Top 10 Best Free Joomla Plugins of 2023

Web Development
Updated on: 22 Oct, 2024 17:40 PM

Although the majority of people now prefer WordPress as their content management system of choice, Joomla is still one of its top rivals. It not only boasts frequent upgrades and releases, but it also has a strong extension marketplace, much like WordPress. Joomla Development is a fantastic option for both novice and experienced webmasters when it comes to building websites. Joomla makes it simple to construct and manage websites with a professional appearance by fusing WordPress's simplicity with Drupal's capability.

Best Free Joomla Plugins

However, "out of the box" Joomla lacks a lot of the capabilities that modern business owners believe are crucial. You'll need to add extensions if you want to expand your Joomla website. Here are some of the most helpful and significant Joomla extensions to install right away if you're starting a website with Joomla this year. What have you got to lose if they're free? See the popular Joomla add-ons listed below for a few of our favourites.

1. Asynchronous Google Analytics

Google Analytics is required if you want to measure things like how many people visit your website each month, where countries they are from, your most popular pages, which other websites link to you, etc. It is the most complete service available to you without cost. However, you could be perplexed about where to place the Analytics code on your website if you're new to hosting websites.

Key features:

• You may track your e-commerce platform and establish specific targets.
• Data can be acquired from a number of platforms and sources.
• Depending on your preferences, you can create your own reports.

Pros

• It can be utilised in a variety of online settings, including webpages, mobile apps, and other devices with an internet connection.
• You can get all the information you require about the platform at the Google Analytics Academy.
• Your Google Analytics account and Google Ads account can be linked.

Cons

• You must first "learn the language" of Google Analytics in order to understand its intricacies.
• Online tool selection can be challenging, and those without even a rudimentary grasp of analytics may find the instructions confusing, time-consuming, or overwhelming.
• The mood on the platform as a whole could be overwhelming. There are numerous dashboards, settings, user views, and stats.

Pricing

Nearly all users may use Google Analytics free version.

2. Akeeba Backup

An open-source Joomla backup component is called Akeeba Backup. It is an open-source, dependable backup solution that is simple to use for your Joomla website. It produces a single archive that contains a full backup of your website. You can only back up your files or your database.

Key features:

• It may exclude a certain database table or its data.
• There is no cost for any of the essential parts.
• It can set up the configuration wizard automatically to work best with your site.

Pros

• You are allowed to restore the site backup that Akeeba Backup makes on any Joomla-compatible server.
• It functions using an AJAX-driven restoration procedure. Consequently, you may prevent server timeout.
• The most dependable and quick PHP native backup engine.

Cons

• Support comes at a price.
• Their new price structure is noticeably higher than the old one.

Pricing

Our free version is called Akeeba Backup Core. Without creating an account on our website, you may download it. For your Joomla!-powered websites, it has all the features required for a comprehensive backup, restoration, and site move solution.

3. LazyDbBackup

LazyDbBackup's primary function is to email the backup file of your Joomla database. You may disable the email function using one option; backup files are then kept in a specific location and are available for FTP download at any time..

Key features:

• provides a free and convenient option for you to receive database backups via mail. Simple to setup and simple.
• This backup addon is multilingual and accessible in French, English, German, Italian, and Spanish.

Pros

• It enables you to download the backup file through FTP and save it in a predetermined folder.
• It costs nothing to download LazyDbBackup.
• JoomXtensions is a supplier that works with Joomla 1.5, 2.5, and 3.x.

Cons

• Uses MySQL databases exclusively.

Pricing

The app is free of cost.

4. K2 Publishing

The Joomla article system is strong but straightforward out of the box. You should think about adopting K2 if you're building a large, publishing- and media-focused website. With the help of this Joomla plugin, your website may publish news and magazines in full. Deeper category organisation, a moderation-enabled comments system, post content templates, image/video/file attachments, author and user profiles, an integrated search for posts, and more are noteworthy additions.

Key features:

• It can undoubtedly manage any challenging situation or process.
• K2 is essentially low-code. It is a low- or no-code remedy.
• It is largely GUI based. Their assistance is likewise first-rate.

Pros

• Enables you to create a data source from several sources and to segregate the data from the application.
• Using a SmartObject you've created based on a data source
• The integration tools have been quite helpful.

