8 Best WordPress Plugins for Startups [2024 updated]

There are more free plugins to choose from in the WordPress directory than you would want to take the time to scrutinize, 59,000+ to be exact. That’s not to mention thousands more advertised by third-party sellers.

You’d look for a better way, and we have one for you.

We tested a lot of WordPress plugin candidates. We narrowed down the options to a manageable few. And we came up with a list of 8 best WordPress plugins in 2024 that address multiple popular functions and purposes.

These plugins address 4 common website needs:

• They feature visual storytelling capabilities leading to engaging user experiences.
• They automate and streamline appointments and events bookings.
• They focus on managing and showing commercial, financial, scientific, statistical and many others.
• They are designed to help build engaging website landing pages with ease.

Most of these 8 best WordPress plugins for 2024 offer trial, free, and premium versions. Read the summaries and try them out and you should be in an advantageous position to make your final decision(s).

What characteristics do these top WordPress plugins share?

We scrutinized these 8 top plugins for several characteristics that are essential to proper web design.

• Features – We ensured the features are as good as they are advertised.
• Support – We reviewed product development teams’ responses to problems and questions and recommended only the products whose teams have a history of answering support issues within 24 hours.
• Reviews from users: We read client experiences that listed both good and bad things about the products.
• Compatibility – We made certain the plugins were fully compatible with the recently released WordPress and PHP editions and had been updated less than 60 days ago.

All plugins listed below have a free version which you are encouraged to try before you consider going premium.

8 WordPress Plugins for your Startup

These 8 best WordPress plugins are stellar in their area. You don’t have to worry about having to plow through additional selections of plugins in an attempt to find something better.

Key info about their features, client ratings, and what clients think about them after they’ve used them can be found below.

1. Amelia – No. 1 WordPress Appointment Booking Plugin

Amelia is the best WordPress plugin for any service-oriented business looking for a user-friendly booking website to automate its operations.

This automated booking system’s standout feature is its multilingual Notifications system, a feature that effectively and efficiently manages appointments notifications via SMS, email, and/or WhatsApp messages.

Once they begin using Amelia, its users take note of several of this plugin’s other qualities including its:

• modern, user-friendly, and easily navigable backend and frontend interfaces.
• remarkable functionality and customization options that facilitate easy tailoring of Amelia to their specific needs.
• overall design that is stable and free from unwanted surprises.
• transparent pricing
• ability to manage multiple locations from a single dashboard.

Amelia’s users have a complete, fully automated booking system at their disposal. A business’s clients can change or cancel their appointments and make payments   online. A  pet care service for example can receive appointment requests online 24/7 from existing or prospective clients.

The Plugin’s Grade: 4.8/5 on Captera.

User Testimonial: “Amelia responds much better to my small business needs. It is much friendlier and designed for a business that requires many specific customizations. Previously, I had considered using ********, but I found them to be more corporate, more distant, harder to customize for my company needs, and made for the needs of a much larger and more formal organization.”

Support: Instant support via videos and quality documentation.

Discover Amelia

2. wpDataTables -The Best Tables & Charts WordPress Table Plugin

wpDataTables is the #1 WordPress plugin for anyone tasked with creating tables and charts from complex or massive amounts of data.

wpDataTables’ best feature is its Multiple Database Connections capability; a recently released new feature that enables individual tables to set up independent connections to MySQL, MS SQL, or PostgreSQL databases.

Other features and qualities that quickly become user favorites include:

• a remarkably intuitive interface that streamlines workflows, effortlessly creates tables, and manages data without the need for extensive tutorials or technical know-how.
• It takes care of complex data structures with ease
• the ability to create tables from any source effortlessly, e.g., enterprise solutions that use specific database systems.

wpDataTables is ideal for tasks like creating responsive statistical data tables (note the link to a tutorial in the example). Other uses include:

• creating tables from MySQL Query to support industrial data presentations.
• Single cell shortcode for incorporating multimedia, links, or other dynamic elements.
• Transform Value that modifies the way data is displayed or processed in a table.

