“Selecting the right plugins for a WordPress Internet Business is no easy task, & your selections will have cost & performance implications for your website.”
My WordPress Plugins Guide involved looking at radar sites, listening to expert opinions from Kevin Geary, Online Media Masters, WPBeginner, & reviewing Wordpress.org.
If you go it alone, it will take a bit of research & time to sift through the complexity of plugins & features to get to a final collection. Or you can save time & follow my suggestions.
Plus you need to consider if personal, business, or lifetime subscriptions are best, and if one-time-payments (OTP), upgrades, or annual payments are required.
“My approach was to follow experts, plus use free or personal plans where possible, to see if I like a plugin before upgrading.”
With free plugins you usually get one site activation, which means you may need to deactivate/reactivate the live plugin occasionally when using local or staging sites.
Below is my collection of plugins for a high-performance website, with my tips for starting. These are the plugins on sbmarketer.com at publishing time.
Core Website Systems:
These four plugins are critical for the architecture, structuring & styling of my dashboard, pages, posts, & CPTs.
Automatic CSS (Paid)
USD $79/yr + GST Freelancer Plan 3 Sites (Auto Renews)
Automatic CSS (ACSS) is a Cascading Style Sheet framework for WP that was created by Kevin Geary to speed-up workflow, & make it easier to style & maintain a website.
“You get one source of truth for global element styling with tokens, & you can change style classes or variables directly within the page builder.”
I use ACSS to style my website with global utility classes & enable consistent spacing via utility classes (padding, margin, column, rows) for visual rhythm.
This is a core component of my “Fantastic Four” system & WordPress plugins guide for high-performance websites.
Tip: ACSS will assist you with global styling & predefined web styles, but make sure to only update this plugin from a staging site or after backing up.
Frames (Paid)
USD $69/yr + GST Freelancer Plan 3 sites (Auto Renews)
Frames is a collection of pre-built sections & components for WP that was created by Kevin Geary to speed-up workflow for wireframing & structuring websites.
“Frames expedites my wireframing & page building workflow so I can build websites in less time without having to code.”
I select & import pre-built (unstyled) Frames sections & components into Bricks builder, to customise my page structure.
It’s focused on efficiency, ease of styling, & it’s powered by Automatic CSS for perfect code consistency, responsiveness, & flexibility.
This is a core component of my “Fantastic Four” system & WordPress plugins guide for high-performance websites.
Tip: Connect Bricks builder to Frames, open a page in Bricks, then import the sections & components you want from Frame’s library, e.g. Hero Section Alpha.
Advanced Custom Fields (Free)
Advanced Custom Fields is an alternative to Meta Box. Both plugins offer similar core functionality, adding custom fields, custom post types, & taxonomies.
“ACF has a more intuitive visual interface making it easier for beginners to create & manage custom fields without coding.”
I use ACF for my custom fields in my Services CPTs, so the first screen view is locked from Bricks builder & edited from the WP dashboard (safeguarding technique).
It works by adding custom fields into the WordPress dashboard. I used three custom fields in my Services CPT top sections, e.g. lede text, button text, & link.
My Services CPTs are made from a custom Brick’s template that is partially dynamic in the top section, from the three custom fields, while being editable using Bricks in the body.
Tip: Start on the free version & see if you like it before upgrading to pro USD $49/yr, if you prefer ACF. Get original ACF from WP Engine (creator), not WP directory.
MB Custom Post Types & Taxonomies (Free)
MB CPT&CT is one extension from Meta Box, the alternative to ACF. Both plugins offer similar core functionality, adding custom fields, custom post types, & taxonomies.
“CPTs provide better content structuring, improved SEO from custom taxonomies, & enable template customisation.”
I used this for creating my CPTs for Services, Comments, FAQ, Reviews, Legals, & Projects. I created my CPTs in the WP menu, assigned icons & settings with this.
As you expand you might create taxonomies for “Service Types” or “Project Types” to classify them & assist user experience & SEO.
Tip: Start with the free version & see if you like it, before upgrading to Meta Box AIO (all-in-one) USD $49/yr, if you prefer Meta Box.
