15 Best WordPress Development Plugins for Developers

1. Query Monitor

Query Monitor is a powerful WordPress development plugin designed for developers. It provides a comprehensive developer tools panel, enabling debugging of various aspects such as database queries, PHP errors, hooks and actions, block editor blocks, enqueued scripts and stylesheets, HTTP API calls, and more.

How is Query Monitor useful for Developers?

This plugin can help developers by providing access to advanced features like debugging of Ajax calls, REST API calls, user capability checks, and full support for block themes and full site editing. It offers the ability to narrow down the output by plugin or theme, which helps to identify poorly performing plugins, themes, or functions.

Pros

• Comprehensive debugging tool
• Supports advanced features
• Useful for identifying poorly performing plugins or themes

Cons

• Might be too complex for beginners
• The user interface uses small font sizes, which could be an issue for users with poor vision or motor skills

Key Features

• Debugging of various aspects including database queries, PHP errors, hooks and actions.
• Advanced debugging of Ajax calls, REST API calls, user capability checks.
• Ability to narrow down output by plugin or theme.
• Presentation of aggregate database queries grouped by the plugins, themes, or functions responsible for them.
• Support for block themes and full site editing.
• Addition of an admin toolbar menu showing an overview of the current page, with complete debugging information shown in panels once a menu item is selected.
• Support for versions of WordPress up to three years old, and PHP version 7.4 or higher.

Pricing Structure

Query Monitor is a free WordPress plugin available for download and use.

2. Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)

Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) is a WordPress development plugin that enhances your WordPress site by transforming it into a comprehensive content management system. It provides the tools you need to fully control your WordPress edit screens and custom field data.

How is ACF useful for development?

This plugin aids developers by providing an easy way to add fields to WordPress edit screens. It simplifies the process of creating new custom post types and taxonomies, thus speeding up the content modeling workflow. Furthermore, ACF enables developers to load and display custom field values in any theme template file, making templating a breeze.

Pros

• Simple and intuitive
• Provides powerful functions
• Offers over 30 field types
• Comes with extensive documentation

Key Features

• ACF is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy to navigate and use.
• It provides powerful functions to help you control your WordPress edit screens and custom field data.
• ACF offers a variety of field types to cater to different needs.
• This plugin comes with comprehensive documentation and developer guides to help you navigate through it.
• ACF also offers a professional version, ACF PRO, which includes more fields, more functionality, and more flexibility. Some of the features of ACF PRO include the Repeater Field, ACF Blocks, Flexible Content Field, Options Page, Gallery Field, and Clone Field.

Pricing Structure

The professional version, ACF PRO, is available for purchase on their website. The pricing structure is as follows

• Personal license is $49 per year, for 1 site
• Freelancer license is $149 per year, for unlimited sites
• Agency license is $249 per year for unlimited sites.

3. Activity Log

Activity Log is a comprehensive, user-friendly WordPress development plugin designed to monitor and track activity on your WordPress website. It operates like an airplane’s black box, logging each activity within WordPress admin, allowing you to see exactly what users are doing on your website.

How is Activity Log useful for a Developer?

This plugin is a powerful tool for developers as it provides detailed visibility into user actions, which can be invaluable for identifying issues, tracking changes, and enhancing website security. It helps in detecting any suspicious activity, keeping track of published posts, plugin/theme activation and deactivation. This WordPress development plugin also offers an Export API to enable developers to add support for custom data formats.

Activity Log should be used by developers to maintain a secure and efficient website. It provides a comprehensive log of all user activities, helping in identifying potential security threats and monitoring site performance. It also aids in GDPR compliance, providing tools for data export and erasure.

Pros

• Detailed tracking of user activities.
• Supports GDPR compliance.
• Ability to export activity log data to CSV.
• Optimized for performance, with minimal impact on server load.
• No setup required – works out of the box.

Cons

• The plugin might record too much information for small websites.

