As a freelance WordPress web designer, I have worked on a wide range of projects—from small business websites to e-commerce stores. Over time, I have realized that a website is not just about a beautiful design. Its performance, security, SEO, and ease of management depend heavily on the plugins we choose.
Over the years, I have tested dozens of plugins, and I now have a set of essential plugins that I never skip in any project. These plugins help me deliver websites that are fast, secure, optimised, and user-friendly for my clients. Here’s my take on the top five plugins I always use, why I use them, and how they add real value to every project.
1. Elementor – Page Builder
Elementor is my favourite page builder for WordPress. It allows me to create custom layouts using a simple drag-and-drop interface without writing a single line of code. What I find most useful is the responsive editing feature—it ensures that the website looks perfect on desktop, tablet, and mobile. Elementor’s advanced widgets and global styling options save a lot of time while maintaining design consistency across pages.
For clients, Elementor is a lifesaver because they can make small changes themselves without breaking the design. In my experience, using Elementor makes designing faster and keeps the client happy.
2. Yoast SEO – Search Engine Optimization
A website without proper SEO is like a shop in the middle of nowhere. That’s why I always install Yoast SEO on every project. It helps me optimise pages with the right meta titles, descriptions, keywords, and readability tips. I also configure XML sitemaps and social sharing settings, which makes indexing on search engines faster and easier.
Using Yoast SEO has consistently helped my clients rank better on Google and attract more organic traffic. In today’s competitive online world, it’s essential to make sure your website is visible to potential customers.
3. WP Rocket – Performance Optimization
Website speed is crucial for user experience and search rankings. WP Rocket is my go-to plugin for performance optimisation. It handles caching, lazy loading of images, and database cleanup automatically. When combined with a CDN, websites load much faster, reducing bounce rates and improving overall engagement.
I have seen clients noticing a significant difference after optimisation, especially on mobile devices. Fast websites not only look professional but also build trust with visitors, which is very important for businesses.
4. Wordfence Security – Firewall & Malware Protection
Security is a top priority for every website, especially for e-commerce stores or sites handling sensitive data. Wordfence provides a robust firewall, malware scanning, and real-time security alerts. I always set up email notifications for both myself and my clients so that we are aware of any issues immediately.
This plugin gives peace of mind knowing that the website is protected from hacks, spam, and malicious traffic. In my experience, investing in security upfront saves a lot of trouble and costs in the long run.
5. UpdraftPlus – Backup Solution
Backups are like insurance for your website. I always install UpdraftPlus to schedule automatic backups to cloud storage like Google Drive, Dropbox, or AWS. This ensures that if anything goes wrong, the website can be restored quickly without losing important data.
I also recommend testing the restore functionality occasionally. It’s a simple step that ensures the backup is working correctly and saves a lot of headaches if an issue ever arises.
These five plugins form the backbone of every WordPress website I build. While additional plugins may be needed depending on the project, these essentials guarantee that the website is secure, fast, SEO-friendly, and easy for clients to manage.
Over the years, using these plugins has allowed me to deliver professional websites that meet client expectations while making my workflow more efficient. If you are a WordPress user or designer, I highly recommend exploring these plugins and integrating them into your projects.
