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How To Do A Plugin Audit

Plugins can be a great way to add new features and unique functionality to your website. However, they can also have a downside, as they may go wrong and cause complications if there are any conflicts.

To audit plugins on a WordPress site using the Kadence theme, you’ll want to follow a series of steps to evaluate each plugin’s necessity, performance impact, security, and compatibility. The Kadence theme itself is not directly involved in the plugin audit process, but since you’re using it, you should ensure that any plugins are compatible.

Here’s a guide on how to conduct a plugin audit:

How Many Plugins?

A few years ago, we were taught that installing more than five plugins was asking for trouble. While it’s understandable that your site shouldn’t have too many installed, five or less is very impractical. On the flip side, a large number of plugins is going to slow your site down—period! The best way to solve this is to try to have no more than 15 plugins; any more than that it’s time for a plugin audit.

Outdated Plugins

Some, such as Genesis plugins, don’t require regular updates because of the way they’re coded. Generally, though, you need to be suspicious of plugins that aren’t being updated.

Plugins incorporate new code into your site to carry out diverse functions. Outdated plugins, particularly those that haven’t been updated in over a year, may contain exploitable code that hackers and bots can leverage to infiltrate your site. It’s critical to consistently monitor your plugins and promptly eliminate any lacking regular updates.

NOTE: It’s best to wait a couple of weeks after a major plugin update is released before updating. This allows the developers to address any bugs in the update more effectively.

Duplicated Plugins

Having two or more plugins installed that perform the same functionality can lead to a plugin conflict on your site. Moreover, multiple plugins attempting to perform the same function can significantly slow down your website. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget you uploaded duplicate plugins to test; this is why doing a regular audit is essential.

Common overlapping plugins we see are:

  • SEO plugins such as AIOSEO, Rank Math, and Yoast.
  • Security plugins such as Wordfence Security and All in One WP Security.
  • Caching plugins such as W3 Total Cache, WP Rocket, and LiteSpeed.

NOTE: If you’re testing duplicate plugins, always deactivate one of them before uploading another.

Review Installed Plugins

If a plugin is not essential or is causing issues, deactivate and delete it. Keeping unused plugins adds unnecessary bulk to your site and can still pose security risks. Before removing any plugins, make sure to back up your site to avoid data loss.

Some hosts automatically install plugins on each new WordPress site. However, these plugins are almost always unnecessary and so can be removed.

Plugins To Be Cautious of

Some hosting providers may disallow certain backup plugins, not necessarily due to their perceived insecurity or lack of quality, but because they offer redundant functionality already provided by the host. This is actually okay, but some hosting providers are more ruthless and will automatically install plugins on websites that have duplicate functions, therefore causing bloat and slow performance.

  • Bluehost: Installs its Bluehost plugin, Bluehost Website Builder, Jetpack, MonsterInsights, and OptInMonster—none of these plugins are needed.
  • DreamHost: Installs BoldGrid and several BoldGrid add-on plugins – these should be removed. These plugins also change the appearance of your WordPress dashboard and block editor, which can cause confusion during theme setup.
  • GoDaddy: Installs CoBlocks and WP101 – neither of these plugins are needed.
  • Caching Plugins: WP Cache, WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache.
  • Back-Up Plugins: Versionpress, EZPZ One Click Backup, WPOnlineBackup.
  • Plugins that cause mega bloat: Jetpack, WooCommerce, Instagram Feed, Broken Link Checker, Related Posts, Contact Form 7, Slider Revolution, Yoast, Any email plugin, Elementor, Hello Dolly, Font Awesome.
  • Other meaningless plugins: Nofollow plugins, Redirect plugins, SSL redirect plugins, PageSpeed score fixer plugins,

These are to name a few; however, for peace of mind if we haven’t recommended a plugin, check our resources for more details, then stay away from them. If you’re in doubt, contact us, and we’ll gladly help you out.

Review Installed Plugins

Remember to document each installed plugin, detailing its purpose and functionality. Evaluate necessary features; consider deactivating or removing non-essential plugins.

Kadence Plugin Incompatibilities

Be sure to visit the plugin’s page on WordPress.org or the developer’s site to confirm its compatibility with the Kadence theme. It’s important to note that some plugins may have known conflicts. To proactively avoid conflicts and ensure enhanced security, keep all plugins and your Kadence theme updated to their latest versions.

Plugin Performance Impact

Temporarily deactivate plugins one by one and retest your site’s speed and performance. Note any significant improvements in load time or performance metrics. Alternatively, reactivate all plugins except Kadence, then reactivate one-by-one to test your site.

Inactive Plugins

  • If you plan to never use a certain plugin again, then delete it, it is pointless being on your website.
  • Some plugins you might use now and again; therefore, deactivate them but keep them updated.

Conclusion

Before removing or updating any plugins, make sure to back up your site to avoid data loss.

After making any changes, review your website to ensure all features work correctly. Pay special attention to key functions, especially those connected to Kadence blocks or custom features. Make sure your changes do not interfere with Kadence theme functionalities like custom headers, footers, or block layouts.

By following these steps, you can conduct a thorough plugin audit to maintain your WordPress site’s performance, security, and compatibility while using the Kadence theme.

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