I started writing this post as a 2025 roundup of sorts — WordPress events, acquisitions, big releases, the usual year-in-review stuff.
I try to do that every year, to be honest.
And every year, I don’t quite finish it.
This year seems no different.
But somewhere halfway through collecting links and notes, I realised I wasn’t really in the mood to look back.
What felt more interesting was looking ahead. Thinking about what doesn’t exist yet. Or what exists, but doesn’t quite work the way it should.
So instead of another “here’s what happened” post, I want to ask a simpler — and maybe more useful — question:
What WordPress plugins would you like to see in 2026?
Not the shiny, overhyped ones.
Not the “AI-powered everything” plugins either.
Just simple, easy-to-use tools that would genuinely make your day a little easier.
Maybe it’s a plugin you loved once, but hasn’t been updated in years.
Maybe it’s something you’ve Googled repeatedly, only to find half-solutions and abandoned repositories.
Or maybe it’s a problem that only you seem to have — but that’s often how good plugins start.
WordPress Plugin Ideas to Get You Started
To get the ideas flowing, here are a few plugin concepts I keep wishing someone would build –
1. A Plugin That Explains Why Something Broke
Most plugins are great at telling you that something is wrong.
Very few help you understand why.
Imagine a plugin that notices a white screen, broken layout, or failed update — and then explains it in plain language.
Not error codes.
Not cryptic logs.
Just:
“This plugin update conflicted with your theme.”
“This setting was changed recently.”
“This usually happens after X.”
For site owners who don’t live in developer tools, this would be gold.
2. A “Quiet Maintenance” Plugin for Non-Tech Clients
If you manage client sites, you know this problem well.
Clients log in.
They see update notices.
They panic.
A plugin that:
- Hides unnecessary dashboard noise
- Shows a simple “Everything is being handled” message
- Lets admins control exactly what clients see
Nothing fancy. Just calm.
Sometimes the best UX is removing things, not adding them.
3. A Plugin That Replaces 5 Small Plugins at Once (Without the Bloat)
Many sites run separate plugins for:
- Login security
- Admin cleanup
- Minor performance tweaks
- Small editor enhancements
Individually, they’re fine. Together, they add up.
A lightweight plugin that handles a specific set of common, small tasks — without trying to become a full platform — would be incredibly useful.
Not “do everything.”
Just “do these few things really well.”
4. A Plugin That Shows the Real Cost of Each Plugin on Your Site
We talk a lot about “plugin bloat,” but it’s usually vague.
What would be far more helpful is a plugin that clearly shows:
- Which plugins slow down the site the most
- Which ones add the most database queries
- Which ones haven’t been used in months
Not to shame anyone — just to make better decisions.
Seeing real numbers changes behaviour fast.
5. A Modern Replacement for Beloved but Abandoned Plugins
Every WordPress user has at least one.
That plugin you love.
That still works.
That hasn’t been updated in four years.
A plugin built specifically to replace popular abandoned tools — with clean code, modern UI, and long-term maintenance — would instantly find an audience.
People don’t always want something new.
Often, they just want something familiar that won’t disappear.
Why This Question Matters
WordPress doesn’t move forward only because of big releases or core updates.
It moves forward because someone gets annoyed enough by a small problem to try fixing it.
Many of the best plugins started as:
- “I needed this for my own site”
- “I couldn’t find a simple solution”
- “Everything else was overkill”
So if you’ve ever thought, “Why isn’t there a plugin that does this?” — that thought is worth paying attention to.
Your Turn
So I’ll ask again:
What WordPress plugin would you like to see in 2026?
Is there something missing from your workflow?
Something you keep hacking together with snippets and workarounds?
Or something you’d happily pay for if it just existed?
I’d genuinely love to hear your ideas — because chances are, you’re not the only one who needs it.