A plugin is a piece of software that you can install onto your website that has functions that will either add functionality or features. Well made plugins can blend smoothly into any website and are easy to use. They are made by developers to simplify the process of web design.
There is quite a wide variety of plugins that one could use for a WordPress church website. From uploading sermons to basic page builders here is a list of free plugins that you can use for your WordPress website! As these plugins are free there are many that offer premium/pro versions that add functionality or added features.
For your convenience, we have numbered a few of these plugins to let you know which ones we have found to be the best and easiest to use.
Our list of WordPress plugins is quite extensive. If you are looking for a plugin for a specific need, this Table of Contents should help you easily find what you need.
Table of Contents
- Bible Reading
- Community Plugins
- Cookie Policy Plugins
- Events Manager
- Forums Plugins
- Image Optimization
- Mail Plugins
- Maps Plugins
- Online Giving
- Page Builders
- Page Layout Plugins
- Prayer Manager
- Security Plugins
- Sermon Manager
- ShortCodes Plugins
- Social Plugins
- Statistics Plugins
- Utility Plugins
Note: Some plugins listed here have affiliate links. This means that we benefit from users that purchase plugins using the links provided. Please use your own discernment when determining which plugins would be right for you and your Church.
Bible Reading:
These Plugins make it easier to have bible verses on your website.
Bible Verse of the Day – 1
With this plugin, you can add a daily Bible verse as a Widget. They have a variety of versions and different languages. You can select a “Bible verse of the day” or “Random Bible Verse”.
Faithlife Reflagger
Faithlife Reftagger converts any Bible verse on your site to a link where your users can view the passage – all they need to do is hover over a verse. For extra-long verses they can click on the linked verse and be taken to the whole content of the verse. You can specify a Bible version.
BibleGateway VOTD*
Bible Gateway (Verse of the Day) gives you a daily verse in any version of the Bible. NIV is the default.
AMD Bible Reading*
AMD Bible Reading Shows KJV Bible verses daily on any website.
Community Plugins:
Community Plugins give your users the option to create their own accounts on their site.
BuddyPress
BuddyPress is a social network software that is very widely used and loved. It is flexible and allows users to interact with your website and each other and to disable elements that are not needed. By far one of the best community plugins around!
Cookie Policy Plugins:
Websites are now required to have a cookie consent banner attached to warn visitors that cookies are being used. If you don’t know for sure that you’re not using cookies, you probably are. Here are some plugins that make the process of putting that banner in place so much easier.
GDPR Cookie Consent
GDPR Cookie Consent is fully customizable. You can make it fit your website’s design colors and style.
Cookie Notice for GDPR
Cookie Notice for GDPR is customizable and gives you the option to have your users redirected to a page for more information or to your privacy policy page.
GDPR Cookie Consent Banner
The GDPR Cookie Consent Banner is simple to use are easy to set up. Install it on your WP website for a quick Cookie Consent Banner.
Events Manager:
An Events Manager Plugin is a plugin that gives you a place to post events and edit them. Some event manager plugins are even created to give you unique design options for your calendar.
The Events Calendar – 1
With The Events Calendar, you can create events and manage them from your WP Dashboard.
Modern Events Calendar
With Modern Events Calendar Lite you can create one-time and recurring events. With this plugin, you can choose “skins and styles” for each event you create.
Event Organiser
Event Organiser gives you the functionality to add events the same way you would add a post. You can choose to make your event repeating and assign values to your event.
All-in-one Event Calendar
The All-in-One Event Calendar from Time.ly lets you share events on your website and has an easy to manage calendar.
Events Manager
Lets you create events and have users register for them.
Forums Plugin:
A Forum is an area on your website that you can host conversations about topics.
bbPress
This Plugin allows you to host Forums on your WP Website. bbPress was created to be simple and easy to use.
Image Optimization:
An Image Optimization plugin is used to compress image sizes to help with bandwidth and faster load times.
Kraken.io
Kraken.io is one of the best Image Optimization plugins out there. It is fast and efficient and will help your site run faster and smoother. The free version of this plugin only allows you to upload files no larger than 1MB.
Smush
Smush is completely free to use and helps you find and edit pictures on your site that are making it take longer to load.
Mail Plugins:
Mail Plugins help with managing newsletters and emails.
