Useful Plugins for WordPress Websites in 2025
WordPress is our preferred platform for Web Development and below we will feature plugins that we rely on for most, if not all, of our WordPress Development projects. If you are just getting your feet wet in WordPress, or even if you are an old pro you will find that you might already be utilizing one of these plugins on your WordPress website.
All in One SEO
First on our list we have All in One SEO, also available as a Pro Plugin. Gives you all of the tools you need to ensure your site is properly structured an utilizes all applicable on-page SEO optimizations to help you rank high in search listings and optimize current/future content to modern SEO standards.
Advanced Custom Fields PRO
Advanced Custom Fields is a very powerful plugin on its own, but ACF Pro is where the power really shows. We consider ACF Pro to be the most important plugin when it comes to creating custom content in WordPress. Create custom post types, options pages, taxonomies and more with this powerful, must-have plugin from the team at WP Engine.
WP Mail SMTP
Email Deliverability from your WordPress site is a very common issue we hear. Typically the easiest way to overcome these deliverability issues is by setting up the basic version of WP Mail SMTP and utilizing a free SMTP provider like SendGrid
In addition to the first 2 plugins in our list, WP Mail SMTP also offers a Pro version for more intricate implementations such as Microsoft.
Query Monitor
Query Monitor is a plugin very useful for troubleshooting a slow WordPress back-end, or when troubleshooting any errors your site may have. This is an advanced tool with many advanced configurations, but is incredibly useful for plugin and theme audits.
String Locator
String Locator is a plugin used to find instances of text within your themes and plugins. Very useful when cleaning up a theme or plugin. Please exercise caution using this in a production environment, this plugin is best utilized locally.
Wordfence
Security is one of the most important pieces of keeping a website clean and functional. Wordfence provides a suite of security features to protect your site and its users with a Firewall, Malware Scanner, and a toolbox of security features. A paid version is also available when you need more security, but out of the box this provides more than enough for a majority of small sites.