Choosing the right widgets is crucial for enhancing your WordPress site‘s user experience and functionality. The good news is that there are tons of excellent WordPress widgets out there to meet your needs.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore 25 of the most useful WordPress widgets to supercharge your website. From lead generation to social proof, SEO to security, these top plugins have got you covered.
Contents
- 1. Hello Bar
- 2. OptinMonster
- 3. WPForms
- 4. Smash Balloon Social Feeds
- 5. Post Grid & Filter Ultimate
- 6. Header Footer Code Manager
- 7. MonsterInsights
- 8. WP RSS Aggregator
- 9. Widget Logic
- 10. Google Site Kit
- 11. Simple Social Icons
- 12. Postmatic
- 13. WP POP – Popups, Optins & Lead Generation
- 14. Featured Image Column Widget
- 15. WP Customer Reviews
- 16. Post Terms Widget
- 17. WP Tabs Widget
- 18. Instagram Feed
- 19. Google Translate Widget & Shortcode
- 20. Lockdown WP Admin
- 21. Social Icons Widget by WPZOOM
- 22. Post Carousel Slider & Widget
- 23. Category Posts Widget
- 24. Archive Dropdown Widget
- 25. WP Security Audit Log
1. Hello Bar
The Hello Bar plugin lets you showcase important messages, alerts, or calls-to-action using eye-catching bars across your site. You can configure bar color, text, position and more for targeted messaging.
For example, ecommerce sites can promote sales or new product arrivals. Blogs and publishers may announce breaking news or featured stories. The customizable options make this a versatile widget for any site type.
2. OptinMonster
Growing your email list is crucial for business growth. That‘s where OptinMonster comes in – it‘s the most powerful lead generation tool for converting visitors into subscribers.
With OptinMonster, you can add floating bars, slide-ins, screen overlays, and other sleek opt-in forms to boost conversions. Extensive targeting options give you granular control over who sees what and when.
From exit-intent technology to multi-step campaigns, this plugin has everything you need for list building success. The widget functionality also lets you embed opt-in forms directly into sidebars and footers.
3. WPForms
WPForms is the best drag & drop WordPress form builder on the market. Quickly create beautiful, responsive contact forms, surveys, application forms, and more.
The plugin includes form templates, spam protection, multi-page forms, conditional logic, entry limiting and a ton more features. You can embed forms on posts/pages or add them to sidebars and footers with ease.
WPForms is trusted by over 6 million websites. The free version is robust, while premium plans unlock additional capabilities.
4. Smash Balloon Social Feeds
Social proof is crucial for earning visitor trust and engagement. Smash Balloon‘s plugins make it easy to showcase your brand‘s social media activity from Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and more.
For example, display dynamically updated Instagram feeds or YouTube video galleries. Configure custom layouts, styles and settings to match your brand. Embed the social widgets in sidebars, posts, headers, footers – wherever you want!
Smash Balloon offers free and paid versions of its social feed plugins. They‘re hands-down the best way to tap into social proof.
5. Post Grid & Filter Ultimate
This powerful plugin lets you create responsive, filterable post grids to showcase your content. Configure grid columns, post types, taxonomy filters, and design styles however you like.
For example, build a staff directory that filters by department. Or a portfolio page filtering projects by skills/services. You can embed the grids via shortcodes or widget areas.
The pro version‘s drag & drop builder and 100+ styling options provide unmatched customization for advanced grids. Definitely check this one out.
Want to add custom code like analytics, scripts, pixels, etc throughout your site? Header Footer Code Manager lets you easily add any external code without editing theme files.
Simply create code snippets and assign them to specific site-wide locations, posts, pages, and more. For example, inject header scripts, footer pixels, or HTML widgets where you need them.
This eliminates relying on rigid theme options. Plus, it keeps your custom code intact even when switching themes.
7. MonsterInsights
MonsterInsights is the most popular Google Analytics plugin for WordPress. It makes setup effortless and adds useful functionality like tracking authors, ecommerce data, popular posts, and more.