MailPoet – emails and newsletters in WordPress – 1
Sign up to 1000 subscribers for free using MailPoet. You can automate the sending of newsletters, welcome emails, and new post notifications. Also, avoid having emails from your website end up in the spam folder with their advanced deliverability.
MC4WP: MailChimp for WordPress – 2
This plugin connects to your MailChimp account and you can create Forms with it. Use MC4WP’s form builder to collect MailChimp subscribers from your website.
Newsletter – 3
Want full control over your email newsletters and campaigns? Use the Newsletter plugin for WordPress and you won’t have to rely on services like MailChimp, Active Campaign, and Aweber. It is strongly advised that you use a mailing service such as Sendgrid, Mailgun, and Sparkpost to ensure deliverability.
MailChimp List Subscribe Form – 4
Set up sign up forms and widgets that connect flawlessly to your Mailchimp account.
Maps Plugins:
Looking to put a map on your website? Try out these useful plugins!
WP Google Maps -1
Install this plugin to add a google map to your site. It gives you a shortcode to use and is simple to use and quick to install.
MapPress Maps for WordPress – 2
This plugin gives your website a Leaflet or Google map. You can add an address to your page or post and the plugin will give an interactive map.
Online Giving:
Online Giving plugins can be used for tithing online. Most of these are “Free” to use but there is normally a minimum requirement.
GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform – 1
GiveWP is the top-rated donation plugin for WordPress. Receive donations using Stripe, PayPal, or the offline gateway. If GiveWP’s free version isn’t enough, they have a large selection of premium add-ons to fulfill your needs.
Tithe.ly Giving Button* – 2
This is a button plugin that can be easily installed to your site as a Widget or shortcode and can be linked to your Tithely account.
Faithlife Giving
Faithlife Giving gives you an easy way for your members to give online. It is free to use if you receive under $7,500 in monthly online gifts.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a very widely used plugin that websites use to sell goods or services. It is free to use and can be configured for most needs. If you need help modifying features, there are plenty of easy way to customize WooCommerce on your own.
PayPal Donations
PayPal Donations adds a donation shortcode or sidebar Widget for PayPal to your website.
BlueFire
The BlueFire Plugin gives your Woocommerce site a redirect to your BlueFire account.
Seamless Donations
Accepts donations through PayPal and does not charge a commission. Users of your website can choose to have their donations be automated or to do it manually.
Page Builders:
Page Builders are plugins that make adding and laying out content (pictures, videos, text, etc.) on your pages easy. They are hands-on and allow drag and drop functionality.
Beaver Builder Lite – 1
We believe Beaver Builder is one of the best page builders available and our WordPress agency is proud to be affiliated with them. We use it for many of our clients and choose it over all the rest. This may not be true for everyone but we believe that this product is worth your while.
Interested in a drag and drop workflow for your entire site? Pair Beaver Builder Pro with the Beaver Builder theme for the ultimate visual builder experience.
With Beaver Builder Lite you have the ability to edit columns, add photos, edit text, sidebars audio and video. Use it for pages posts and custom post types.
Elementor Page Builder – 2
Elementor’s page builder gives you the ability to edit, pilot, save, and reuse your website’s design. You have Hotkeys to make editing simpler, most used widgets, easy copy and paste, autosave, draft mode, and more!
SiteOrigin Page Builder – 3
SiteOrigin is a free WordPress Page builder. Some things that it includes are Drag and Drop editing, Widgets, simple coding, Live editing, different styles for your Rows and Widgets and a History section to save your previous edits.
Page Layout Plugins:
Page layout Plugins are very similar to Page builders but normally only do one thing. If you are looking to add a special kind of photo collage or slider try installing one of these below to your website.
Photo Gallery by 10Web – Mobile-Friendly Image Gallery – 1
Photo Gallery by 10Web is one of the most inclusive free photo gallery plugins out there for WP.
TablePress – 2
With TablePress you can create and “embed tables into posts, pages, or text widgets”.
Collapse-O-Matic
Collapse-O-Matic creates an accordion text area that opens and collapses to reveal more information, images, videos and more.
MetaSlider
MetaSlider creates slideshows that can be displayed on your website.
Genesis Responsive Slider
Display a slider that includes the title and description of any post (or other) that you would like. Please note the Genesis Responsive Slider only works with Genesis child themes.
Prayer Manager:
WP Prayer
WP Prayer is a plugin that gives your users the ability to post prayer requests on your website. It also comes with a cool little button that you can have on any prayer request that says “I prayed for you”.
