Top 5 plugins that you need after installing WordPress (and alternatives)

Pick one from each category… The reasoning behind these categories is that when BUILDING your website: 1) you want it to be secure, have a 2) backup handy in case you need to go-back in time. You also need a good tool for 3) BUILDING pages and have a way for clients to 4) CONTACT you. You also want to be found on the internet, so that’s where SEO comes in handy!

Security Firewall / Malware scanner:

#1 Wordfence  https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordfence/
#2 Sucuri scanner https://wordpress.org/plugins/sucuri-scanner/

Back Up:

#1 Updraft Backup https://wordpress.org/plugins/updraftplus/
#2 Backup  WordPress https://wordpress.org/plugins/backupwordpress/

Page Builder

#1 Divi  https://www.elegantthemes.com/plugins/divi-builder (Included in Divi, no free trial..)
#2 Beaver builderl ite https://wordpress.org/plugins/beaver-builder-lite-version
#3 Elementor https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/

Disable Gutenberg if your theme conflicts with it https://wordpress.org/plugins/disable-gutenberg/

Contact Forms and Emails:

WP Mail Logging https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-logging/

#1 Ninja forms https://wordpress.org/plugins/ninja-forms
#2 Formidable Forms https://wordpress.org/plugins/formidable
#3 Simple Basic Contact Form is a clean, secure, plug-&-play contact form for WordPress https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-basic-contact-form/

STAY AWAY from Contact form 7! [While it’s a very popular classic, it slows down your website and it’s NOT that user friendly!]

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

#1 Yoast SEO https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-seo
#2 All In One SEO https://wordpress.org/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack
#3 SEO Framework, a lighter version https://wordpress.org/plugins/autodescription/

That will get you started with the basics…
Do you need more? Of course! Here’s my tested list: https://profiles.wordpress.org/amikeliunas/#content-favorites

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You need more? Like SPEED, social media or Image Compression?

Speed

#1 Clearfy https://wordpress.org/plugins/clearfy/
#2 Swift Performance Lite https://wordpress.org/plugins/swift-performance-lite/

Social Media

#1 AddToAny Share Buttons https://wordpress.org/plugins/add-to-any/
#2 Simple Share Buttons Adder https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-share-buttons-adder/

Image Compression

#1 EWWW Image Optimizer https://wordpress.org/plugins/ewww-image-optimizer/
#2 Robin image optimizer https://wordpress.org/plugins/robin-image-optimizer/

Example of “Top 5 plugins” that you need after installing WordPress (2016)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izDLgUUkc6E

This is a quick video about the 5 plugins I always use (by Mr. J.) after installing WordPress. If you have your own top 5 plugins, please comment below and let everybody know 🙂