Best vanilla plugins for WordPress
The most popular vanilla plugins for WordPress in November 2026, in WordPress.org’s own popular order, which follows active installs. Vanilla Forums leads with 100+ active installs, ahead of WP Vanilla Connect (10+) and Vanilla Contact Form (fewer than 10). All 4 plugins tagged “vanilla” are below, with figures from WordPress.org that update every day.
Installs aren’t everything: a recent release, a “Tested up to” that matches the current WordPress, and support threads that get resolved show a plugin is looked after. Open any plugin for its downloads, rank history and alternatives.
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Top 3 vanilla plugins
- 1.
Vanilla ForumsThe most installed vanilla plugin, with 100+ active installs. Rated 2.8 from 17 reviews, last updated 6 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 5.3.27.
- 2.
WP Vanilla Connect10+ active installs. Only 4 reviews so far, last updated 14 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 3.3.2.
- 3.
Vanilla Contact FormFewer than 10 active installs. No reviews yet, last updated 6 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 5.3.27.
All 4 plugins tagged “vanilla”
Vanilla Forums
Up in the last 7 days:25#15,642by VanillaForums6 years ago
Not a Vanilla Forum owner? Create one here
- Installs
- 100+
- Rating
- 2.8(17)
- Downloads
- 0/day
WP Vanilla Connect
Down in the last 7 days:380#32,169by nickiler14 years ago
This plugin allows your WordPress users to authenticate and login to Vanilla forums like Facebook Connect.
- Installs
- 10+
- Rating
- 4.0(4)
- Downloads
- 0/day
Vanilla Contact Form
#73,682by Dominique Moody6 years ago
A very simple contact form plugin. Features Bootstrap 4 styling.
- Installs
- <10
- Rating
- –
- Downloads
- 1/day