Key Features:

• Logs all WordPress core updates.
• Tracks creation, editing, and deletion of posts, pages, tags, categories, taxonomies, and custom post types.
• Monitors user activities including login, logout, profile update, registration, and deletion.
• Tracks changes to plugins and themes, including installation, updating, activation, deactivation, and editing.
• Logs comments and media-related activities.
• Monitors changes in settings and options.
• Supports a wide range of activities in WooCommerce and bbPress.
• Equipped with a dedicated Export API for data export.
• Provides tools for data privacy and GDPR compliance.

Pricing Structure

The Activity Log plugin is free to use and does not have any premium versions or in-app purchases.

4. Redux Framework

Redux Framework is a WordPress development plugin designed to simplify the development process for developers. It provides an extensible and responsive options framework for WordPress themes and plugins, built on the WordPress Settings API. Redux supports a variety of field types, custom error handling, custom fields & validation types, and import/export functionalities.

How is the Redux Framework useful for Developers?

Redux Framework helps developers by saving them a significant amount of development time. Instead of recreating the wheel with every project, developers can leverage Redux’s streamlined framework to build options panels quickly and efficiently. The plugin’s well-documented config file allows developers to create unique, imaginative panels in a fraction of the time it would take to build from scratch.

Pros:

• Saves significant development time
• Offers a streamlined, extensible framework
• Has a well-documented config file for easy use
• Supports a wide variety of field types
• Provides custom error handling, fields, and validation types
• Supports import/export functionality

Cons:

Relies on a config file from a third-party theme or plugin to function

Key Features:

• Supports a wide range of fields, including Accordion, ACE Editor, Background, Border, Box Shadow, Button Set, Checkbox / Multi-Check, Color, Custom Fonts, Date, Google Maps, Media, Metaboxes, Text, Typography, and many more.
• Provides full value escaping
• Supports visibility linking from parent fields
• Automatically generates CSS and the appropriate Google Fonts stylesheets
• Offers compiler integration
• Provides field validation and sanitization
• Allows field and section disabling

Pricing Structure

Redux Framework is a free plugin available for download from the WordPress plugin directory.

Please note, Redux Framework is not designed to operate independently. It requires a config file provided by a third-party theme or plugin developer.

5. WP Crontrol

WP Crontrol is a WordPress development plugin that allows developers to view and control the WP-Cron system. It offers a detailed overview of all cron events, their arguments, recurrence, callback functions, and the time they are next due.

How WP Control is Useful for Developers?

WP Crontrol provides developers with an easy way to manage cron events and schedules. It allows developers to edit, pause, resume, and run cron events immediately. It also enables them to add new cron events, delete cron events in bulk, and manage custom cron schedules.

WP Crontrol allows developers to have more control over their WP-Cron system, which can help improve their site’s performance and security. It also reduces the need for manual intervention, saving developers time and effort.

Pros

• Provides full control over the WP-Cron system
• Easy to use with an intuitive interface
• Allows for bulk actions, saving time and effort
• Offers alert features for missed schedules or problems with the cron system

Cons

• Overuse or misuse can potentially lead to performance issues

Key Features

• View all cron events along with their recurrence, arguments, and callback functions
• Edit, delete, pause, resume, and run cron events immediately
• Add new cron events and custom cron schedules
• Bulk delete cron events
• Export and download cron event lists as a CSV file
• Alerts for missed schedules or problems with the cron system
• Timezone aware

Pricing Structure

WP Crontrol is a free plugin available for download from the WordPress plugin repository. It does not have a premium version thus all features are available for free use.

6. User Switching

The User Switching is a WordPress development plugin designed to facilitate seamless swapping between user accounts. This is particularly beneficial in instances where administrators need to switch between different accounts, including WooCommerce sites, membership sites, testing environments, among others.

How is User Switching Useful for Developers?

This WordPress development plugin is an invaluable tool for developers in that it enhances customer support, especially for platforms such as WooCommerce sites. It provides seamless testing environments, allowing developers to switch accounts and view the site from different users’ perspectives.

