Comments on: WordPress Plugins How Many Are Too Many

By: Rain Wilber

Rain Wilber — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:52:23 +0000

Reguarding the loading of WordPress plugins… it is evident that certain plugins don’t necessarily need to load their css and js on every page… but they DO load extra content!

This is something that should be fixed, maybe with another plugin or you could manually see what files are loaded by what plugins, and write up a conditional header loader and delete the wp_head function from your themes header function… problem here is that you would need to update for each new plugin and remove for deleted plugins.

For instance, several plugins will load a large javascript file, that only gets used on one or two certain pages! (i.e. wp-commerrce, calendar plugin, some of the facebook (and social app) plugins load a ton of extra code, and sometimes their servers experience huge delays, and that is transferred to the content loading on your blog!! Especially some of those Facebook plugins)

Many plugins don’t even load any extra code that will slow down WordPress, but just change some functionality or another (i.e. link order and category order … plugins like that.

I am using 37 plugins on WordPress right now… but am hoping to get up to the 50 mark within a few months!!
It seems to be a matter of choosing the right plugins if you don’t want to see a significant loading speed decrease.

By: Rain Wilber

Rain Wilber — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:51:27 +0000

Reguarding the loading of WordPress plugins… it is evident that certain plugins don’t necessarily need to load their css and js on every page… but they DO load anyhow!

Many plugins don’t even load any extra code that will slow down WordPress, but just change some functionality or another (i.e. link order and category order … plugins like that.

By: Vince

Vince — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:21:13 +0000

I also try and keep my plugin use to a minimum. If possible I try to modify my theme to do the work for me. I am curious as to the performance and security issues that a large number of plugins can cause. From what I have found, it doesn’t seem to be an issue.

By: Ray Mann

Ray Mann — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:50:30 +0000

Jeff

I made the classic mistake of installing plugin after plugin then one day bang my hosting account was suspended all my websites off line for over a week. I just wish I had come across your advice first I am now down to three plugins as I am now afraid to go to far.

Regards

Ray

By: Wordpress SEO

Wordpress SEO — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:11:12 +0000

Also don’t forget the more plugins you add to your site, the more code you are adding. You don’t want your pages to be too code heavey.

By: Kha Ton

Kha Ton — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:08:58 +0000

Hi Jeff,
Another great advice on plugins that I should consider to check my wordpress and remove the ones that don’t need. Great post and I love to come back and forth here to learn more.

Thanks again

Kha

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:34:39 +0000

I don’t know what TiTleTags is but my guess it has something to do with SEO and not tags.

By: Free Xbox 360 Elite

Free Xbox 360 Elite — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:42:33 +0000

is “SimpleTags” the same as “TiTleTags”?

as in, does it allow you to edit the Title tag?

By: Sarbjit Singh

Sarbjit Singh — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:12:20 +0000

Your point of view are correct, however how many plugins should be how many you Actually Need. Don’t just install everything you come across. Just try to keep the list small and keep removing the ones you don’t need anymore.

By: Pink Boutique

Pink Boutique — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:00:46 +0000

I’ve had a similar experience with an upgrade from hell as a direct result of bad plugins. I had the host restore the site from backup, and deleted all plugins then proceeded with the upgrade.