17 Best WordPress Development Plugins for Developers (Free + Paid)

As a WordPress developer, you always look for ways to enhance efficiency and streamline your workflow. WordPress development plugins can save time and make creating and maintaining WordPress sites easier.

Despite its popularity and flexibility, WordPress can present challenges such as optimizing database queries, managing user roles, and debugging code. On average, a WordPress developer spends around one business day per hour on these tasks, so even small tasks can add up quickly.

Selecting the best plugins can help you address these technical aspects quickly, allowing you to focus on more critical tasks.

Since you’re here, you’re obviously searching for a list of plugins that can help you save time in your WordPress development efforts. And for that, we have created a list of the 17 best WordPress development plugins out there. Our list will have both paid and free options.

Let’s get started…

What Are WordPress Developer Plugins?

WordPress developer plugins are tools designed to enhance efficiency during site development. Since developers often spend hours on a single task, these plugins can significantly reduce the time required to develop and maintain WordPress sites, allowing you to focus on more critical aspects of your projects.

They speed testing processes by enabling easy switching between WordPress user accounts, viewing template hierarchies for any page, and running cross-browser tests. They also add new functionalities, like managing cron events directly from your WP Admin, and assist with custom code by allowing you to add PHP snippets, custom fields, or custom CSS.

In short, if it can help you develop WordPress sites better and more efficiently, then it counts as a WordPress developer plugin.

Best WordPress Plugins for Developers

Here’s our list of the 17 top paid and free WordPress development plugins in 2024:

#	Plugin	Rating	Reviews
1	What The File	4.9	877
2	Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)	4.8	1,218
3	WP Reset	4.8	914
4	File Manager	4.6	1,341
5	Query Monitor	4.9	447
6	Code Snippets	4.7	445
7	Theme Check	4.8	194
8	Custom Post Type UI	4.6	268
9	Simple CSS	4.9	59
10	WP Crontrol	4.5	149
11	Debug Bar	4.2	65
12	Health Check & Troubleshooting	3.5	164
13	The Visual CSS Style Editor	4.1	N/A
14	Usersnap	4.1	7
15	Styleguide	5.0	7
16	Catch IDs	4.8	20
17	Marker.io	5.0	35

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List of Best Free WordPress Development Plugins

1. What The File

What The File plugin simplifies the process of identifying which template parts are used to display the page you’re viewing. It is 100% free, has over 50,000 active installations, and is compatibility-tested up to version 6.3.5.

Here are some key features of What The File:

• Provides an overview of all template parts used to generate the current page.
• Integrates into the WordPress toolbar for easy access to the What The File option.
• Enables viewing of template parts by hovering over the toolbar option without leaving the page.
• Allows direct editing of template files through the theme editor from the toolbar.
• Simplifies the process of checking and editing code in specific template parts.

What The File is particularly useful for developers who need to quickly pinpoint and edit specific parts of their theme, streamlining the development workflow.

Rating and Reviews:

What The File has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 877 reviews.

2. Query Monitor

Query Monitor is one of the best WordPress query plugins for understanding what’s happening underneath your site’s hood. This tool is 100% free to use, has over 200,000 active installations, and is compatibility-tested up to version 6.6.1.

It provides a vast amount of information for any page on your site’s front end or in the WP Admin.

Here are some WordPress development-oriented features of Query Monitor:

• Breaks down database queries with timing details and shows queries from various themes and plugins.
• Displays the template hierarchy for the frontend page you’re currently viewing.
• Lists all blocks used on the frontend page.
• Shows every JavaScript script loaded on the page.
• Displays every enqueued CSS file on the page.
• Lists all hooks and actions from the current page, including their priority.
• Shows all server-side HTTP API calls made during the page load.

You can also set up your own custom logging variables to further debug your site. We have a guide on how to use Query Monitor that you should definitely check out.

Overall, if you want a single plugin that gives you access to a huge amount of data about each page on your site, Query Monitor is a great place to start.

Rating and Reviews:

Query Monitor has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 447 reviews.

3. Theme Check

Theme Check plugin lets developers test custom WordPress themes against the latest review standards. This plugin is useful for ensuring your theme complies with current standards before use or distribution. It is 100% free, has over 30,000 active installations, and is compatibility tested up to version 6.4.5.