The Plugin’s Grade: 4.83/5

User Testimonial: “This plugin was exactly what we needed after trying many others. It is very easy to edit and have many functions built in to avoid coding. The mobile layout of the table functions very well to get the information across efficiently. Support is also very helpful and resolved an issue I had quickly..”

Instant support: a solid documentation and videos.

Try WpDataTables for free.

3. Brizy: The Best No-Code Website Builder

Brizy is the best WordPress no-code website builder for agencies and designers looking to expand to a White Label operation.

Brizy’s standout feature is its White Label option that enables a business or enterprise to brand the Brizy Builder as its own.

Prominent features users discover soon after they start using Brizy Builder:

• The user interface is always focused on the moment with every tool placed right where it is needed. Users can edit in place irrespective of the type of content they are working with at the time.
• Content is never created in a disjointed sidebar, which is all too often the case with competing builders.

Brizy Builder is ideal for building creative websites and landing pages, whether it is in the Brizy Cloud or when using the Brizy WordPress theme. Resto is ideal starter Brizy template which can easily serve as the foundation for setting up a website for a restaurant, bistro, or cafe.

The Plugin’s Grade: 4.6/5 on Trust Pilot

User Testimonial: What do you like best about Brizy? “The interface is the easiest on the market by far, you get to know it very quick. I have been with Brizy since day one and have seen how much work they have put into it to get it to where it is today. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.”

What do you dislike about Brizy? “There could be a few more simple updates to make it even better.”

Support capabilities include the support manual and YouTube videos.

View the Brizy Builder plugin.

4. Slider Revolution Responsive WordPress Plugin

Slider Revolution is the best WordPress plugin for those looking to incorporate a WOW factor into their sliders.

Some will tell you that Slider Revolution’s top feature is its ability to help them create sliders visually. It’s the knockout effects for WordPress that impresses others.

Both are right. Revolution Slider’s multiplicity of design options can satisfy any user category:

• Businesses and small agencies, for example, can put the one-page portfolio templates to effective use.
• Web shop builders will tell you the WooCommerce sliders are especially helpful.
• Slider Revolution’s attractive travel agency card slider template will be a hit with travel agencies; and also with their clients.

Users quickly take note of how easy it is for them to upgrade their WordPress website visuals in mere minutes, and many have given Slider Revolution’s friendly customer support 5 stars.

The Plugin’s Grade: 4.6/5

User Testimonial: “This product is simply fantastic! I use it on all the websites I create, and the result is impressive. Moreover, the support is very responsive and competent. I’ve had about ten interactions with the support team, and each time their response was quick and clear.”

Support: Inline editor tutorials, videos and a quality documentation.

View Slider Revolution

5. LayerSlider – WordPress Slider Plugin

LayerSlider is the #1 WordPress plugin for web designers looking to make anything from simple sliders to rich web content.

Sliders featuring jaw-dropping animations are just an example of what LayerSlider is capable of. The top feature has to be the beautiful scroll effect with a mesmerizing hero scene, like that in the Web Company example. Scrolling through this awesome template is an absolute joy.

LayerSlider’s versatile Pixel template provides another example for a complete website showing a creative agency’s landing page.

LayerSlider has its share of qualities that only users will be aware of such as:

• The Project Editor that provides an easy way to bring your creative ideas to life.
• A complete suite of visual content creation online services without leaving the UI.
• Having the tools necessary to design and create at your fingertips.

LayerSlider lets you use all the animation capabilities to also produce advanced popups and banners that have stunning effects that catch visitors’ attention. This ability gives it a huge advantage over other plugins on the market. LayerSlider can be used on any website, regardless of content. This is exactly what makes it so popular and advantageous.

User Testimonial: “Great quality and what’s important – great support!”

Support: Built-in help available in the Project Editor, quality documentation.

View LayerSlider

6. Google Web Stories WordPress Plugin

Web Stories allows you to create narratives visually that will absorb your readers in magical full-screen experiences.