The Enhanced Ecommerce and Ads tracking are killer features for business owners. You also get Google Analytics dashboards for actionable insights.
Moreover, MonsterInsights offers popular post widgets that display your top-performing content. Engage readers and encourage shares by showcasing trending articles.
8. WP RSS Aggregator
This nifty plugin lets you aggregate, curate, and display content from external RSS feeds on your site. Select feeds to pull stories from, configure display options, and embed the aggregated content via shortcodes or widgets.
For example, aggregate industry news into a sidebar ticker. Or compile blog posts on a common topic into a curated page. You can even auto-publish imported feeds as custom post types.
It‘s a slick way to diversify your content with related articles your audience will love. The free version packs a powerful punch.
9. Widget Logic
Widget Logic lets you conditionally display widgets only on certain posts, pages, categories, and other criteria. It gives you precise control over widget visibility and targeting.
For example, promote certain products in sidebars only on relevant category pages. Show author bios only on posts written by that user. Limit recent posts widgets to selected categories. The possibilities are endless.
This is an easy way to tailor widget content to specific pages and users. No more irrelevant widgets cluttering up your sidebars!
10. Google Site Kit
Google Site Kit is an official WordPress plugin for integrating Google tools – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, etc. With helpful widgets for performance insights.
For example, quickly check top pages, most lucrative affiliates, site issues, optimal keywords and more. Monitor key metrics directly within your WordPress dashboard for easy access.
The recently added optimize and monetize modules make Site Kit a true one-stop solution. If you use Google tools, Site Kit‘s widgets are huge time-savers.
11. Simple Social Icons
Social follow buttons are must-have widgets for reader engagement. Simple Social Icons offers 300+ icon styles for every network – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and beyond.
Easily add social icons anywhere widgets are supported. Extensive styling options let you customize colors, shapes, sizes, alignment, hover effects, and more.
The premium version adds settings panels for one-click implementation. Rather than fiddling with individual widgets, customize icons globally across your site.
12. Postmatic
Take your email list building to the next level with Postmatic. It allows readers to subscribe via comment boxes, popups, ribbon bars, scroll boxes, and more.
Available as a plugin and widget, Postmatic offers unlimited email signup forms and granular targeting controls. Integrates with all major providers like MailChimp, Constant Contact, AWeber, etc.
The innovative follow-up email feature helps reduce list churn. Plus, you can offer lead magnets like ebooks, webinars, and coupons to drive conversions.
13. WP POP – Popups, Optins & Lead Generation
This aptly named plugin helps you grow your email list by making it easy to create popups, slide-ins, and other attention-grabbing optin forms. Offer lead magnets, run contests, add calls to action, and more.
Use targeted conditions to determine who sees which popups and when. Embed opt-in widgets site-wide or on specific posts/pages. Integrates with all top email services.
WP POP takes just a few minutes to setup but makes a big difference in converting website traffic into subscribers and sales.
14. Featured Image Column Widget
This widget displays posts including featured images in a visual, column-based layout. Easily showcase eye-catching content to engage readers and highlight your best work.
For example, use it to create a "Popular Posts" or "Recent Posts" widget that packs visual appeal. You can set column widths, include excerpts, select specific categories/posts, and more.
The vertical layout fits nicely in narrow sidebars. It provides a Magazine-style take on your content while still feeling on-brand.
15. WP Customer Reviews
Customer testimonials, reviews, and ratings are vital for earning trust and social proof. WP Customer Reviews makes it easy to manage and display customer feedback.
Allow users to submit reviews via forms on your site. Moderation tools let you approve comments before public display. Reviews can be open, closed, or selectively shown.
The plugin seamlessly integrates rich snippets for improved SEO as well. Display testimonials via widgets, shortcodes, and blocks. Add schema markup on the fly.
16. Post Terms Widget
This widget gives you total flexibility for displaying linked post terms – categories, tags, custom taxonomies, etc. Highly customizable and responsive.
For example, build tag clouds, category lists, filterable menus, and more. Set the taxonomy type, term count, display style, title, and restrict by post type if desired.