Here are some WordPress development-oriented features of Theme Check:

• Tests your theme against the latest WordPress theme review standards.
• Displays results directly in your WP Admin for immediate feedback.
• Supports Trac formatting for easy integration with Trac tickets.
• Runs automated testing tools similar to those used by WordPress.org for theme submissions.
• Provides a consolidated view of all test results through a simple admin menu.

If you need to ensure your theme adheres to current WordPress standards, Theme Check offers a straightforward approach to validating your theme.

You can also take advantage of Cloudways WordPress theme detector that can help you find the theme deployed at your favorite WordPress websites.

Rating and Reviews:

Theme Check has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 194 reviews.

4. Simple CSS

Simple Custom CSS and JS plugin lets you customize your WordPress site’s appearance by easily adding custom CSS and JavaScript code without modifying theme or plugin files.

This plugin is useful for applying custom CSS tweaks and scripts directly to your site. It is 100% free, has over 600,000 active installations, and is compatibility tested up to version 6.6.1.

Here are some WordPress development-oriented features of Simple Custom CSS and JS:

• Provides a text editor with syntax highlighting for writing code.
• Allows you to include code inline or in an external file.
• Lets you choose to print code in the header or footer.
• Supports adding CSS or JS to both the frontend and the admin side.
• Enables you to add multiple code snippets.
• Preserves your customizations even when changing themes.

If you want an efficient way to manage custom CSS and JS on your WordPress site without altering core files, Simple Custom CSS and JS offers a practical solution.

Rating and Reviews:

Simple CSS has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 59 reviews.

5. WP Crontrol

WP Crontrol is a free WordPress plugin designed to help you manage and understand the WP-Cron system. It has over 200,000 active installations and has been tested for compatibility up to version 6.6.1.

WP Crontrol provides a comprehensive interface for viewing and managing all cron events on your WordPress site. It eliminates the need to manually set up and manage WordPress cron jobs, saving you time and effort.

Here are some of its features:

• View all cron events, including details like recurrence, next scheduled run, arguments, and callback functions.
• Manage cron events by adding, editing, deleting, pausing, resuming, or running them immediately.
• Debug scheduled tasks to ensure they execute as planned.
• Enhance site functions by adding custom cron events, such as scheduling site backups.

Although there are many WordPress Cron Job plugins, WP Crontrol is better as it can streamline your workflow and automate routine tasks, making your development process more efficient.

If you’re using Cloudways, you can also take advantage of our built-in Cron Optimizer feature. We highly recommend you check out this nifty feature if you haven’t explored it in the platform.

Rating and Reviews:

WP Crontrol has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 149 reviews.

6. Debug Bar

Debug Bar is a free WordPress developer plugin that provides detailed insights into various technical aspects of your site, including database queries, caching details, and request specifics.

With over 30,000 active installations and compatibility tested up to version 6.5.5, Debug Bar is one of the most used debug plugins by developers aiming to optimize site performance.

Debug Bar adds a debug menu to your WordPress dashboard, offering a variety of useful features for debugging and monitoring site performance. Key features include:

• Error Logs: Access to error logs to help identify and resolve issues quickly.
• Cache Information: Detailed cache data to optimize site speed and performance.
• Database Queries: Monitors and provides information on MySQL queries, making it easier to pinpoint and fix database-related issues.
• Request Details: Insights into request specifics for a comprehensive understanding of site operations.

Additionally, Debug Bar supports several extensions that enhance its functionality for specific debugging needs. Notable add-ons include:

• Debug Bar Cron: Offers information about scheduled events.
• Debug Bar ElasticPress: Assists in debugging ElasticPress queries.
• Debug Bar Transients: Displays data on WordPress transients.
• Debug Bar Constants: Adds panels to view defined WordPress and PHP constants for the current request.

These extensions are just a few examples, with more available by exploring the plugin directory for “Debug Bar.”

Rating and Reviews:

Debug Bar has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 65 reviews.