Auxiliary Website Systems:
These four plugins assist site performance through image optimisation & email authentication, & enable inbound messages from my web forms.
Short Pixel Image Optimiser (Paid)
AUD $15.99 OTP 10K Credits Unli Domains
“Short Pixel delivers optimised next-gen (WebP) images, adjusts the image size & can serve images through their CDN if needed.”
This means you no longer have to precisely size images in Photoshop, before uploading them, but it’s still good practice to size images & reduce down large file sizes.
I use Short Pixel to optimise (resize, compress, & convert) my images & thumbnails in the media library, with my average optimisation being 47% less, & served in WebP format.
Tip: Start with a one-time-payment plan for 10K credits, then upgrade to 30K credits (AUD $19.99) when you reach the limit.
WPCode Pro (Paid)
USD $49/yr + GST Basic Plan (Auto Renews) 1 Site*
“WPCode makes it easy to add custom code snippets to WP websites from their library, but it can also be done using Bricks builder or Perfmatters.”
I use WPCode to add GTM (enabling GA4) to my site header & body, disable WP comments, & add duplicate page/post in WP admin. I can also access their code library.
This plugin is however optional for beginners, as GTM & code can be added globally using Perfmatters, or done manually with Bricks by placing code into a global header, & in individual body sections.
Comments can also be disabled in WP admin or Perfmatters, & WPCode’s conversion pixels for Google ads & social ads (not for beginners) can be done through GTM for free.
Start with the basic plan if you want to use similar features as I do & access the code snippet library. Or you can leave it & use the other methods mentioned.
Tip: *Price on renewal is USD $99/yr, consider cancelling prior renewal to find a sale coupon.
WS Form Pro (Paid)
USD $59/yr + GST Personal Plan (Auto Renews) 1 Site.
“WSForm is an easy way to make advanced next-gen web forms with a friendly interface that’s intuitive for beginners without coding.”
I use this for my contact form, for my newsletter subscription & blog comments on my article posts, to confirm opt-in via checkbox, & to configure the admin & confirmation emails post form submission.
The Freelancer plan ($149) provides integrations with Google Drive, Zapier & email platforms, e.g. Campaign Monitor & ConvertKit, you might consider later.
If you want to use the standard forms in Bricks builder to start you can, but allow a little more time to manually build them.
Tip: Always publish form changes after you save them in a two-step process (save & publish) as saving will not publish changes.
Postmark SMTP (Free)
100 emails/mth 5 Servers
“Postmark overrides the native WP mailing system (wp_mail) so your transactional emails are routed through their servers & sent from a verified sender address.”
Postmark is owned by Active Campaign, & a trusted SMTP service provider & serious about reputation for ensuring WP emails get delivered to inboxes.
When you create an account, you’re vetted to ensure legitimate email practices, & you create email servers for your transactional & promotional (broadcast) emails.
My transactional emails are sent from admin@sbmarketer.com via pm.mtasv.net, they get stamped mailed by pm.mtasv.net, & signed by pm.mtasv.net.
These include, my Newsletter sign-ups, Contact Us, & Blog Comments, that trigger admin & confirmation emails. Postmark tracks & logs sends, opens, & links for 45 days.
Tip: Once you reach 100 emails /mth limit, upgrade to USD $15/mth for 10K emails.
Search Engine Optimisation:
The four plugins are critical for site indexing, on-page SEO, structured data, preloading cache, lazy loading images & delaying scrips for SEO performance.
Rank Math SEO (Free)
You need the free plugin installed if using the free features or pro features, as the pro plugin is built upon the free plugin’s foundation, and it relies on its functionality.
“While the free plugin is not as loaded as the pro version, it’s a force comparable to other paid SEO plugins & a great starting point if your budget doesn’t meet pro-level.”
Free features a friendly interface with XML Sitemaps, dynamic SEO Titles & Descriptions, Schema Markup (structured data), Image SEO, Local SEO & more.
Tip: If you are starting out, this is a great option for getting SEO basics right. Then later when you have built substantial content upgrade to the pro-version.
