Free WordPress troubleshooting plugins are handy tools designed to help you fix problems on your website without needing deep technical knowledge. Whether your site is running slow, showing error messages, or having trouble after installing a new plugin or theme, these plugins can help you identify and resolve issues. They do things like checking for broken links, monitoring performance, detecting conflicts between different parts of your site, and logging errors so you can see what’s going wrong. In simple terms, troubleshooting plugins act like a set of tools that make it easier to keep your WordPress site running smoothly and efficiently, even if you’re not a tech expert.
Top 10 Best Free WordPress Troubleshooting Plugins
Here are the top 10 free WordPress troubleshooting plugins that can help you diagnose, fix, and optimize your site for better performance, security, and functionality.
1. Health Check & Troubleshooting
Health Check & Troubleshooting is an essential tool for anyone managing a WordPress website. Developed by WordPress.org itself, this plugin runs a series of checks to ensure that the various components of your site—such as plugins, themes, and the WordPress core—are functioning properly. The plugin comes with a troubleshooting mode that allows you to temporarily disable themes and plugins on your website without affecting the site’s visitors. This makes it easier to isolate problems that may be due to plugin or theme conflicts.
Features
- Troubleshooting Mode – Safely disable plugins and themes for your session only, without impacting your visitors.
- Site Health Reports – Displays key information about your server environment, including PHP version, database size, and WordPress settings.
- Database and Cron Jobs – Review scheduled tasks and identify potential issues with cron jobs that can affect site performance.
- Error Detection – The plugin checks for common misconfigurations, such as incorrect file permissions and REST API issues.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
2. Query Monitor
Query Monitor is a powerful free WordPress Troubleshooting plugin tailored for developers and advanced WordPress users. It provides detailed debugging information about your website, focusing on performance bottlenecks such as slow database queries, unnecessary HTTP API requests, and problematic JavaScript or CSS files. Query Monitor gives you insights into how each plugin and theme affects the performance of your site, helping you pinpoint the root cause of issues quickly.
Features
- Database Query Monitoring – Displays all database queries made during a page load, including time taken and which component initiated them.
- PHP Errors – PHP Errors Show warnings and notices directly in the dashboard.
- Script and Style Dependencies – Identifies script or CSS conflicts that could be slowing down your site.
- HTTP API Calls – Tracks outbound HTTP requests and responses to ensure they are functioning as expected.
- Advanced Filters – Provides detailed filters for debugging queries based on plugins, themes, or WordPress core.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.8/5)
3. WP Debugging
WP Debugging is a straightforward but powerful tool to activate WordPress’ built-in debugging features. It’s designed to help developers troubleshoot WordPress issues by surfacing PHP errors, warnings, and notices that may otherwise go unnoticed. This plugin is ideal for development environments, where you need detailed logs to track down bugs, theme issues, or plugin conflicts.
Features
- Enables WP_DEBUG Mode – Turns on WordPress’ core debugging functionality, displaying error messages directly on the site.
- Logs Errors – Records PHP errors, warnings, and notices to a file that you can review later.
- Debugging Tools – Provides quick access to settings such as SCRIPT_DEBUG and WP_DEBUG_LOG for easy control over debugging features.
- Automatic Cleanup – WP Debugging will automatically disable debugging once your troubleshooting is complete, reducing the risk of leaving sensitive error data exposed.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5)
4. WP Reset
WP Reset is a powerful reset free WordPress Troubleshooting plugin that can restore your WordPress database to its default state with just a click. It’s especially useful for developers who need a quick way to test new themes and plugins, or for troubleshooting scenarios where you need to revert the site back to a clean state. The plugin allows for selective resets, letting you reset specific parts of your site, such as themes, plugins, or database tables, without losing your media files or core settings.
Features
- One-Click Reset – Easily revert your entire site back to its original state.
- Selective Reset – Reset only specific parts of your site, like plugins, themes, or individual database tables.
- Snapshots – Take “snapshots” of your site before making changes, so you can restore it to a previous state in case something goes wrong.
- Emergency Recovery – Provides an emergency recovery script to regain access to your site in case of a catastrophic failure.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.9/5)
5. Error Log Monitor
Error Log Monitor is a simple but effective plugin designed to help you stay on top of PHP errors that could be slowing down or breaking your website. This plugin automatically captures error messages and logs them to the WordPress database, allowing you to troubleshoot and fix problems before they affect your site’s visitors. The plugin is lightweight and non-intrusive, making it a valuable tool for developers and administrators who need to stay informed about site issues.
Features
- Real-Time Error Monitoring – Continuously logs PHP errors, notices, and warnings.
- Error Notifications – Sends you an email whenever a new error is logged, so you can act on it quickly.