7. Health Check and Troubleshooting

Health Check and Troubleshooting plugin gives you a comprehensive overview of your WordPress site’s health, making it an essential tool for every site. It is 100% free, has over 300,000 active installations, and is compatibility-tested up to version 6.6.1.

Here are some WordPress development-oriented features of Health Check and Troubleshooting:

• Provides a quick snapshot of your site’s health, highlighting potential issues.
• Detects common configuration errors and known issues within your WordPress setup.
• Offers detailed information about your WordPress and server configuration for easy sharing with support teams.
• Enables a clean WordPress session with all plugins disabled and a default theme enabled, specific to your user session.
• Verifies that your WordPress core files are intact and haven’t been tampered with.
• Ensures that your site can successfully send emails.
• Checks that your plugins are compatible with future PHP updates.

You can also utilize the Tools section to perform additional checks, such as verifying the integrity of WordPress files, ensuring email functionality, and checking plugin compatibility with future PHP versions.

Rating and Reviews:

Health Check & Troubleshooting has an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars based on 164 reviews.

8. Styleguide

Styleguide – Custom Fonts and Colors plugin for WordPress allows you to edit fonts and colors during web design. This plugin is free, has over 4,000 active installations, and is compatibility-tested up to version 6.5.0. It enables live previews in the WordPress Customizer before saving your new settings.

Here are some of the features of Styleguide – Custom Fonts and Colors:

• Edit fonts and colors in your WordPress themes easily using the WordPress Customizer.
• Live previews allow you to see changes in real-time before saving.
• Choose from 45 top Google Fonts to personalize your site.
• Compatible with all default WordPress themes, with plans to support more in the future.
• Filter fonts by character sets, including non-Latin languages like Russian.
• Offers functionality for developers to add support for additional themes and fonts.

Styleguide streamlines the process of personalizing your site’s appearance, making it easy for even non-developers to customize fonts and colors without needing to hire a designer or make code changes.

Read more: How to use custom Google Fonts in WordPress.

Rating and Reviews:

Styleguide – Custom Fonts and Colors has a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars based on 7 reviews.

9. Catch IDs

Catch IDs is a lightweight WordPress developer plugin designed to simplify the process of viewing numerical IDs for various content types directly in the Admin Section Table. Ideal for users who need quick access to Post ID, Page ID, Media ID, Links ID, Category ID, Tag ID, and User ID, this plugin is 100% free, has over 30,000 active installations, and is compatibility tested up to version 6.5.5.

Here are some WordPress development-oriented features of Catch IDs:

• Offers numerical IDs for posts, pages, and media.
• Displays IDs for links, categories, and tags.
• Lists user IDs for easy reference.
• Shows IDs in a dedicated column within the WP Admin Table.
• Provides a faster and more efficient way to manage and locate IDs without checking URLs.

If you’re looking for a straightforward tool to streamline content management and improve efficiency in finding and using content IDs, Catch IDs is a practical choice.

Rating and Reviews:

Catch IDs has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 20 reviews.

List of Best Paid WordPress Development Plugins

1. Advanced Custom Fields

Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) lets you effortlessly add and organize custom fields into groups using a user-friendly visual interface in the WP Admin. This tool is essential for developers who need to manage complex content structures without delving into code.

ACF offers a variety of field types, including repeater fields, making it versatile for different data needs. Its intuitive API simplifies the process of displaying custom field data on the front end of your site.

Features:

• Provides an intuitive interface for adding and grouping custom fields.
• Supports a variety of field types, including repeater fields for complex data management.
• Allows easy integration of custom field data on the frontend with a user-friendly API.
• Enables the creation and management of custom blocks using a PHP-based framework.
• Facilitates the addition and customization of options pages in the WP Admin.
• Manages custom post types and taxonomies directly from the ACF interface.

The free version covers many use cases, but for advanced features, you can opt for the premium versions:

• Personal: $49/year for 1 website
• Freelancer: $149/year for up to 10 websites
• Agency: $249/year for unlimited websites

Rating and Reviews:

Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 1,218 reviews.

2. WP Reset

WP Reset (300,000+ active installations, Tested with WordPress 6.6.1) offers a fast and safe way to reset your WordPress site’s database to its default state without altering any files.