Cons

• K2 is a workflow solution; it does not include an RPA solution.
• K2 is a BPM software, hence the initial expenditure is substantial.
• Due to the fact that you are charged the same whether there are one transaction or 100, it is not inexpensive.

Pricing

Free

5. DataSafe Pro

All of your database information is contained in a DataSafe Pro backup, so if your system crashes, you make a setup error, or you wish to go back in time, all you have to do is choose a backup and restore it using the DataSafe Pro interface.

Key features:

• You receive an email right away with every backup.
• Every backup is safely kept online.
• Creates a copy of your complete Joomla database.

Pros

• Enables you to rapidly change the content.
• Uses GZIP compression, which is better.
• You may restore your DataSafe backup using PHPMyAdmin if you are unable to access your Joomla administrator panel.

Cons

Just creates a database backup. Nothing else is backed up.

Pricing

Free

6. Easy Joomla Backup

The reason for the name Easy Joomla Backup is the straightforward, essentially antiquated way in which all of your files and database dumps are stored. You can always completely restore your important data to your website from the backup zip archive that it stores them in.

Key features:

• In Joomla, backups may be easily and rapidly created.
• All files and the database are backed up by the extension.
• There are three different backup types: full, database, and file.

Pros

Cons

There isn't an automatic restoration procedure offered.

Pricing

100 €

Length of subscription: a year

7. Akeeba Admin Tools

You should perform a variety of administrative activities on a weekly or monthly basis to ensure optimal security and usability, including updating Joomla and its extensions, maintaining the backend database, clearing caches and temporary files, etc. The all-inclusive aid for all of that is Akeeba Admin Tools.

Key features:

• Functionality explains itself
• Convenient to use and learn.
• Setup and installation are simple.

Pros

• Added power over-extension
• Htaccess creator
• A private administrative url that may be changed
• Adequate documentation

Cons

• Conflicts might arise on your website if you don't know what you're doing.
• The free version has several restrictions.

Pricing

Although the programme is free, its support is not. To seek help, you must be subscribed. However, access to its documentation, troubleshooting assistance, video lessons, and public ticket search is free.

8. EFSEO

You must comprehend how search engines operate in order to optimise your website for exposure and authority. If you want your website to show up in search engine results. Search Engine Optimization is what this is (SEO). Since EFSEO (formerly Easy Frontend SEO) takes care of everything for you, you can raise your search engine rankings by simply following its instructions.

Key features:

• Change meta data on the front end and control access using user groups and user IDs
• Automatic Mode: Metadata is created automatically or by global settings for certain extensions. 100 percent automatic
• You can edit and add entries directly in the backend using the backend component.

Pros

• Two different looks: Window with a Modal top bar.
• Extensions that are supported in the Automatic Mode Com content, the content component directly save entered data into the main tables.

Cons

• Every time a page loads, the same data cannot be recalculated.
• Even if you remove the extension or modify the URL format, the metadata is not accessible.

Pricing

Although the plugin is totally free, assistance requires a subscription.

9. OSMap

Search engine crawlers can only "see" pages that are linked from the page they are now on when they visit one of your pages; they are not aware of any other sites on your website. Pages cannot be indexed if they are not crawled, thus this is an issue! Sitemaps might be useful in this situation. A sitemap outlines your website's full architecture, including every page, to make it easier for search engine crawlers to discover all of your material.

Key features:

• Creates an SEO-friendly XML sitemap
• Automatically creates an HTML sitemap that your site's visitors may view
• Automatically creates an image sitemap for search engines like Google

Pros

• Supports menu item indexing for extensions from third parties
• Gives each sitemap item the Priority XML sitemap tag.
• Gives each sitemap item the Priority Frequency sitemap tag.

Cons

• Errors in the coding render XML invalid.
• No a system of tickets

Pricing

You may use the website for free on as many websites as you like. By charging more for specific features (like caching) in the Pro version, it generates revenue.

10. JCH Optimize

The contemporary web is dependent on page loading times. The difference between a 3-second load time and a 4-second load time might result in a significant reduction in visitors since a sizable portion of them will get impatient and go on to another website before the page fully loads. JCH Optimize reduces the size of HTML files, minifies JS and CSS scripts, moves scripts to the bottom of the page so they load last, and supports GZIP compression for even reduced file sizes to speed up page loading.

