WordPress has thousands of helpful and useful plugins you can install to enhance the functionality of your WordPress website. Each plugin installs extra code onto your site and hooks into WordPress’s core system. Each plugin is written by a third-party author from around the world, with a variety of experiences. All plugins are sent through a review process to ensure they meet the guidelines. However, with a volunteer team and thousands of plugins, sometimes things get missed or simply are not checked after they’re approved.
Outdated Plugins
WordPress displays a notice on a plugin’s page if it hasn’t been updated in over two years. After this amount of time, WordPress versions become incompatible, PHP versions it was tested with fall behind, and the plugin could be less useful as new features in other plugins develop. Outdated plugins can also pose a security risk, as they’re not patched for vulnerabilities. These plugins should be tested thoroughly with every WordPress update to ensure no problems arise after updating WordPress.
Plugins Removed
WordPress plugins that are neglected long enough are eventually removed from the repository. Developers are given ample time and warning via email, so these plugins should be uninstalled immediately from your website to mitigate security issues.
Low Ratings
Every WordPress plugin in the repository has a rating system, where users can give their opinion on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best and 1 being the worst. Most reviews are based on people’s own experiences with the plugin. False or fake reviews are rare, so you can trust the reviews you see.
Multiple Plugins of the Same Kind
There are many plugins out there that offer the same features, such as Elementor and Divi, Yoast and SmartCrawl, WordFence and Defender. They all provide the same features. Yes, some are better than others, but they provide the same functionality at the end of the day. You should make every effort to avoid installing plugins that offer the same functionality. Imagine having two SEO plugins installed; it would be chaos for Google to know which meta descriptions to use!
Plugins You Don’t Need
It’s awesome to have so many plugins at your fingertips. Need this or that? There’s likely a plugin for it! It can be fun to explode your site with all these functionalities, but think about what you really need before installing! Too many plugins can cause incompatibilities on your site, slow it down, or cause security concerns.
Conclusion
While plugins can significantly enhance your WordPress site’s functionality and user experience, it’s crucial to choose and manage them wisely. Always prioritize plugins that are regularly updated and well-reviewed, avoid redundancy by selecting plugins with unique features, and be mindful of your site’s performance and security. By carefully considering your plugin choices and staying informed about updates and removals, you can maintain a smooth, secure, and efficient website. Remember, a leaner plugin list often leads to a more reliable and faster website, ensuring a better experience for your visitors and easier management for you.
