Most WordPress users are skeptical about the total number of WordPress Plugins they are to use.
In this article, we balanced the equation on WordPress Plugins, and how many are required on every blog or website.
Over to the big question “, How many WordPress plugins should I use”?
It is a million-dollar question that has no specific answer. Asking this question is like asking how many ingredients should be used to cook a pot of rice.
As long as all the plugins installed has a necessary feature to perform. Then there is no limit to the number of plugins you should install.
Lots of WordPress users must have experienced situations where their site starts misbehaving. The first thing they do is deactivate the plugins just to be sure where the issue is coming from.
After deactivating the whole plugins, if the issue is fixed, they will then troubleshoot to find which of the WordPress plugin is causing the problem.
In some cases, it is not even the plugin that is causing the issue, rather it is the theme. The installed theme is what didn’t make the plugin function properly.
For the best result, when troubleshooting your WordPress, it is advisable when you discover a plugin with an issue.
Test that plugin with another theme – to be sure where the problem is coming from. Else you may end up experiencing such an issue again in the future.
Possible Problems with WordPress Plugins
1. Plugins Slowing Down WordPress Site
Although there are cases where too many WordPress plugins will slow down your WordPress site.
It is because the more plugins you install on your WordPress site – the more code your website will be running on.
It often happens when a poor hosting company is hosting your WordPress site or when your server can’t handle your site traffic.
A possible solution if the slowdown is caused by your server not being able to handle requests coming into your site is to install a cache plugin. At least that will make returning visitors not tap much from your server resources.
If such is faced you will need to upgrade your server as soon as possible before it will crash your whole WordPress website.
In this case, you are expected to use as few plugins as possible. Conflicts between plugins can also cause an issue.
2. Plugin Errors
In some other cases which I have experienced, some plugins can’t work together in the same WordPress site. When they are installed, it may lead to errors on your WordPress blog.
It happens when you install more than one plugin with similar features, especially those that have to do with the database.
I have seen a scenario where someone installed two cache plugins and thought it would make his site load pretty fast. But the revision was the case.
Or imagine installing two SEO plugins, let’s say; Rank Math and Yoast.
In my case, I installed two different “product review” plugins – because they both have unique features that I needed so much. But instead of the plugins working to my needs, it gave me errors on my admin dashboard.
It also slowed down my site making it so sluggish, that I had to troubleshoot my site before I knew what caused the problem.
I will advise you to choose a plugin per feature and make sure you don’t abuse plugins or get ‘plugin crazy.’
You are expected to install only those plugins that are necessary for your WordPress site. Try to uninstall and delete any plugin that is not in use.
While installing any new plugin, try to read users’ comments about to plugin before downloading it.
From all explained above; I believe you will agree with me that the smaller the plugins you install and activate on your WordPress. The lesser risk your WordPress will be exposed to.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I, therefore, recommend a maximum of 20 plugins for your WordPress site. Arriving at 20, I have analyzed all the possibilities of features a robust WordPress site may need. Remember the lesser, the better.
If you plan to use more than 20 plugins, then I recommend you install multi-feature plugins such as WordPress Jetpack.
You can also consider using a multi-features theme too; this may limit the number of plugins you may need to install.
Please comment by telling us how many WordPress plugins you are using and the challenges you may have experienced with WordPress plugins.
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