Why I’m switching some of my WordPress tools

Hey alluser, If you were to start today, would you choose the same website tools you're currently using? Most site owners pick their tools early just to get something live, because that's what makes sense in the moment. But over time, sites grow, needs change, and you stick with the same tools mainly because switching feels too easy to delay. That's why I always take a step back in January and reassess the tools I'm using. Here are a few tools I ended up switching to across my sites. You may want to consider them too. 1. High-Performance Hosting I recently moved several of our own sites — like Duplicator and Easy Digital Downloads — to Rapyd Cloud. The speed and reliability upgrade has been noticeable. If you want a fast, hands-off experience, it's worth it. Plus, WPBeginner users get 2 months FREE on annual Rapyd Cloud plans. 👉 Switch to Rapyd Cloud (Get 2 months FREE) Budget alternatives: Hostinger (for smaller sites) or Bluehost (for beginners). 2. Powerful SEO without the SaaS fees I stopped paying hundreds per month for external SEO SaaS tools. AIOSEO now handles keyword tracking, on-page SEO, internal linking, schema, and AI brand visibility directly inside WordPress—without the massive monthly fees. 👉 Switch to AIOSEO (Save BIG on monthly fees) 3. Cookie compliance without the "traffic tax" Cookie consent tools add up fast when they charge per pageview. WPConsent is a self-hosted plugin that gives you GDPR-ready banners, automatic script blocking, and more, without the "traffic tax." 👉 Switch to WPConsent (Stop paying per pageview) 4. Pro-level backups for a flat annual rate For most WordPress users, Duplicator's Plus plan is all you need. Instead of paying enterprise-tier prices for basic site protection, you get full backups, multiple site coverage, and easy migrations—all for a predictable $99/year. 👉 Switch to Duplicator (Avoid enterprise pricing) 5. Live chat without per-user fees If you use live chat for customer service, you've probably noticed how quickly costs rise as your team grows. WPChat lets you chat with customers across WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and Telegram—without charging per agent, so your costs don't increase as your team scales. 👉 Switch to WPChat (Stop paying per-agent fees) By making these smart tool switches, you can save money and provide a solid, reliable foundation for everything you want to build this year. Let's kick off the year with a fresh and efficient start! Cheers, Syed Balkhi Founder of WPBeginner Was this email helpful? 🔥Yes! I Love it 😐It's OK! 🙁I didn't like it

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