It also comes with compatibility with most two-factor authentication solutions, membership, and user management plugins, contributing to its versatility and wide use.

Pros

• Easy to navigate and use
• Allows for a seamless switch between users
• Compatible with most two-factor authentication solutions
• Approved for use on enterprise-grade WordPress platforms
• Ensures secure user switching, with passwords not being revealed

Cons

• Only users with the ability to edit other users can switch accounts
• It might pose potential privacy issues as it uses browser cookies

Key Features

• Allows you to swap to any user account from the User screen.
• You can instantly switch back to your original account.
• You can log out of your account, but still maintain the ability to switch back in.
• The plugin employs WordPress’s cookie authentication system when switching between accounts, ensuring secure user switching.

Pricing Structure

The User Switching plugin is free of charge. There is no premium version or additional costs associated with using this plugin.

7. Theme Check

The Theme Check plugin is a developer’s tool that allows you to test your WordPress theme and ensure it complies with the latest theme review standards. The plugin enables automated testing similar to the ones WordPress.org uses for theme submissions, providing a thorough and standardized review process.

How is Theme Check Useful for a Developer?

This plugin is beneficial to developers, particularly those involved in theme development. It provides a simple admin menu from which the tests are run, and results are displayed collectively, saving time and providing a comprehensive overview of the theme’s compliance status. It is also helpful in ensuring that the themes support the latest WordPress theme standards and practices.

Theme Check is essential for developers to ensure their themes are up to standard. It not only helps in detecting any issues or errors in the theme but also ensures that the theme meets the best practice standards set by WordPress.org. This can significantly reduce the chances of theme rejection during submissions.

Pros

• Easy to use with a simple admin interface.
• Tests are comprehensive and adhere to the latest WordPress standards.
• Significantly reduces theme review time.
• Enables Trac formatting for detailed feedback in tickets.

Cons

• Requires understanding and defining variables in wp-config.php to enable Trac formatting.
• Some developers may find the testing process too stringent.

Key Features

• Comprehensive automated theme testing.
• Tests adhere to the latest WordPress theme standards and practices.
• Simple admin interface for running tests.
• Displays all test results at once for easy review.
• Support for Trac formatting for detailed feedback.

Pricing Structure

The Theme Check plugin is free to use.

8. Plugin Check (PCP)

Plugin Check, often abbreviated as PCP, is a WordPress plugin that tests whether another plugin meets the necessary standards for the WordPress.org plugin directory. It conducts various checks used for new submissions, ensuring that your plugin meets the required guidelines.

How is Plugin Check useful for Developers?

This plugin is a valuable tool for developers as it flags violations or concerns surrounding the best practices of plugin development. It checks for the correct usage of internationalization functions, accessibility, performance, and security best practices. Additionally, it provides a convenient way to make sure your plugin is up to par before submission, which can save time and effort in the long run.

Developers should use the Plugin Check as it can dramatically speed up the process of getting a plugin approved for the WordPress.org plugin repository. It also helps to avoid common mistakes that might occur during plugin development.

Pros

• It is easy to use
• Provides detailed feedback on the plugin’s compliance
• Saves time that would have been spent on manual checks

Cons

• It is not a substitute for the manual review process
• Some runtime checks require a workaround to execute when using WP-CLI.

Key Features

• It allows developers to run checks using either the WP Admin user interface or WP-CLI.
• Provides detailed feedback on violations or concerns surrounding the best practices of plugin development.
• The checks are grouped into different categories, allowing for customization on the types of checks to be run on a plugin.
• Notifies of violations or concerns around plugin development best practices, from basic requirements to accessibility, performance, and security best practices.
• It helps to speed up the process of getting a plugin approved for the WordPress.org plugin repository.

Pricing Structure

The Plugin Check is free for use. All you need is to install it into your WordPress setup and begin the process of checking your plugins for compliance with the required standards. This makes it a cost-effective tool for developers.