Great for creating clickable menus, category filters, hierarchical taxonomy lists, author/topic pages, and similar navigational elements on your site. The dynamic output saves time too.
17. WP Tabs Widget
Add beautiful, responsive tabbed content boxes anywhere widget areas are supported. Select and style multiple content tabs as you see fit.
For example, group lesson topics, product information, author bios, related posts, recently viewed items, FAQs, policies, nested navigation, and more in tabbed widgets.
Supports text, images, shortcodes, oEmbeds, and widgets within tabs. The premium version even lets you import/export tab content for reuse.
18. Instagram Feed
Displaying your Instagram photos, videos, albums, and stories is a breeze with this top-rated plugin. Easily embed dynamic feeds via widgets, shortcodes, and blocks.
Customize layouts, highlight key posts, moderate comments, support multiple accounts, and more. Supercharge your Instagram marketing without ever leaving WordPress.
This is the easiest way to showcase Instagram content across your site. The free version is quite capable for simple feeds, while premium adds styles and analytics.
19. Google Translate Widget & Shortcode
Quickly make your WordPress site accessible in 100+ languages with Google Translate integration. Visitors can translate your content on-the-fly.
The automatic translation widget lets users switch languages from any page on your site. Inline shortcode also supported for focused content.
Boost accessibility for international audiences. The translation interface is familiar and trusted. Plus, it‘s free to use the Google Translate API.
20. Lockdown WP Admin
Security plugins like Lockdown add essential protection for your site by restricting unauthorized access attempts. Limit login attempts, require strong passwords, and more with just a few settings.
You can also use the Lockdown widget to quickly log in/out of the WordPress dashboard right from the frontend of your site. Great for client sites or multi-user environments.
Locking down the WP dashboard is WordPress security 101. The plugin options + widget combo make protection simple yet effective.
21. Social Icons Widget by WPZOOM
This popular widget provides 190+ social icons and official brand colors for consistent styling. Easily link or share site profiles.
Widget options let you select icon styles, size, space between icons, alignment, opacity, and label position. Additional networks are added automatically with each update.
A premium version unlocks more icons, shapes, and settings. But the free plugin has all the essentials for adding social follow links to your footer widgets in seconds.
22. Post Carousel Slider & Widget
Transform your posts into carousel slides for greater visual impact. This responsive slider seamlessly displays images, titles, text, links, etc in a rotatable deck.
The carousel widget allows you to showcase selected posts or custom post types. Adjust speed, styles, excerpts, controls, and more.
Slide content stands out more than crowded text widgets. Mix up your sidebar, landing pages, and UX with Post Carousel Widget‘s CSS animations and effects.
23. Category Posts Widget
This widget enables displaying posts from a specific category within sidebars and widget areas. A handy alternative to Recent Posts when you want to target a category.
For example, showcase new recipes on recipe category pages. Or display product tutorials on support pages. You can restrict by post type, show thumbnails, set excerpt length, and more.
Don‘t want to create a dedicated posts page for each category? This widget lets you dynamically filter posts by category without new templates.
24. Archive Dropdown Widget
Out of the box, WordPress only displays a text-based monthly archive widget. This plugin converts the list into a dropdown menu for improved aesthetics and UX.
The archive dropdown presents your sidebar archives in a clean, compact format. Users can quickly select a desired month/year in one click. No scrolling through extremely long monthly archive lists!
For extra capability, Archive Dropdown Widget premium adds post type filters, granular styles, and advanced dropdown behavior. Definitely upgrade-worthy.
25. WP Security Audit Log
Security plugins like WP Security Audit Log provide deep visibility into activity on your WordPress site. It tracks and logs all changes for user, content, and configuration auditing.
The live activity widget highlights important events as they happen for quick monitoring. Searchable logs and instant email alerts let you identify and respond to suspicious behavior in real-time.
Plus, built-in reports detail authorized/failed login attempts, file and user changes, WP core and plugin updates, and more.
