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How to check your WordPress plugin Reliability

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Check your WordPress plugin Reliability
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WordPress powers thousands of businesses through its platform. A web page can easily be converted into a business, blog, service etc with the help of plugins on WordPress.

A user doesn’t require any technical knowledge to set up their website and can add many features through plugins. With the introduction to plugins, let’s understand that there are two types of WordPress plugins. The first is free to download and install on your site and the second is premium which a business has to pay for.

A WordPress user generally prefers quality free plugins which they can use for their sites because many premium plugins are very expensive. Although some free plugins also have paid features which many websites feel comfortable in using.

Every business desires more revenue and in return wants to spend less amount of money. Using a free plugin has its perks but also has limited features. It is essential that an entrepreneur should be aware of the fact that an unreliable and insecure plugin can create problems for the site.

What to look when checking the reliability of plugins?

Many WordPress users will simply visit any marketplace for plugins and install it on their Website. Their only focus is on the concept of a plugin being free and providing assistance in their desired task. But these users are unaware of the risks which can arise from installing a plugin from an unsecured and unreliable source.

It is important to select a reliable plugin because it can affect your entire WordPress website. The speed of the website can slow down since some plugins use more space than others.

While another issue which an unreliable plugin can cause is creating a pathway for hackers to infiltrate the site. Hackers make way for themselves through plugins which are not updated or tested. A WordPress website owner should focus on the following points to determine the reliability of a plugin.

  • MarketPlace
  • Updates
  • User Reviews and Rating
  • Exploring Support
  • Testing and Uninstalling

MarketPlace

Some WordPress users browse the web in search of free plugins and in the process install countless viruses on the site. Many sources are not safe and can cause harm for your WordPress Website. Premium plugins are sometimes very costly but their demand stems from their reliability. However, users should never try and install substitutes of premium plugins from suspicious sites which in return could harm their website.

Plugins should be installed from a reliable source of the internet as there are a countless number of unreliable marketplaces for WordPress plugins. The first reliable source is WordPress.org Plugins section which is the official marketplace for plugins with more than 54,000 plugins to choose from. Second is Codecayon, which offers its users with more than 27,000 premium plugins available on it.

Updates

A WordPress user while searching a plugin should check out the details about the plugin. Inspect the plugins and see when was the last time it was updated, tested and its active installs?

Since some plugins have not been updated for a long period of time it is not safe to install them on your web page. This is mainly due to the risk of them being infected as hackers can easily target such software which has flaws to manipulate.

User Reviews and Ratings

You should carefully examine the reviews of the users and see what have they written about the plugin. Their feedback will let you know what really lies within the plugin. Either there are any issues which have escalated after the installation or it is safe and secure to use.

Ratings are also a valuable part of the reliability of a plugin because most users prefer to rate the plugin. The rating of a plugin ranges from 1 star to 5-star. A WordPress user should look at the rating section and analyze whether it is a reliable plugin or not.

Exploring Support

Not every plugin will have a support section but the ones that have are considered secure and reliable to use. Through the support section, an ongoing discussion can be found which will help the user to understand the pros and cons of the plugin.

Finding a support section on the plugin’s page is a sign of trust for WordPress users. It shows that the product is safe to use and the support team is there to help and guide users if any issue arises.

Testing and Uninstalling

After carefully checking all the above steps it is the responsibility of the user to test the plugin and evaluate by personal use whether the plugin is reliable or not. Many WordPress users have difficulty in determining if the plugin is useful for them or not because they’re more interested in it being free over a premium plugin.

If for any reason a WordPress user finds the plugin insecure or unreliable than they should uninstall it immediately. The user should give their feedback if the plugin has a support section.

Conclusion

It is all about researching and determining whether the plugin which a user is downloading is reliable or not. A user needs to research about the plugin which they are going to install on their website. They should take the time and follow the above-stated points and determine the reliability of the plugin.

A business needs plugins for their WordPress websites to complete a given task in a limited time period. So it is crucial for the entrepreneur to use a reliable plugin. Unreliable and unprotected plugins can cause harm to a WordPress website. A user should select a reputable marketplace and read the reviews about the plugin before installing it on their dashboard.

If you enjoyed the blog and found the details within helpful please do let us know and don’t forget to check out our services at wpengineers.com. We provide WordPress website maintenance and support services.


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