Security Plugins:
These Plugins are used on your website to protect against Hackers.
iThemes Security – 1
As one of the top-rated security plugins, iThemes Security protects your website from 30 typical ways that hackers get into your site.
WordFence – 2
Wordfence gives your website the firewalls it needs and is up to date on the rules that help to keep your WordPress site safe.
Jetpack– 3
Just to name a few of their features, Jetpack protects against spam, gives secure logins, and records changes.
Google Captcha (reCAPTCHA) – 4
Google Captcha protects your site from Spam and allows real users to enter their information.
Sermon Manager:
A sermon manager plugin is used to upload sermons onto your site and makes the uploading process easier and more efficient.
Sermon Manager – 1
With Sermon Manager, you can upload sermons to your website. It has a wide range of usability such as One-Click Importing, adding Speakers, Series, Topics, Books, and Service Types… and more!
The Sermon Browser*
The Sermon Browser plugin can be used to upload your sermons to your website. You can upload both Audio and video sermons.
UpCast*
UpCast gives you the ability to customize where your podcast is viewed on your website and allows for shortcodes, custom templates, and HTML. The free version comes with 1 GB of storage.
ShortCodes Plugins:
A Shortcodes plugin gives users code templates that can be used when building a website. They are easy to use and make building your website that much easier!
Shortcodes Ultimate
Shortcodes Ultimate gives you a wide variety of shortcodes that you can use for your website. These codes can be used in place of coding and make building your website easier and faster.
Display Posts
Display Posts allows you easily list content throughout your website. Filter posts by category and order posts by various parameters. This plugin provides an amazing amount of customization.
Social Plugins:
A social plugin typically does one or both of the following:
- pulls information from a social network
- link users to your accounts
Smash Balloon Social Post Feed for Facebook – 1
Display your Facebook feed on your website using the Social Post Feed by Smash Balloon. This plugin gives you tons of great display options to help you match its appearance to your website.
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed for Instagram – 2
Share your Instagram photos on your website with this Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed plugin.
Social Media Widget
With the Social Media Widget plugin, you can choose from a large variety of social media icons based on size and kind.
Simple Social Icons
With Simple Social Icons, you can choose the size, color, and kind of icon and link it back to your social media accounts.
AddToAny Share Buttons
AddToAny gives you the option for your users to share your content on their social media sites.
Simple Share Buttons Adder
Simple Share Buttons Adder gives you the ability to add sharing buttons to your content and pages on your website
Statistics Plugins:
Statistics Plugins give you better insight into your website. They can tell you about your users such as how they are interacting with your site. Or they can tell you how your site is viewed on a server.
MonsterInsights – 1
MonsterInsights is a top-rated Google Analytics plugin that gives you real-time stats, and a dashboard to view your website’s analytics for pages posts and so much more!
WP Statistics
Use this plugin to gain insight into people who view your website.
Utility Plugins:
Advanced Custom Fields – 1
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) is a popular and powerful plugin that allows you to define custom fields and use them on your posts, pages, and custom post types. Display this custom data in templates or using a page builder.
Yoast SEO – 2
With Yoast SEO you can optimize your pages and posts with a keyword or phrase. It gives you a readability check and helps you avoid duplicate content. Not to mention helping with Google search optimization and much more.
Insert Headers and Footers – 3
Insert Headers and Footers plugin allows you to customize your header and footer sections without having to go in to change the Theme. This is particularly helpful when adding code to track analytics on your site.
Public Post Preview – 4
Give others a chance to preview your site before you publish it by using the Public Post Preview plugin. “This plugin takes care of that by generating a URL with an expiring nonce that can be given out for public preview.”
Disable Comments – 5
Lots of WordPress websites don’t use the comments functionality. Easily turn them off and hide the menu using Disable Comments.
Redirection – 6
The Redirection plugin helps with managing all of the redirects needed for your site.
404page
For those “lost” pages, you can use this plugin to set up a 404 error page.
Summing It Up:
Well… that was a lot of information! Thanks for checking us out and please let us know in the comments below what your favorite WP plugin is!
Do you have an idea for a Church Plugin that you don’t see? Send your ideas to us at [email protected] and we will work on making it happen!
*These Plugins are no longer maintained. Although you can still install this plugin on your site(s), the developer is no longer maintaining it and keeping up with the latest changes in WordPress. Please be aware that your site may be vulnerable to attack.