9. Enable jQuery Migrate Helper

Enable jQuery Migrate Helper is a WordPress plugin designed to resolve issues arising from the disabling of the jQuery migration tool in WordPress 5.5. It serves as a stop-gap measure, allowing older code in themes or plugins to function properly while their authors update and test their code.

How the Enable jQuery Migrate Helper is Useful for Developers?

The Enable jQuery Migrate Helper plugin helps developers by eliminating the need to immediately update all their code after the WordPress 5.5 update. It gives them time to thoroughly test their code before launching it. This plugin also provides the option to downgrade to a previous version of jQuery for a period, offering more flexibility to developers.

This plugin should be used by developers because it prevents the potential loss of functionality or unexpected behavior in themes or plugins running older code. It allows for a smoother transition to newer versions of WordPress, minimizing the risk of site crashes or bugs.

Pros

• It provides an immediate solution to potential issues caused by the WordPress 5.5 update.
• It allows developers to take their time in updating and testing their code.
• It offers the option to downgrade to a previous version of jQuery.

Cons

• It is a temporary solution and developers will eventually need to update their code.
• Relying on this plugin may encourage delaying necessary updates.

Key Features

• Enables the jQuery migration script: This feature helps to prevent loss of functionality in themes or plugins running older code.
• Provides an option to downgrade to a previous version of jQuery: This feature gives developers more flexibility and time to update their code.
• Identifies potential issues: The plugin can help detect features that are no longer working behind the scenes, enabling developers to fix these issues proactively.

Pricing Structure

The Enable jQuery Migrate Helper is a free WordPress plugin.

10. Performance Lab

Performance Lab is a WordPress plugin designed specifically to enhance the overall performance of your website. This plugin comprises several modules that are primarily focused on performance enhancement. The idea behind the creation of this plugin is to allow developers to test and benefit from the modules before they are officially integrated into the WordPress core. It provides a platform for developers to offer their valuable feedback for the betterment of these solutions.

How is Performance Lab Useful for Developers?

The Performance Lab plugin helps developers by offering them several performance modules that they can individually enable and test. This allows developers to enhance the performance of their sites and experiment with the features of the plugin before they are introduced in the WordPress core. The plugin also provides a platform for developers to contribute to the development and improvement of these modules.

Developers should use this plugin because it offers advanced features that are not yet available in the WordPress core. It allows developers to experiment with these features and provide feedback, thereby contributing to the improvement of WordPress. Moreover, the plugin helps in enhancing the performance of their site.

Pros

• Allows testing of new features before integration into WordPress core.
• Opportunity to contribute to WordPress development.
• Enhances site performance.

Cons

• Risk of encountering bugs or issues during the development phase.

Key Features:

• Dominant Color Images: This module adds support to store the dominant color of newly uploaded images and creates a placeholder background of that color.
• WebP Support Health Check: This module adds a WebP support check in Site Health status.
• WebP Uploads: This module creates WebP versions for new JPEG image uploads if supported by the server.
• Enqueued Assets Health Check: This module adds a CSS and JS resource check in Site Health status.
• Autoloaded Options Health Check: This module adds a check for autoloaded options in Site Health status.

Pricing Structure

The plugin is currently available for free. Developers can download and install it from the WordPress plugin directory without any cost.

11. Create Block Theme

Create Block Theme is a WordPress plugin designed specifically for developers. It simplifies the process of creating a new theme, blank theme, child theme or style variation. It allows developers to list and preview font families and font faces embedded in the theme, and embed Google Fonts or local font assets in the theme.

How to Create a Block Theme useful for Developers?

This plugin helps developers by providing a streamlined process for creating and customizing WordPress themes. It eliminates the need for manual coding, making the process faster and more efficient. Plus, it provides a convenient way to manage fonts, which can directly affect a website’s aesthetics and user experience.

Developers should use this plugin because it simplifies the theme creation process, saving time and effort. It allows for a high level of customization, including font management, which can enhance the overall design of a website.

Pros

• Streamlines the theme development process.
• Provides a high level of customization, including font management.