Rank Math SEO Pro (Paid)
USD $69/yr + GST Pro Plan (Auto Renews) Unli Personal Sites*
“One of the most comprehensive SEO plugins available, that’s optimised for speed with less code, small folder size, & less memory usage, than its competitors.”
I use this for XML Sitemaps, Instant Indexing (pages, posts & CPTs), dynamic SEO Titles & Descriptions, Schema Markup (structured data), Image SEO, Local SEO, Keyword tracking, OG Thumbnail, Twitter Card & more.
It comes with an AI content trial that is USD $53/yr after the 2-week trial period. I cancelled this as I have another AI subscription included with MBS.
These features can enhance your website’s SEO performance in the SERPs & user experience, which are important for attracting new customers.
Tips: *Intro price on renewal USD $95/yr, but it’s possible to cancel prior renewal & re-subscribe with a coupon. AI trial auto charges after 2-weeks, unless cancelled.
WP Rocket (Paid)
USD $59/yr + GST Single Plan (Auto Renews) 1 Site
“An all-in-one website caching & performance plugin to help me achieve better speed results & optimise my website for Google’s CWVs.”
WP Rocket is an alternative to Perfmatters. Both plugins offer features to improve page speed, & cross over in areas like lazy loading images, Java script & CSS optimisation.
I use this plugin with all the caching features activated. It was provided as a bonus from my hosting provider Rocket.net, & I’m happy with the page speed results I’m achieving.
It preloads cache & links, lazy loads images, minifies & removes unused CSS, minifies & delays Java script, deletes post revisions, & cleans my transients & database.
Tip: Get this plugin free with a managed hosting subscription to Rocket.net. If using this & Perfmatters, make sure features activated on one, are deactivated on the other.
Perfmatters (Paid)
USD $29.95/yr + GST Personal Plan (Auto Renews) 1 Site
“Perfmatters helps speed up my site is by disabling scripts that are not in use.”
Perfmatters is an alternative to WP Rocket. Both plugins offer features to improve page speed, & cross over in areas like lazy loading images, Java script & CSS optimisation.
I use this for general cleanup, e.g. disable emojis & dashicons, remove WP version metatag, remove RSS feed links, remove REST API link & remove filter global styles.
This is a good choice for image, script, & CSS optimisation for better page loading speed, if you’re not using WP Rocket.
Tip: Get Perfmatters to improve your CWVs, if you’re not hosting with Rocket.net (with WP Rocket bonus), or you have 3 sites (USD $59.95/yr).
Website Aesthetics (Admin)
These two plugins improve my WordPress admin, with folders & columns for better organisation.
Happy Files Pro (Paid)
USD $59.00 + GST (OTP) Unlimited Sites
“Happy Files optimises my media library by facilitating clearly named folders with drag-and-drop functionality.”
It organises not just media files, but also posts, pages, WooCommerce products, & custom post types into folders. The plugin can also create dynamic galleries.
I use this to categorise my media & images into organised folders, e.g. folders for fonts, icons, logos, page images, etc. As you publish more this plugin helps you stay organised.
There is no free version, only the pro version for one-time-payment (OTP) with unlimited folders & sites, & lifetime updates & support.
Tip: If you’re interested in organising your media files & posts in folders get this plugin.
Admin Columns (Free)
I use this to add & reposition admin columns (Title & Published) in my Posts dashboard, as these columns were not in default settings.
“Admin Columns organises my WordPress dashboard by adding columns for pages, posts & CPTs.”
My Post Dashboard uses (in order) Featured Image, Title, Author, Categories, Tags, Date & SEO details columns across the dashboard.
Tip: If you’re interested in improving your admin dashboard columns, get this plugin, & when you have created substantial content, upgrade (USD $79/yr 1 Site) to pro.
I hope this WordPress Plugins Guide helps to simplify the requirements for a high-performance website, so you can spend more time writing, & less time choosing plugins.
Before purchasing any WP plugins look around for Seasonal (Spring) or Black Friday sales (last Fri Nov) & Intro offers that can save you 30-50% off the cost.
What are your thoughts on this WordPress Plugins Guide for service-orientated Internet Businesses?
Let me know in the comments below.