Key features

• HTML, JavaScript, and CSS files should all be minified. Render-blocking resources should be removed.
• Avoid off-screen pictures. To reduce Time To Interactive, off-screen and hidden graphics are lazily loaded after all crucial resources have loaded (TTI).

Pros

• Increased user comfort. It will be enjoyable for your users to surf your website.
• Enhanced SEO. Your Google search page ranks might go up, which will help your website's natural visibility.
• Better conversion rates. With more visitors staying on your website and more traffic, your revenue also rises.

Cons

• With cache expirations, there is an odd timing problem.
• Site doesn't properly load (no CSS or JS).

Pricing

The website is free, but a paid edition with additional optimization choices, cutting-edge features, and premium assistance to address problems and help with optimising your site is available on our website.

Criteria to choose the best Joomla extensions

Finding the perfect extension for your website can occasionally be a time-consuming effort because the Joomla! Extensions Directory (JED) provides approximately 8000 extensions. Each of us chose an expansion that wasn't quite suitable for our requirements. This post will go through JED resources that can help with your search, potential red flags, and decision-making advice.

1. After searching and locating a few extensions, thoroughly review the detail page. The most crucial website for learning more about the extension is this one. You can use these descriptions to determine whether or not your extension satisfies the requirements.
2. These evaluations provide you with information about the extension's use, usability, potential issues, and other factors. Reviews and the responses to them are equally significant since they show you how frequently the extension is used and how concerns linked to it are handled.
3. No matter what, you should constantly keep your configuration current because older versions of PHP or Joomla frequently can no longer work with the most recent extensions. The compatibility of the extensions you install on your site should obviously be checked if it already contains a lot of material.
4. A better understanding of the extension's functionality can be achieved through documentation, and support can assist with problem-solving and doubt-clearing. You'll spend much less time figuring out the extensions' functions if there is good documentation available. Additionally, it will make your exploration of the extension more efficient.
5. Keep an eye out for extensions that are less bulky and won't slow down your website. Everyone wants their extension to rank well, but there is a danger that it will run slowly or take up more space than is necessary.

FAQ

1. How many plugins does Joomla have?

More than 1,000 plugins are available for the well-known content management system (CMS) Joomla. Additionally, Joomla is one of the most widely used open-source content management systems (CMS) in the world because to its extensive extension library, which includes over 150 different add-ons. Most extensions may be used for free and can be acquired from the Joomla Extension Directory.

2. Will Joomla 3 extensions work on Joomla 4?

Direct upgrades from Joomla 3.x to 4.x are not possible. In order to complete the small migration to Joomla 4 and display a pre-update check of the extensions installed on your site, Joomla 3.10 is the minimal bridge version that is required. The majority of Joomla 3 templates will generally function on Joomla 4. There are a few restrictions, though. First off, templates for Joomla 3 are not backwards-compatible. Therefore, if your Joomla 3 template makes use of a deprecated component, Joomla 4 may not be able to use it effectively.

3. Is Joomla still relevant?

Yes, Joomla still has a lot of users even in the face of recent competition from WordPress. Joomla is a content management system (CMS) that enables you to build a website or an online application. Small enterprises, huge organisations, and individuals utilise it all around the world. The content management system Mambo was forked to produce Joomla, and Mambo eventually fell behind due to the advancements and modifications that Joomla underwent. Mambo is no longer used and replaced by Joomla.

4. What is the use of an extension manager in Joomla?

It is used to conveniently manage your Joomla extensions, including remote installation, checking for updates, comparing versions and files, upgrading, backing up, and uploading. The functionality of Joomla may be increased via extensions. In order to give Joomla features that are missing from the base package, extensions are utilised. There are hundreds of Extensions for Joomla, and new ones are being created all the time.

5. What are the benefits of Joomla?

The simplicity, adaptability, and expandability of Joomla are only a few of its possible benefits. A few potential drawbacks of Joomla are its challenging learning curve and dearth of specific functionalities. Simply said, there are no limitations to how useful and clever you may make your site with more than 8000 Joomla extensions. There is an expansion available for individuals who want to include web-based media tools for informal conversation on their website. Don't worry - Its extensions have your back if you need to focus on customer complaints and need to develop some customizable constructions.