| Feature | FREE 1 User, Single Website | Standard 4 Users, Single Website $1.99/mo. or $23.88/yr. | Pro Multi-User, Single Website $2.49/mo. or $29.88/yr. | Enterprise Unlimited Users, Multi-Website, Dedicated Servers, 5 or > Websites $0.99/site/mo. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Ads | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Installation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Unmetered Traffic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WP Auto-updates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Progressive Web App (PWA) Website auto-adjusts to desktop view, tablet view, or mobile view | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Posts Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Page Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Media Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Comments Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tech Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Website Security | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Site Backup | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Your Own Domain Name | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Themes Management | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Settings Management | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Secure Transactions (SSL for payments and financials) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| eCommerce (Needs Full Control Plugins Management) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Plugins Management (see narrative below to learn more) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-Posts to Social Media | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| User Management | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Tools Management | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Plugins Management
Advantages of Full Administrative Control
- Customization: Extend your site’s functionality and design with precisely the features you need.
- Security Management: Implement robust security plugins and keep them updated for optimal protection.
- Performance Optimization: Fine-tune performance tools to maximize your site’s speed and efficiency.
- Troubleshooting: Isolate issues by deactivating plugins strategically, helping to pinpoint problems.
- Avoiding Feature Bloat: Maintain a lean and performant website by installing only essential plugins.
Notable Free/Open-Source WordPress Plugins by Category
Security
- Wordfence Security: Comprehensive protection with firewall, malware scanning, and more.
- Sucuri Security: Offers similar features plus additional website monitoring services.
- All In One WP Security & Firewall: User-friendly and robust security solution.
Performance
- W3 Total Cache: Widelyvused caching plugin with extensive optimization options.
- LiteSpeed Cache: Powerful choice, particularly if you use a LiteSpeed web server.
- WP Super Cache: Well-respected caching plugin from the developers of Automattic (the company behind WordPress).
- Autoptimize: Helps with minification and combination of code for faster load times.
SEO
- Yoast SEO: The go-to standard for on-page SEO, sitemap generation, and content analysis.
- Rank Math SEO: Excellent alternative with powerful SEO tools and features.
- The SEO Framework: Fast, unbloated SEO option with a streamlined approach.
Backup
- UpdraftPlus: Top-rated, reliable plugin for backups and restorations with cloud integration options.
- BackWPup: Flexible backup solution with scheduling and multiple storage destinations.
Forms
- WPForms Lite: Drag-and-drop form builder, great for contact forms, surveys, and more.
- Contact Form 7: Highly popular, offering customization possibilities for those comfortable with coding.
- Ninja Forms: User-friendly form builder with flexibility and extensions.
eCommerce
- WooCommerce: The industry standard for transforming your WordPress site into an online store.
Page Builders
- Elementor: Drag-and-drop builder for visually designing your site, offering a vast free version.
- Brizy: Intuitive page builder with a clean interface with a good range of free features.
Image Optimization
- Smush: Compresses images without sacrificing quality, boosting site speed.
- EWWW Image Optimizer: Another image optimization tool with various configuration options.
Other Noteworthy Categories
- Social Media: Smash Balloon (Instagram Feed, Social Photo Feed), Social Warfare (social sharing).
- Translation: Polylang, TranslatePress.
- Membership: Ultimate Member, MemberPress.
- Anti-Spam: Akismet Anti-Spam (comes pre-installed with WordPress).
Important Reminders
- Official WordPress Directory: Focus your plugin search on https://wordpress.org/plugins/ for secure and reliable downloads.
- Reviews and Ratings: Consider community feedback when making decisions about plugins.
- Compatibility and Testing: Always check plugin compatibility and test in a staging environment whenever possible.