It’s particularly useful for plugin and theme developers, allowing for quick testing and debugging by resetting settings and content with ease.

Key Features:

• Lets you create and restore snapshots with a single click for easy site recovery.
• Offers flexible data reset options to target all data or specific elements like theme settings.
• Supports WP-CLI for advanced command-line operations.
• Provides three levels of resets: Options Reset, Site Reset, and Nuclear Site Reset.
• Handles resets across multiple sites in a multisite setup.
• Allows individual resets of media, plugins, or other site components.

The plugin is free, with Pro versions offering additional features:

• Agency: $119/year
• Team Lifetime by AppSumo: $49/lifetime
• Personal: $39/year

Check out our WP Reset plugin review.

Rating and Reviews:

WP Reset – Most Advanced WordPress Reset Tool has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 914 reviews.

3. File Manager

With over 1 million active installations and compatibility tested up to version 6.6.1, File Manager allows you to edit, delete, upload, download, zip, copy, and paste files and folders directly from the WordPress backend. Avoid the hassle of FTP and manage your files effortlessly.

Additionally, you can preview files within the plugin, search, as well as drag and drop files and adjust the directory structure. We have a blog on how to access server files through WordPress File Manager plugin if you wanna learn more on how to use this.

Key Features:

• Allows you to perform various file operations like copy, move, upload, rename, edit, and delete.
• Supports drag and drop for easy file management and multi-file selection.
• Enables creating, archiving, and extracting files in formats like zip, rar, tar, and gzip.
• Provides control over file sizes and types for uploads and downloads.
• Features a built-in code editor with syntax checking to help prevent errors.
• Offers multiple themes for customizing the File Manager’s appearance.
• Displays detailed file properties with a right-click.

Pricing: Free with a $25 Pro upgrade for one site and various premium add-ons.

Rating and Reviews:

File Manager has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 1,341 reviews.

4. Code Snippets

Code Snippets is a powerful WordPress plugin with over 900,000 active installations and compatibility up to WordPress version 6.5.5. It lets you efficiently manage and deploy custom PHP and HTML code snippets directly from your WordPress Admin.

Key features include:

• Add unlimited PHP and HTML snippets to manage custom code without altering your theme’s functions.php file.
• Enable or disable snippets to control their activation and execution.
• Execute snippets contextually, choosing to run them only on the front end, in the WP Admin, or site-wide.
• Export and import snippets easily using a single .json file for transferring between sites.

While the free version covers essential functionality, the Pro version offers additional features such as custom CSS and JavaScript snippets. The Pro plans are priced as follows:

• Plus: $3.90
• Advanced: $7.90
• Professional: $14.90
• Unlimited: $29.90

You may also want to check out: Best WordPress coding plugins.

Rating and Reviews:

Code Snippets has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 445 reviews.

5. Custom Post Type UI

With over 1+ million active installations and compatibility tested up to WordPress 6.5.5, Custom Post Type UI lets you register and manage custom post types and taxonomies for your WordPress site through an intuitive interface. It simplifies the process of creating custom content types, making it accessible even if you’re not a developer.

Check out our blog on how to create custom post types in WordPress. 

Key Features:

• Simple interface for creating custom post types and taxonomies
• Custom Post Type UI Extended for displaying custom content
• Examples of available layouts with Custom Post Type UI Extended

Pricing:

• Single: $29.00
• 2-5 Sites: $49.00
• Unlimited Sites: $84.00

Rating and Reviews:

Custom Post Type UI has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 268 reviews.

6. Visual CSS Style Editor

Visual CSS Style Editor is a powerful visual CSS editor that lets you customize any element on your WordPress site using an intuitive point-and-click interface. Ideal for developers and designers alike, it speeds up the process of adding custom CSS in WordPress themes using plugin in real time.

With this plugin, you can easily adjust colors, fonts, sizes, and positions directly from the visual editor. The plugin includes a flexible element inspector, a measuring tool, and a wireframe view, providing all the tools you need to fine-tune your site’s design.

