plugins and handles titles, meta descriptions, sitemaps and readability checks well. Alternatives like Rank Math exist; the important part is picking one SEO plugin and sticking with it. Our dedicated comparison covers the main options in detail.
Next steps
Integrating these tools will help you get the most out of your WordPress site, ensuring that it stands out and effectively conveys your brand's values to your audience. Before you install anything new, run a quick health check, our website audit guide walks through what to review first.
Need help with WordPress plugins or with web design? Contact us at Berlew, a brand and web design agency based in Nottingham, for your free consultation today.
We have over 10 years' experience creating websites that represent your business, your brand identity, and captivate your audience.
