Plugin and theme recommendations for WordPress
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I have been passionate about web development since 2002. That’s when I created my first websites, back when modern tools and technologies were still rare. There were many hurdles along the way. Unreliable hosting providers, limited WordPress themes and plugins that caused more frustration than progress. Maybe you’re familiar with these kinds of problems. It was precisely these experiences that motivated me to look for better solutions.
Over many years, I have tested countless tools, compared hosting providers, and found out what really works in practice. This has given me a clear overview of which tools really make it easier for you to build and maintain your website.
If you want to save time, avoid technical hurdles, and design your website with the best tools available, you’ll find exactly the right recommendations here. Everything I share is based on real experience and the desire to not only make websites look good, but also to make them powerful and future-proof.
WordPress Themes
Discover the best free and premium themes for your WordPress website.
Blocksy
Blocksy is a modern, lightweight and highly customisable WordPress theme designed specifically for Block Editor. It offers numerous design options, integrated header and footer builders, dynamic content and seamless integration with popular plugins such as WooCommerce and LearnDash. Thanks to its fast loading times and SEO optimisation, it is ideal for blogs, portfolios, corporate websites and online shops.
GeneratePress
GeneratePress is an extremely fast and versatile WordPress theme designed for performance and ease of use. With full access to the Customizer, users can flexibly customise layout, colours, typography and more. It is fully compatible with page builders such as Elementor and Block Editor and offers a developer-friendly experience that makes it ideal for customisation. Thanks to its stability and optimised code base, it is an excellent choice for all types of websites.
Ollie
Ollie WP is a modern and versatile WordPress theme that has been specially developed for seamless use with the block editor. It combines appealing design with high performance and offers extensive customisation options for unique websites. Thanks to its fast loading times and optimised code base, it is perfect for blogs, corporate websites and creative projects.
Twenty Twenty-Five
Twenty Twenty-Five is the official default theme for WordPress 2025 and is based on a modern, minimalist design. It is fully aligned with the block editor and offers maximum flexibility for customised layouts. With its focus on accessibility, performance and easy customisation, it is equally suitable for blogs, portfolios and corporate websites.
What is a WordPress theme?
WordPress themes determine the appearance and layout of your website. They define how colors, fonts, and the entire structure are arranged. A good theme helps you quickly implement an appealing design and present your content professionally. Among the most well-known WordPress themes are Hello by Elementor, Divi, and Astra. They are used by many and have a large community. Nevertheless, they are not automatically the best choice for every website. They often come with many features that you may not need. Or they may lack the very features that are crucial for your project. That’s why it’s worth taking a closer look and choosing a theme that really suits your goals.
WordPress Plugins
Here you’ll find the best tools to help you create great WordPress websites.
ACF
Advanced Custom Fields adds custom fields to WordPress to create flexible and individualised content.
AntiSpam Bee
Effective spam protection for comments and contact forms, GDPR-compliant and without captchas.
BetterDocs
Create and manage knowledge bases for better support and fewer requests.
BetterLinks
Plugin for URL shortening, tracking and effective link management in WordPress.
Block Visibility
Control the visibility of block editor blocks based on conditions such as user roles or device type.
Embed Privacy
Effective spam protection for comments and contact forms, GDPR-compliant and without captchas.
Fluent Forms
Powerful form plugin with simple drag-and-drop editing and extensive integrations.
Fluent Auth
Security plugin for two-factor authentication and improved login management.
Fluent Booking
Flexible booking system for services, appointments and events directly in WordPress.
Fluent Community
Plugin for setting up and managing online communities with forums, memberships and interactions.
Fluent CRM
Self-hosted CRM tool for email marketing, customer management and automation.
Fluent SMTP
Reliable e-mail dispatch with detailed logs and support for various SMTP providers.
Fluent Snippets
Efficient WordPress plugin for creating and managing customised PHP and CSS snippets directly in the admin area.
GenerateBlocks
Lightweight block plugin for WordPress that enables design and layout without unnecessary ballast.
Imagify
Optimises images for faster loading times through compression and WebP conversion.
RankMath SEO
All-in-one SEO plugin with AI-supported optimisation, schema markup and keyword analysis.
SEOPress
Powerful SEO plugin for meta tags, XML sitemaps, content analysis and social media optimisation.
Statify
Minimalist, data protection-compliant analysis tool without tracking user data.
Real Cookie Banner
Intuitive plugin for GDPR-compliant management of cookies and consents.
20% Gutschein Code: HEJRCB
Real Media Library
Organise your WordPress media with folders and collections for more overview and efficiency.
10% Gutschein Code: HEJRML
WP-Rocket
High-performance caching plugin to speed up websites and optimise loading times.
WP-Statistics
Privacy-friendly analysis plugin that provides visitor statistics directly in WordPress without external services.
What is a WordPress plugin?
A WordPress plugin is a software add-on that extends the functionality of a WordPress website and allows users to add features without having to write code. Plugins can improve the performance, security and user-friendliness of a website, among other things. Popular examples include Yoast SEO for optimising search engine visibility, WooCommerce for creating e-commerce shops and Elementor for creating customised page layouts. These plugins are crucial for customising WordPress websites to specific needs and improving overall website management and functionality. With thousands of plugins available, WordPress users can fully customise their websites to suit their individual requirements.
Important things you should know about WordPress plugins
WordPress plugins are essential for improving the functionality of a website without coding knowledge and making website management accessible to non-developers. They allow users to add features such as SEO optimisation, e-commerce and custom designs tailored to specific needs. By extending core functionality, plugins improve usability, security and performance, making WordPress a versatile and powerful platform for various web projects. Some of the most popular plugins include Yoast SEO, WooCommerce and Elementor.
Hosting & Tools
Here you’ll find the best tools to help you create great WordPress websites.
WP Umbrella
WP Umbrella offers backup, performance monitoring and automated website management for WordPress – efficient, secure and user-friendly.
MainWP
MainWP is a self-hosted WordPress management tool that enables the centralised monitoring, management and updating of multiple websites.
instaWP
InstaWP is an innovative platform that enables lightning-fast WordPress installations for development, testing and demos – flexibly, efficiently and without technical hurdles.
YOURLS
Self-hosted URL shortener for customised, short links with tracking and management functions.
Nucleo
Nucleo is an icon management, customisation and organisation app for designers and developers, available for Mac and Windows.
cyon
Cyon is a high-performance web hosting provider from Switzerland, known for its fast loading times, high reliability and user-friendly tools.
Netcup
Netcup offers powerful and reliable web hosting, domains and server solutions with an excellent price-performance ratio.
WP Space
WP Space Hosting offers fast, secure and reliable hosting, specially optimised for WordPress websites.
raidboxes
Raidboxes offers specialised WordPress hosting with high performance, simple administration and environmentally friendly hosting from Germany.
What are tools?
In the context of christopherkurth.com, tools are software products and services that can help you create a WordPress website. Photoshop, for example, is not a WordPress tool, but it can help you create great images for your WordPress website.
Important things to know about WordPress tools
The tools described on this page are not WordPress tools, but tools that can help you with your WordPress website. I’m talking about tools outside of the WordPress system. Like Photoshop, Canva, Adobe Premiere.
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