Cons

• Not intended for use on production websites.
• The plugin requires the latest version of WordPress to function properly.
• It may conflict with other plugins.

Key Features

• Create a new theme, blank theme, child theme or style variation.
• List and preview font families and font faces embedded in your theme.
• Embed Google Fonts in your theme.
• Embed local font assets in your theme.
• Generate a theme with the click of a button.
• Simple export process for created themes.

Pricing Structure

Create Block Theme is a free plugin available for download on the WordPress plugin repository. It does not have a premium version or in-app purchases, making it accessible for all WordPress developers.

12. WP Reset

WP Reset is a powerful WordPress tool that quickly resets a site’s database to the default installation values without modifying any files. It erases all customizations and content, or just selected parts like theme settings.

How is WP Reset Useful for Developers?

This tool is perfect for plugin and theme developers as it speeds up testing and debugging by providing a quick way to reset settings and re-test code. It is safe to use due to its multiple fail-safe mechanisms and built-in snapshots that provide 1-click restore functionality, making it impossible to accidentally lose data.

Pros

• Speeds up testing and debugging process.
• Multiple fail-safe mechanisms prevent accidental data loss.
• Built-in snapshots provide 1-click restore functionality.
• Offers full WP-CLI support.
• Provides WP-MU support.

Cons

• All data is lost once reset, and there is no undo option unless a snapshot has been created.
• The reset process does not affect any media files, plugins, themes, uploads, site title, WordPress address, site address, site language, and search engine visibility settings.
• It is not fully tested with multisite.
• The state of user data privacy is unclear.

Key Features

• Resets all posts, pages, custom post types, comments, media entries, users, and all default WP database tables.
• Do not delete or modify media files, files (plugins, themes, uploads), site title, WordPress address, site address, site language, and search engine visibility settings.
• Provides WP-CLI support and commands.
• Offers Database Snapshots for quick restore and comparison of current database tables.
• Provides Partial Reset Tools to delete transients, uploads, plugins, and themes; reset theme options; empty or delete custom tables; and delete the .htaccess file.

Pricing Structure

WP Reset is a free plugin, but a PRO license can be activated for additional benefits. The pricing details for the PRO license are not provided in the context and can be found on their official website.

13. Simple Custom CSS and JS

The Simple Custom CSS and JS plugin is a powerful tool for developers working on WordPress sites. It allows users to easily add custom CSS and JS code to their sites without having to alter their theme or plugin files. This is particularly useful for making custom CSS tweaks to a site.

How is a Simple Custom CSS and JS plugin Useful for Developers?

This plugin is beneficial for developers as it provides a secure and efficient way of customizing a WordPress site. It eliminates the need for editing the theme or plugin files, thus reducing the risk of introducing bugs or errors into the site. This helps in maintaining the stability and functionality of the site while making necessary customizations.

The Simple Custom CSS and JS plugin allows for easy customization of a site without interfering with the core files. It also keeps changes intact even when the theme is changed, ensuring that customizations are not lost during theme updates or changes.

Pros:

• Powerful tool for customization.
• Offers flexibility in design and functionality.
• Can create unique and tailored website experiences.

Cons:

• Requires proficiency in CSS and JS for effective use.
• Risk of clutter and conflicts with numerous custom codes.
• Lack of proper management may lead to maintenance challenges.

Key Features

• Text Editor: The plugin comes with a text editor that features syntax highlighting, making it easy to write and debug code.
• Inline or External File Printing: The plugin allows you to print the code either inline or included into an external file.
• Header or Footer Printing: You can choose to print the code in the header or the footer of the site.
• Frontend or Admin Side Code Addition: The plugin gives you the option to add CSS or JS to the frontend or the admin side of the site.
• Multiple Code Addition: You can add as many codes as you want using this plugin.
• Theme Change Preservation: It keeps your changes intact even when you change the theme of the site.

Pricing Structure

The Simple Custom CSS and JS plugin is available for free. However, there is also a pro version available that offers additional features, including the ability to assign the customizations to specific pages, and priority support. The pro version is priced at $48.50 for a single site, $68.50 for 10 sites, and $140.50 for 50 sites.

