In this article, I want to share a list of FREE WordPress plugins that I recommend for 2024.
Currently, there are millions of WordPress plugins available, and it can be very difficult to choose the right one among 5 or 10 similar plugins that offer the same functionality.
Let’s get started:
Maintenance Mode
When you start development, you often need to hide a website from visitors or search engines, whether it’s a production site or a staging environment. This plugin is very lightweight and easy to use.
The main advantage is that you can generate an access key, which you can share with clients or anyone who needs access, allowing them to view the site without any issues.
Additionally, you can create a simple HTML template to make it look better than the default option and use it across all your websites.
WPS Hide Login
Every website should have basic security settings to protect against hacking bots. Thousands of bots scan WordPress sites every minute, trying to find the correct usernames and passwords.
This plugin helps change the login URL from “/wp-admin/” and “/wp-login/” to a custom URL.
I also recommend using more complex URLs instead of common ones like “admin” or “login.”
I like this plugin because it is lightweight and less overwhelming compared to default security plugins that offer a lot of features, of which you might only use 10% or 20%.
Elementor Visual Builder (with Elementor PRO version)
As an Elementor developer, I naturally use the Elementor Visual Builder plugin on my websites. If you don’t develop websites with Elementor, you can skip this point, as it may not be relevant to you.
If you’re looking for a great visual builder, I highly recommend Elementor because it allows clients to easily edit their websites.
Elementor is also very flexible with third-party integrations, dynamic information from URLs, UTM parameters, and other data.
Rank Math SEO
Every website should have solid SEO settings, such as page titles, descriptions, keywords, preview images, schemas, etc.
This plugin offers excellent functionality, even with its free version.
You can create a sitemap, and set specific indexing rules for certain pages, among other features.
I highly recommend this SEO plugin.
CookieYes | GDPR Cookie Consent
“Most privacy laws require that you disclose to visitors what information you collect from them, such as personal data and how you use it. If you use cookies to collect data from your site users, you must have a cookie consent banner and cookie policy.”
To comply with these rules and laws, you need to use a plugin like this one. I use CookieYes because it is easy to set up and is trusted by many users worldwide.
I have a video where I demonstrate these plugins in a real-world scenario, which you can watch.
Don’t know how to collect UTM parameters? I’ve prepared articles with detailed instructions: Capture UTM parameters in Elementor Forms Using Cookies