A key feature of this plugin is how successfully it has blended story creation capabilities into a what you see is what you get creation tool. WebStories also offers  attractive template options. The Website Gallery template for example would be an excellent choice for a creative individual or agency.

Other key features:

• Attractive page templates to help you get your story creation activities underway. drag-and-drop capabilities that make composing beautiful stories as easy as possible.
• An intuitive dashboard full of useful options.
• The drag-and-drop functionality that makes composing beautiful stories as easy and straightforward as possible.
• The ability to access media assets directly from its dashboard when crafting your stories.

Product strengths that Web Stories’ users’ quickly discover:

• fast page loading times that will keep viewers engaged and entertained.
• track and measure stories for viral sharing and monetization (Web Stories excels in this area).
• create beautiful and engaging content from a technical perspective.

The Plugin’s Grade: 4.1/5

User Testimonial: “This is very helpful and useful plugin! Thank you so much!”

Support: An honest product documentation.

View the Web Stories plugin.

7. Tablesome – Best WordPress Form Automation Plugin

Tablesome is the best WordPress form automation plugin for businesses who need to store submitted form information in tables.

Tablesome’s main feature is the WordPress Form Automation. It helps clients automate various processes that have to be performed after people submit forms such as storing the entries in a table, sending an email etc.

One of the key qualities this feature brings to the table:

• the reduction in extra plugins necessary to perform those same tasks.

Form users especially appreciate the many ways in which the Workflow Automation feature makes their work easier. While Table users view Frontend editing and Google Sheet Integration in the same way.

In general, Tablesome excels in helping to support building or reworking data-centric websites. In addition to WordPress, available integrations and workflows include MailChimp, OpenAI/ChatGPT, HubSpot CRM, Slack, and Google Sheets.

The Plugin’s Grade: 4.7/5

User Testimonial: “A great and very user friendly plugin for creating responsive tables. The support is also really helpful. Good job.”

Support: Videos and its user manual provide excellent instant support.

Explore Tablesome.

8. Essential Grid Gallery WordPress Plugin

Essential Grid is the #1 WordPress gallery plugin for creating breathtaking galleries that capture visitors’ attention.

Essential Grid was created by the developers of the wildly popular Slider Revolution plugin that also appears on this list of best plugins.

The grid skin options are key to Essential Grid’s success. The selection of 50+ unique grid skins is clearly the top feature. Once users start using Essential Grid, they quickly realize the time and effort they are saving together with the quality of the help the development team provides.

Team, blog, portfolio, and YouTube or Vimeo channel stream grids are the most downloaded by clients. It’s also possible to do search engine optimization of an Essential Grid created photo gallery, video gallery or audio gallery using deep linking and pagination to achieve a higher ranking  on Google.

The Uwe Krupp Blog Grid for WordPress features a nicely structured, light grid skin with a hover effect that will work perfectly for a blog post overview.

The Plugin’s Grade: 4.7/5 (Trustpilot)

User Testimonial: “The plugin is excellent. It’s visually flawless and easy to set up.
The few times I’ve needed help with the plugin over the last year, I could always count on the prompt service of the support team. I recommend.”

Instant support: videos and a solid documentation.

View Essential Grid.

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You might benefit from using one or more of these plugins in 2024

It’s highly unlikely you would have a use for all of them, but adding some of them to your design toolbox could be a good idea. With so many WordPress plugins on the market, it’s almost a luxury to be able to pick from a smaller number featuring the best of the bunch in their area. Every one of them is:

• fast, stable, and provides an intuitive and flexible experience for users.
• a time saver with its modern prebuilt templates that make website building more efficient and enjoyable.
• free of bothersome limitations.
• enables responsive editing so your business website will look flawless on mobiles too.
• provides customer support that is there when you need it.

This compilation of the best WordPress plugin for 2024 in 4 key areas summarizes what each plugin has to offer.

Preview any plugin that interests you, try the free version, and upgrade to the premium version if you ever feel the need to do so.