9 Essential WordPress Plugins for 2023

One description of a WordPress plugin could be “a software addon that packs a punch”. That doesn’t necessarily apply to every WordPress plugin. Even though that is more often than not the purpose behind them. At their best, plugins can be capable of taking a business to the next level, and that could be your business as well.

One or more of the 9 essential WordPress plugins featured in this article could do that for you. Or, at a minimum give your websites some extra pizzazz, make them more engaging, or make them more useful.

Having said that, you have to have created a quality website to begin with, so that’s where we will start.

1. Brizy: The Best Website Builder for Non-techies

Brizy is a no-code website builder that you can use to add functionality to or customize existing areas in your WordPress site or start from scratch and build your own. Brizy is free to download, and you don’t have to be a techie or worry about having code or design skills to use it.

• Brizy’s theme builder makes it as easy as can be to customize any and every part of your site.
• You can create your own dynamic templates for special pages, headers, and footers, and display conditions make it easy to set up repeating header and footer blocks.
• 150+ high-converting pre-made templates are included along with a useful selection of dynamic elements (posts elements, breadcrumbs, shortcodes, sidebar, etc.).
• The 100% White Label option allows you to brand the builder as your own. A perfect option if you are doing client work. 
• WooCommerce integration is included if you are building an online store. You can customize all areas of your shop site.

A Pro version of Brizy is available that adds extended functionality to the Free version.

Click on the banner to find out more about this WordPress theme builder.

2. WpDataTables – WordPress tables plugin

If you’re tasked with attractive and meaningful creating tables or charts from huge amounts of complex data, you may well be giving serious thought to looking for another line of work.

wpDataTables is a top-selling, powerful WordPress table plugin that can make your task ever so quick and easy. Over 66,000 companies and individuals working with scientific, statistical, and financial data have enjoyed great success using wpDataTables –

• Google Charts, Highcharts, Chart.js, and Apex Charts chart-building engines
• ability to access and manage data from multiple sources and in various formants
• to create tables and charts that are responsive, informative, and user editable
• to highlight or color code key information using the Conditional Formatting feature.

wpDataTables integrates seamlessly with Elementor, Divi, Avada and WP Bakery.

Click on the banner to learn more about how this WordPress plugin can make scary tasks easy and fun.

3. Amelia – WordPress booking plugin

Amelia is a WordPress booking plugin that can be used to streamline and fully automate a business’s manual or semi-automated appointments booking operation.

Amelia is a perfect choice for beauty salons, spas, health and fitness centers, consulting operations and like-minded business enterprises.

With Amelia, your business can –

• allow clients to book and manage appointments online 24/7
• manage group bookings, ticket sales, and bookings for events
• manage unlimited appointments at multiple locations from a single platform and dashboard
• send notifications and reminders to clients via SMS or Email
• customize booking forms and fields to match your brand
• Amelia supports WooCommerce and also enables your business to accept bookings payments via PayPal, Stripe, Mollie, and Razor.

Click on the banner to find out more about how Amelia will save your business time and money and can help you keep your clients satisfied.

4. TheDock – Ship Solid Websites

TheDock is a WordPress theme builder/visual editor that enables teams to create websites faster and more efficiently. Theme editing happens in the cloud, which enables easy collaboration among designers and developers.

TheDock’s –

• templating system gives you complete control over your theme.
• Global UI style and Global Modules enable rapid assignment to any post in WordPress.
• Layout Editor allows visual editing of templates.

TheDock runs as a plugin and writes the code for you.

5. Slider Revolution – more than a WordPress slider plugin

This WordPress slider plugin is more than just a slider plugin. Slider Revolution’s role in your design toolkit is to impress your clients or customers by incorporating a healthy dose of spice and flair into your website.

Slider Revolution –

·       offers cutting-edge website animation effects.

·       includes 250+ website and slider templates designed to impress.

Slider Revolution is trusted by over 9 million users around the world.

6. LayerSlider – Best WordPress Slider Builder Plugin

Create shiny new websites or spice up existing ones with LayerSlider, the best WordPress slider plugin. Impress clients and visitors alike with a modern look and feel.

• Easily add flair and excitement to an otherwise unadventurous website with LayerSlider.
• This plugin fully supports your WordPress theme and page builder, no matter which one you use.
• LayerSlider’s 210+ highly customizable website, slider, and popup templates are ideal starting points for new projects.

7. Download Monitor – Best WordPress Download Manager

Download Monitor is a popular WordPress plugin that can streamline your business operations by helping users track & protect their file downloads. Over 100,000 people are currently using it.

Download Monitor, as a WordPress downloads manager, can:

• Track any type of file download (including but not limited to ZIP, PPT, XSLX, PDF, etc.).
• Track file downloads and group them by user role, and user status (logged in or not)
•  Set advanced file access rules based on user role, download quota set on a per-user level, and so much more. 
• Download Monitor integrates with other successful plugins, such as LearnDash, Restrict Content PRO, Ultimate Member, PMPPro, Gravity Forms, Ninja Forms, Contact Form 7 & more.

8. Essential Grid – Best WordPress grid plugin

A gallery is often intended to be the focal point of a website, but if improperly designed it could end up being just another page.

The best WordPress grid plugin for avoiding that situation is Essential Grid with its –

• 50+ impressive, customizable grid templates.
• stunning grid layout options including boxed, full-width and full-screen layouts with even, masonry, and cobble grid items.
• responsive designs that allow you to control grid appearances on various devices.

9. Ads Pro – WordPress ad manager

The Ads Pro WordPress advertising plugin is easy to set up and work with, and offers an exceptional range of advertising sales, management, and display options.

Key Ads Pro features include –

• admin and frontend user panels and a front-end order form to manage and sell ads.
• 20+ ad display options that include 3 Facebook display options and 25+ customizable ad templates.
• 3 billing methods and 4 payment methods.

*******

One or more of the 9 top WordPress plugins featured in this article could take your business to the next level. At a minimum, it can give your websites some extra flair and spice to make them more engaging. Also it can give them some additional functionality.