Features:

• Customize any page or theme visually without coding by clicking on elements and making adjustments.
• Modify over 60 style properties, including colors, fonts, sizes, and positions.
• View changes instantly with live CSS editing and preview.
• Export your CSS as a standalone stylesheet once you’re satisfied with your changes.
• Use additional tools like an element inspector, measuring tool, and wireframe view for precise design work.
• Manage and revert changes easily with undo/redo history options.

Pricing:

• Regular License: $32
• Optional Support Extension: $10.13 for an additional 12 months

Visual CSS Style Editor is available in both a free version for basic CSS edits and a premium version for advanced features like animation management and gradient generation.

Rating and Reviews:

The Visual CSS Style Editor has an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on user reviews.

7. Usersnap

Usersnap is a feedback platform that enhances your WordPress site by collecting, managing, analyzing, and sharing feedback throughout the product development lifecycle. It is used by major brands like Facebook, Microsoft, Canva, and Instacart.

With over 900 active installations and compatibility tested up to version 6.5.5, Usersnap integrates seamlessly into your site.

Key features include:

• Floating feedback widgets let visitors submit feedback effortlessly.
• Detailed feedback includes technical details, screenshots, and recordings for better context.
• Clients can annotate directly on the page during development for precise feedback.
• Offers a centralized dashboard to manage and view all feedback from one place.

Usersnap is free to install but requires the Usersnap service for full functionality. A 15-day free trial is available with no credit card required. Following the trial, the pricing plans are:

• First 20 feedback items: €0/month
• Starter: €39/month
• Growth: €89/month
• Professional: €159/month
• Premium: Starts from €319/month

Rating and Reviews:

Usersnap has an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 7 reviews.

8. Marker.io

Marker.io is a visual feedback and bug reports plugin that allows developers to collect user and client feedback directly into their preferred project management tools.

Features:

• Collect user feedback on every page non-intrusively.
• Receive detailed feedback from colleagues and internal stakeholders.
• Encourage visual feedback through annotations, images, and text.
• Facilitate easy discussion of reports with clients and users.
• Provide developers with the necessary metadata to fix bugs.
• Session replay to capture the last 30 seconds of user experience.

The plugin can be installed in minutes and can live as a small widget across an entire website or on an individual web page. Every report goes directly into your project management tool, ensuring comprehensive feedback.

Pricing:

• Starter: $39/month (billed annually)
• Team: $99/month (billed annually)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Rating and Reviews:

Marker.io has an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars based on 35 reviews.

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How to Choose WordPress Development Plugins?

You can download any plugin for your site, but that can be risky. Here’s how to choose the right plugins for your WordPress site:

• Recommended Plugins: Consider plugins recommended by industry experts. They often highlight tried-and-tested options that fit specific needs.
• Compare Features: Evaluate the features of different plugins. Choose one that offers the functionality you need without unnecessary extras.
• Check Ratings: Look at the ratings on the WordPress plugin repository. Higher ratings usually indicate better reliability and user satisfaction.
• Read Reviews: Go through user reviews to understand the plugin’s performance and any potential issues. Reviews can offer real-world insights into how well a plugin works.
• Review Support: Check if the plugin provides good support and detailed documentation. Reliable support can be crucial for troubleshooting and getting the most out of the plugin.
• Look at Screenshots: Check screenshots to understand the plugin’s interface and design. This helps ensure that it aligns with your site’s aesthetic and usability requirements.
• Check FAQs: Read the FAQs for additional information about the plugin’s capabilities and limitations. This can help you avoid surprises and ensure compatibility with your site.
• Test the Plugin: If possible, test the plugin on a staging site before installing it on your live site. This lets you see how it functions without risking your site’s performance. Cloudways offers a free 1-click staging environment for all your applications and on all plans.

Wrapping Up

Choosing the right plugins for your WordPress development needs can be daunting, with so many options available. We’ve helped streamline this process by highlighting 17 essential plugins that can significantly enhance your development workflow.

We’ve covered various plugins, including visual feedback systems, custom field managers, file editors, and more. Each has been carefully selected based on its features, ease of use, and value to developers.

Whether you need to reset your site quickly, handle advanced CSS customization, or manage custom post types, there’s a plugin in our list that can make your job easier.

We hope this guide has been helpful in identifying the right WordPress development plugin. If you have any suggestions, let me know in the comments.