WordPress New Plugin Qualification Checklist

Owned by Sanantanita Burnette
Last updated: Mar 08, 2021
2 min read

  • Security

    • WordPress core software must be up to date

    • The plugin must be well maintained and have proper security measures in place

    • Always install plugins from WordPress.org marketplace

      • Do not install pirated versions of plugins (typically found outside of WordPress.org marketplace)

  • When was the plugin last updated?

    • Plugin must have been updated within the last month.

    • Review the change-log of the plugin to know the specific timing of updating, error-fixing, and extra features each time it's updated. The change-log will tell you every change in history. Then, you can predict if the plugin is really worthy in the future.

  • Active Installations

    • A high number is a good indication of the popularity of the plugin. Try to stick to plugins with at least 200,000+ active installations.

      • Sometimes plugins may not have a high number of downloads because it fulfills a niche requirement. Please use discretion when researching these plugins.

  • Compatibility

  • Reviews & Ratings

    • Typically stick to ratings that are 3.5 or higher

      • Be sure to read reviews

      • A higher rating means a better plugin…most of the time

        • Sometimes ratings are skewed if there are a limited number of reviews. Check the number of active installations.

  • Speed and Capacity

    • Make sure the new plugin does not consume excessive capacity which could slow down page load speeds and overall website performance.

    • Check page speed before and after plugin installation to measure any performance impact.

  • Support Overview

    • Check for unresolved support threads and author response

      • If a plugin has many unresolved threads and the plugin author has not responded to any of them in the last 2 months, then this could be an indicator that the author has lost interest.Sure