With growing concerns over SEO, pagespeed and accessibility, we thought it was necessary to put together a list of plugins we typically see problems with, and do or don't recommend.
Pagespeed
Not Recommended
- Jetpack
- Autoptimize
- SGOptimizer
- Flying images
Recommended
SEO
Not Recommended
- Redirection
- Rankmath
Recommended
Security
Not Recommended
- Really Simple SSL
Recommended
A proper host (eg. BigScoots, Agathon)
Analytics
Not Recommended
- MonsterInsights
- Google Analytics Dashboard WP (GAD WP)
Recommended
Embed the analytics code manually - you don't need stats in the dashboard
Non essential
Not Recommended
- Gallery (of any kind)
- Lightbox (of any kind)
- Instagram widgets (of any kind)
- Javascript-based filter
- Woocommerce
- WP User Avatar
- Better click to tweet
Recommended
Just remove them
Image optimization
Not Recommended
- Smush
- SGOptimizer
- Jetpack
Recommended
Forms
Not Recommended
- WP Forms
- Contact Form 7
- WPForms
- Ninja forms
- Gravity forms
- Jetpack
Recommended
Non - simply list your email address on the contact page and make sure you're using Cloudflare to block bots
Non plugins
We also recommend removing javascript/links to "badges" or "networks" as these provide no user value and only benefit the site being linked to, not you eg.
- foodgawker
- healthyaperture
- gluten free blog network
- finding vegan
- "top 100 blogs" etc.
- nfca
If these were implemented by loading javascript or external images, they can have serious negative impacts on pagespeed and CLS.
We also recommended removing:
- anything in the "Before Header" widget area, as this can cause CLS issues
- any category drop-down menu (recipe index, sidebar)
- any date-based filtering option
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