10 Must-Have WordPress Plugins for 2026 (Updated List)
Which are the must-have WordPress plugins for a new blog? Guest author Igor Kheifets first answered this in 2009, after installing, deactivating and removing hundreds of plugins. Some of his picks are still excellent, while others have closed. This updated list keeps the plugins that still work and replaces the rest with current favorites.
Quick answer: A new WordPress blog needs an SEO plugin, a caching plugin, a contact form, a redirect manager, spam protection, security, backups and related posts. Good choices are All in One SEO or Rank Math, WP Super Cache, Contact Form 7, Redirection, Akismet, Wordfence, UpdraftPlus and YARPP. Install only what you need and keep every plugin updated.
Table of Contents
10 must-have WordPress plugins in 2026
Each of these is free in the official WordPress.org plugin directory and was recently updated.
1. All in One SEO (or Rank Math)
Igor’s first pick is still going strong. All in One SEO lets you set SEO titles and meta descriptions without changing your post, so a catchy headline can still carry your target keyword. It also helps avoid duplicate content problems. Rank Math and Yoast SEO are popular alternatives; pick one SEO plugin, not several.
2. WP Super Cache
WP Super Cache makes your blog load faster by serving cached pages. If your host runs LiteSpeed servers, LiteSpeed Cache is another strong choice.
3. Contact Form 7
Every major blog has a contact form, and many still build it with Contact Form 7. Add spam protection to the form so your inbox stays clean.
4. Redirection
Broken links and indexing problems hurt SEO. Redirection lets you create simple 301 redirects when you move or delete posts, and logs 404 errors so you can fix them. Also see how to find and remove broken internal links.
5. YARPP (Yet Another Related Posts Plugin)
YARPP shows posts related to the one being read, giving readers more of what they want and improving blog navigation.
6. WP Popular Posts
Igor recommended Popularity Contest for showing your most popular posts, but it has since closed on WordPress.org. WP Popular Posts does the same job today with a sidebar widget for popular posts by day, week or month.
7. AddToAny Share Buttons
The original list included TweetMeme and Sexy Bookmarks for sharing. Both have closed (read what happened to TweetMeme). AddToAny Share Buttons adds share buttons for X, Facebook, WhatsApp, email and more.
8. Akismet Anti-spam
Comment Luv encouraged comments by linking to commenters’ latest posts, but it has closed, and comment links attract spam. Akismet filters spam comments and form submissions automatically.
9. Wordfence Security
The 2009 list’s security pick, Smart Update Pinger, is no longer in the plugin directory, and WordPress handles update pings itself. For real protection, Wordfence Security adds a firewall, malware scanning and login security.
10. UpdraftPlus
Backups were missing from the original list. UpdraftPlus schedules backups of your files and database and can store them in cloud storage, so you can restore your blog if something goes wrong.
Tips for choosing WordPress plugins
- Check that a plugin was updated recently and works with your WordPress version.
- Avoid plugins that do the same job, like two SEO or two caching plugins.
- Delete plugins you no longer use instead of just deactivating them.
- Test new plugins on a staging site or after a backup.
Curious what runs this site? Here are the WordPress plugins that power QOT.
FAQ
How many plugins should a WordPress site have?
There is no fixed number. Use only the plugins you need, choose well-maintained ones and remove the rest.
Which plugins from the original 2009 list are closed?
Comment Luv, Popularity Contest, TweetMeme and Sexy Bookmarks are closed on WordPress.org, and Smart Update Pinger is no longer listed.
Are free WordPress plugins safe?
Plugins from the official WordPress.org directory that are actively updated are generally safe. Keep them updated and avoid “nulled” premium plugins.
Do I need a caching plugin?
Usually yes, unless your host already provides caching. A cache plugin makes pages load faster for visitors.
Originally written by guest author Igor Kheifets, an internet marketing blogger who wrote about SEO, copywriting, lead generation and social media at IgorHelpsYouSucceed.com. Updated for 2026 by QuickOnlineTips.
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I’ll need to get a hold of some these plugins and give them a try, a really helpful list, thanks
Detailed article and comments on 10 Must Have WordPress Plugins. Not all can possess the identical sentiments or experience. I think I am in line with with this web sites position. This view is unquestionably something Id care to consider more of.
Thanks, CK Hicks. I am not using 6 and 9 plugins. I will soon look into them.
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All-in-one-SEO is a standard these days. The others are nice plugins but should be added to each site as needed. I like the list though.
Check out some of my work if you care to:
More WordPress plugins.
Only All In One SEO Pack is must-have :)
Definitely recommend #6 and #9. Wouldn’t run a site without them.
Instead of Smart updater I use max blog press ping optimizer..I hope Wp will fix this bug soon..
using most of the list,good for new blogger
cool! i using few plugin from your suggestion ! just leave a msg to thank you.
cool, I just started trying to get more out of my wordpress which I’ve just been using just as is for a few years now. I’m going to start using some plug-ins now and hope to one day change out the regular classic/default color scheme and layout too.
So far I’ve downloaded contact-form-7 from your list
Cool List.. use many of them already !
Recently wrote Plugins to use WordPress as CMS. Check them out too ! ;)
Smart Update Pinger, from the website linked: “Pingfix is obsolete for WordPress 2.1 and newer versions.”