13 Best WordPress Plugins for SEO

SEO optimization of WordPress websites can be partially or fully performed by using plugins. There are similar solutions that simplify the promotion of projects for other CMS; for instance, we previously published a selection for OpenCart and Joomla. SEO plugins will help you to:

• generate an XML sitemap;
  
• transliterate for automatic URL generation (user-friendly URL);
  
• create accelerated AMP pages;
  
• correctly configure server redirects;
  
• add meta tags title, description, and keywords;
  
• optimize image names and sizes;
  
• use caching to speed up resource loading;
  
• add the nofollow attribute to external hyperlinks so that they don't transfer the reference weight.
  

The choice of plugins depends on the WordPress version used on the website, its download speed, the number of media files, and other parameters that need to be optimized.

You can download both free WordPress plugins and premium versions with advanced functionality. Usually, when developing a website, they add a multifunctional SEO plugin, the capabilities of which are then supplemented with extensions that solve specific tasks important to the project.

The plugin has been installed more than five million times and translated into 40 languages.

Features of the free version:

• creating an XML map of the project;
  
• setting canonical page addresses to avoid content duplicate;
  
• meta tag templates;
  
• tools for writing SEO texts;
  
• display snippets in preview mode;
  
• integration with Google Analytics, etc.
  

Additional features of the premium version:

• Yoast SEO extension with additional News SEO, Video SEO, etc. plugins;
  
• free technical support throughout the year;
  
• tools for managing keywords: a selection of synonyms, similar keys;
  
• hints for internal linking;
  
• preview mode on social networks, which allows you to find out how the page will look when it is shared, etc.
  

Features of the free version:

• XML sitemap;
  
• AMP technology support to speed up website loading;
  
• integration with Google Analytics;
  
• support for Open Graph layouts to improve the appearance of pages when sharing in social networks;
  
• API for expanding functionality with other plugins;
  
• automatic notification of search engines about changes in the project;
  
• SEO integration for e-commerce websites;
  
• automatic optimization of headers;
  
• automatic generation of meta tags.
  

Additional features of the premium version:

• extended support for WooCommerce;
  
• SEO for product categories and tags;
  
• SEO video module;
  
• access to technical support forums;
  
• access to the Knowledge Center.
  

Features of the free version:

• generation of breadcrumbs for Google search: a chain of movements from the main category to subcategories and a specific page;

• generation of an XML-map and auto-notification of search engines about changes on the website;
  

• automatic creation of title and description in accordance with the recommendations of Google;

• support for Open Graph layouts to improve the appearance of pages when reposting in social networks;

• auto-generation of canonical pages to avoid problems with content duplicates;

• disabling indexing of empty categories, etc.
  
  

Additional features of the premium version:

• limits for simultaneous connection of websites have been increased;
  
• premium extensions are added;
  
• API access limits are currently increasing.
  

Additional features of the premium version:

• automatic conversion of forms;
  
• Schema.org markup support;
  
• extended support for WooCommerce;
  
• sending custom events to Google Analytics;
  
• Google Tag Manager support;
  
• multilingual support, etc.