14. Health Check & Troubleshooting

The Health Check & Troubleshooting is a WordPress plugin designed to perform a series of evaluations on your WordPress installation to identify common configuration errors and known issues. It also enables plugins and themes to add their checks.

How is Health Check & Troubleshooting Useful for Developers?

This WordPress development plugin is essentially a diagnostic tool for developers. It helps in identifying any potential issues related to plugin compatibility, server configuration, and WordPress files. It also offers a ‘troubleshooting mode’ that enables a clean WordPress session for testing purposes. This helps developers to identify and fix issues without impacting the user experience.

The Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin is a must-have for developers because it helps to streamline the debugging process. It provides a comprehensive overview of the site’s health and allows developers to identify and fix issues in a controlled environment.

Pros

• It helps in identifying and fixing common configuration errors and issues.
• It provides a safe environment for troubleshooting.
• It gives a detailed overview of the site’s health.

Cons

• It may require some technical knowledge to fully understand and utilize all its features.
• For complex issues, developers might still need to look into the code directly.

Key Features

• Debugging Section: Collects information about WordPress and server configuration for easy sharing with support representatives.
• Troubleshooting Mode: Allows for a clean WordPress session where all plugins are disabled, and a default theme is used.
• Tools Section: Checks the integrity of WordPress files, verifies email functionality, and checks plugin compatibility with future PHP version updates.
• Support: Offers multiple channels for feedback and support, including WordPress.org forums, GitHub, and Slack.

Pricing Structure

The Health Check & Troubleshooting is a free plugin available for download and use from the WordPress plugin directory.

15. Theme Switcha

The Theme Switcha plugin is a game-changing tool for developers working with WordPress. Its primary function is to allow developers to switch between themes seamlessly for testing and development purposes while maintaining the default theme for visitors.

How is Theme Switcha Useful for Developers?

Theme Switcha assists developers in privately building and customizing themes, testing them for any bugs, and creating links that switch to specific themes. This plugin is particularly useful when developers want to develop new themes without disturbing the live website’s functionality. It also allows live private previews of any installed theme.

Using Theme Switcha, developers can ensure an uninterrupted user experience on the website while performing necessary theme changes in the background. It also enables developers to share their developmental progress with clients via a unique passkey, providing a more professional and efficient workflow.

However, developers should be cautious while using Theme Switcha with WordPress features such as Gutenberg Block Editor, Theme Customizer, Widgets, Menus, and other theme-related options. Using these features concurrently with Theme Switcha might result in private changes being publicly visible on the active theme.

Pros

• Ensures a seamless theme switching experience
• Allows testing and development of themes without hampering the user experience
• Provides live private previews

Cons

• Might result in private changes becoming public if used with other WordPress features

Key Features

• Visitor theme switching via the frontend
• Admin testing of alternate themes for debugging
• Private theme building and customization
• Creation of links that switch to specific themes
• Live private previews of any installed theme
• Control of who can switch themes
• Theme switching directly via the WP Admin Area
• Visitor theme switching and preview on the front end
• Custom passkey cowitch themes via the select menu

Pricing Structure

The Theme Switcha plugin is free to use. However, to support the plugin’s development, users can donate or purchase book resources and premium WordPress plugins from the developer.

Final Word

As a developer, your time is valuable—and the right set of tools can save you hours of tedious work. The WordPress development plugins covered in this guide empower you to write cleaner code, debug faster, manage content structures with precision, and even automate repetitive tasks.

Whether you’re managing multiple client projects or building complex themes and plugins from scratch, these WordPress plugins for developers are designed to boost productivity and reduce friction in your workflow. From advanced field management to real-time error tracking, there’s a plugin here to elevate every aspect of your development process.

Take the time to test these WordPress developer plugins in a secure staging environment (like InstaWP) before deploying them to live projects—and build with confidence, speed, and control.

FAQs