For a solid SEO setup on WordPress, the essential plugins are:
- Yoast SEO or Rank Math: management of title tags, meta descriptions, XML sitemap, basic schema markup, and content analysis. Pick one of the two (do not run both at once).
- WP Rocket or LiteSpeed Cache: caching and performance optimization. Fundamental for Core Web Vitals.
- ShortPixel or Imagify: automatic image compression. Reduces page weight without losing quality.
- Redirection: management of 301 redirects. Essential whenever you change URLs.
Beyond plugins, your theme choice has a major impact on SEO. Lightweight, well-coded themes such as GeneratePress, Astra, or Kadence result in faster sites than "all-in-one" themes packed with unnecessary features.
One important point: more plugins does not mean better SEO. Every plugin adds weight to the site. Install only what you need and keep everything updated to avoid security and compatibility issues.