How to do a Plugin Audit

Plugin audits never really feel necessary until something goes wrong with your site, but keeping a "clean house" makes it easier to maintain your site’s content over time and troubleshoot issues that may arise in the future. It's a great opportunity for you to clean up the junk that's accumulated over the past years and make some hard decisions on what really matters to your readers.

Performing a plugin audit on your WordPress website is essential for security, performance, and compatibility reasons.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to conduct a plugin audit:

  1. Make a List of Installed Plugins: Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to the "Plugins" section. Take note of all the installed plugins on your website.
  2. Review Plugin Usage: Evaluate each plugin's purpose and usage on your website. Ask yourself whether each plugin is still necessary and if it provides essential functionality. Sometimes, plugins may have been installed for a specific purpose but are no longer needed.
  3. Delete duplicate plugins: Review your list and identify any duplicate plugins with similar features. Common duplicates may be multiple cache plugins, security plugins performing similar tasks, etc. Having duplicate plugins performing the same functions can break your site. Compare the performance and configuration of the duplicate plugins. Determine which plugin is better optimized, more actively maintained, and offers better features.
  4. Check for Plugin Updates: Outdated plugins are vulnerable to security threats and may not be compatible with the latest version of WordPress. Go to the "Plugins" section and check for updates for each plugin. Update any outdated plugins to their latest versions.

  5. Research Plugin Reputation & Verify Plugin Compatibility: Click "View Details" to research the reputation of each plugin by reading reviews and checking the ratings. You should also ensure that all plugins are compatible with your current version of WordPress and PHP. Check the plugin's documentation or support page for information on compatibility with the latest WordPress version

  6. Review Plugin Performance Impact: Some plugins may impact your website's performance by increasing load times or consuming excessive server resources. Use performance testing tools like GTmetrix or Pingdom to assess the impact of each plugin on your website's speed.
  7. Consider Alternatives: If you find any plugins that are no longer necessary or have negative reviews, consider alternatives that offer similar functionality. Look for reputable plugins with good reviews and active development.
  8. Delete Unused or Unnecessary Plugins: Remove any plugins that are no longer needed or deemed unnecessary after your review. Go to the "Plugins" section, deactivate the plugin, and then delete it from your WordPress installation.
  9. Monitor and Maintain: Regularly monitor your plugins for updates, security vulnerabilities, and performance issues. Set up automated backups and security scans to ensure the ongoing health and security of your WordPress website.

Plugins I don't recommend

If you're using one of our Kadence Child Themes, here are some plugins you can remove:

  1. Jetpack: The majority of users do not need 90% of what Jetpack offers. I have also noticed some of their features can break your site. One example being I have seen the image optimizing setting cause images not to display.
  2. Any Genesis plugin: If you're using one of our Kadence child themes, you don't need Genesis plugins. Some are not only not compatible with Kadence, but Kadence & Kadence blocks can already perform most, if not all, functions that these plugins offer.
  3. Simple Social Icons: This is also a Genesis plugin. Kadence already offers a social icons feature.