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Image showing logos of popular WordPress plugins including WPForms, Elementor, WooCommerce, Wordfence, and Rank Math SEO

The 7 Best WordPress Plugins You Should Install First

So, you have launched your WordPress site. That is a big step forward. But now comes the real challenge: choosing the right plugins.
With more than 60,000 plugins available in the WordPress directory, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Install too many and your site slows down. Pick the wrong ones and you could expose your website to security risks.
The good news is that you do not need dozens of plugins to run a professional, secure, and fast WordPress site. You only need a small handful of powerful tools that cover the essentials: SEO, speed, design, security, lead generation, and eCommerce.
At LaunchWithWP, we recommend these seven plugins as your starting toolkit. They are lightweight, reliable, and designed to give your site the best possible foundation.
Let’s dive in.

Rank Math: Your Complete SEO Assistant

Screenshot of Rank Math SEO plugin modules in WordPress including Content AI, 404 Monitor, AMP, and Image SEO

Search engine optimization can feel complex, but Rank Math makes it simple. It guides you while you create content, helping you optimize for Google without needing deep technical expertise.

Why it matters

Without SEO, even the best content struggles to rank. Rank Math takes care of the technical side and gives you clear recommendations, making it easier for your site to attract traffic.

What it does best

  • Gives real-time SEO suggestions while you write
  • Generates XML sitemaps automatically so Google indexes your pages faster
  • Adds schema markup for rich snippets like reviews and FAQs
  • Tracks keyword rankings inside WordPress

Why we recommend it over alternatives

Compared to Yoast SEO, Rank Math includes more advanced features for free. It has built-in keyword tracking, detailed schema options, instant indexing, and a lighter, faster codebase.

💡 Pro tip: Enable the Instant Indexing feature to notify Google the moment you publish. This speeds up the time it takes for your new posts or pages to start ranking.

WP Rocket: The Speed Booster

Screenshot of WP Rocket website promoting faster WordPress performance and speed optimization
Website visitors expect fast load times. If your pages take longer than three seconds, more than half of your audience may leave before they even see your content. Google also uses site speed as a ranking factor, which makes performance critical.

WP Rocket solves this problem instantly. Instead of spending hours configuring caching settings, this plugin speeds up your website right after installation.

What it does best

  • Creates cached versions of your pages to reduce server load
  • Minifies CSS and JavaScript files so they load faster
  • Lazy loads images so only what is visible loads first
  • Preloads cache so even the first visitor gets a fast experience
Unlike many free caching plugins, WP Rocket works straight out of the box. It combines features that usually require several add-ons into a single, easy-to-use tool.

💡 Pro tip: Pair WP Rocket with a free CDN like Cloudflare. Together they ensure your site loads quickly no matter where your visitors are located.

Elementor: The Visual Page Builder

Screenshot of Elementor plugin settings in WordPress showing post types, fonts, and customization options

Not everyone is a developer, and not every website owner wants to deal with code. Elementor makes designing a WordPress site as simple as drag, drop, and publish.

Why it matters

A beautiful and user-friendly design builds trust with visitors. Elementor gives you full creative control without requiring HTML or CSS.

What it does best

  • Drag-and-drop editing with real-time previews
  • Hundreds of professional templates to build pages quickly
  • Responsive design adjustments for desktop, tablet, and mobile
  • Built-in widgets for forms, sliders, testimonials, pricing tables, and more
Compared to the default Gutenberg editor, Elementor offers greater flexibility, deeper customization, and advanced features like animations and motion effects.

💡 Pro tip: Use Elementor’s global fonts and colors to keep your branding consistent across the entire site.

WPForms: Simple and Reliable Contact Forms

Screenshot of WPForms plugin email settings in WordPress with template and appearance options
A website without a contact form is like a store without a front door. Visitors need a way to reach out, ask questions, and send inquiries.

WPForms is the easiest way to create forms in WordPress. You can build anything from a simple contact form to a survey or even a payment form, all without touching code.

What it does best

  • Drag-and-drop form builder that anyone can use
  • Pre-made templates for contact, registration, and feedback forms
  • Spam protection to keep bots away
  • Real-time notifications when someone submits a form
  • Integrations with email tools like Mailchimp and HubSpot.
Contact Form 7 is a popular free plugin, but it requires coding for customization. WPForms is modern, user-friendly, and comes with everything you need built in.

💡 Pro tip: Enable Google reCAPTCHA in WPForms to block spam before it even reaches your inbox.

Wordfence: Strong Security Made Simple

Screenshot of Wordfence plugin settings in WordPress dashboard showing firewall and protection options
WordPress powers over 40 percent of the web, which makes it a frequent target for hackers. Every day, thousands of sites face brute-force login attempts, malware injections, and other security threats.

Wordfence protects your website with real-time security features that stop attacks before they cause damage.

What it does best

  • Firewall that blocks malicious traffic
  • Malware scanner that detects and removes harmful code
  • Login protection that limits failed attempts
  • Real-time traffic monitoring to spot suspicious activity
  • File integrity checks to catch unauthorized changes
Unlike many free security plugins, Wordfence provides strong protection even in its free version. It is one of the most trusted plugins for WordPress security worldwide.

💡 Pro tip: Turn on two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of login security.

WooCommerce: The eCommerce Powerhouse

Screenshot of WooCommerce website homepage highlighting customizable ecommerce features

If you plan to sell products or services, WooCommerce is the plugin to use. It turns your WordPress site into a complete online store with full flexibility and no monthly platform fees.

What it does best

  • Easy setup and product management
  • Multiple payment options including PayPal, Stripe, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
  • Inventory management with variations, stock alerts, and reporting
  • Fully customizable design that works with any WordPress theme
  • Detailed sales analytics built right into your dashboard
Unlike Shopify, WooCommerce is free and gives you full control. It also integrates seamlessly with other plugins like Elementor and WP Rocket to create a fast, well-designed store.

💡 Pro tip: Combine WooCommerce with WP Rocket for a fast checkout experience that increases conversions.

Easy Table of Contents: Organize Long Posts

Screenshot of Easy Table of Contents plugin settings in WordPress dashboard

If you publish long guides or tutorials, readers may struggle to find the sections they need. Easy Table of Contents solves this by automatically adding a clickable table of contents to your posts.

What it does best

  • Improves navigation by letting visitors jump to specific sections
  • Boosts SEO by creating structured content that Google can feature in snippets
  • Customizable styles so the design matches your website
  • Works automatically by detecting your post headings
This plugin makes long-form content more user-friendly and keeps readers engaged for longer periods.

💡 Pro tip: Use clear and descriptive section titles so both readers and search engines understand your content better.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Lean and Powerful

WordPress plugins can either make your website stronger or drag it down. The key is to keep things simple. Start with these seven essentials, and you will have a site that is fast, secure, optimized for search, and ready to grow.

At LaunchWithWP, we believe in building WordPress sites that work smarter, not harder. With the right foundation, you can focus on growing your business instead of fixing technical issues.

So, install these plugins, keep your setup clean, and watch your website perform at its best.
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