- Simple Interface – View error logs directly from the WordPress dashboard without needing to access server files.
- Multisite Compatibility – Works with multisite WordPress installations, making it suitable for network administrators.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
6. SiteGround Migrator
While SiteGround Migrator is primarily used for transferring websites from other hosting environments to SiteGround, it doubles as a powerful troubleshooting tool when diagnosing migration-related issues. The plugin automates the migration process, allowing you to move a website with minimal manual effort. If any errors occur during the process, the plugin provides detailed logs to help identify and resolve the problems.
Features
- Automated Migration – Simplifies the process of moving your WordPress site to a new host, with minimal technical knowledge required.
- Error Logs – Captures any migration errors and provides detailed logs to help troubleshoot and resolve problems.
- Multisite Support – Compatible with multisite WordPress setups, enabling you to transfer large networks of sites.
- Detailed Instructions – Provides step-by-step guidance for completing the migration process, even for novice users.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.7/5)
7. WP Rollback
WP Rollback is a useful tool that allows you to revert any plugin or theme to a previous version with just one click. This is particularly helpful when updates cause compatibility issues or break functionality on your site. With WP Rollback, you can safely return to a version that works without needing to manually search for old plugin or theme files.
Features
- One-Click Rollback – Easily revert to a previous version of a plugin or theme.
- Version Comparison – See a side-by-side comparison of your current and previous versions before making changes.
- Safe Rollbacks – Allows you to roll back safely without manually downloading files.
- Rollback History – Keeps a record of all rollbacks for tracking and troubleshooting purposes.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.8/5)
8. All In One WP Security & Firewall
All In One WP Security & Firewall is more than just a security plugin. It also provides powerful troubleshooting tools that can help you identify and fix security-related issues that might be affecting your site’s performance or stability. For instance, it can help detect unauthorized changes to your core WordPress files, and its login activity tracking can provide clues when troubleshooting login-related problems.
Features
- File Integrity Monitoring – Scans WordPress core files and compares them to the original versions, alerting you to any unauthorized changes.
- Login Activity Tracking – Tracks failed login attempts and sends notifications if it detects unusual activity.
- Brute Force Attack Prevention – Blocks suspicious login attempts and reduces the likelihood of your site being compromised.
- Firewall Protection – Includes customizable firewall rules to protect against malicious traffic.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.7/5)
9. Fatal Error Notify
Fatal Error Notify is a specialized free WordPress troubleshooting plugin designed to alert you immediately when a fatal error occurs on your website. Instead of finding out about these critical issues from visitors or losing traffic due to a broken site, this plugin sends detailed error notifications directly to your email. It helps you stay proactive in managing serious website issues and ensures you can act quickly to fix them.
Features
- Automatic Email Alerts – Sends an email notification whenever a fatal error occurs on your site, allowing you to address the issue promptly.
- Customizable Notifications – You can set specific recipients for the error alerts, ensuring the right people are notified immediately.
- Error Reporting – Provides detailed information in the notification, including the error message, file path, and potential causes.
- Multisite Support – Compatible with WordPress multisite installations, making it useful for large networks.
- Lightweight – Runs efficiently in the background without impacting your site’s performance.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
10. Redirection
Redirection is the go-to free WordPress Troubleshooting plugin for managing 301 redirects and tracking 404 errors on your WordPress site. It allows you to easily manage and troubleshoot broken links, ensuring a smooth user experience and helping to maintain your site’s SEO health. Redirection is especially useful when migrating content or making structural changes to your site.
Features
- 404 Error Monitoring – Logs 404 errors and provides suggestions for fixing broken links.
- Simple Redirect Setup – Easily create and manage 301 redirects from your WordPress dashboard.
- Debug Redirect Rules – Provides debugging tools to identify incorrect or conflicting redirect rules.
- Visitor Tracking – Track visitor sources and referrer information to understand how people are accessing your content.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.8/5)
Each of these free WordPress Troubleshooting plugins can help troubleshoot and resolve different kinds of WordPress issues, from debugging errors and performance bottlenecks to fixing security vulnerabilities and managing plugin conflicts.
FAQs
How do troubleshooting plugins help with plugin or theme conflicts?
Plugins like Health Check & Troubleshooting allow you to disable all themes and plugins safely, while keeping the site live for visitors. This way, you can isolate conflicts by enabling or disabling plugins and themes one by one, helping you find the source of the problem without disrupting the live site.
Do I need technical skills to use these troubleshooting plugins?
While these plugins are user-friendly, having basic technical knowledge of WordPress and server configurations can be beneficial. Some tools, like WP Debugging and Query Monitor, display detailed technical information that may require interpretation or further research
Is it safe to use troubleshooting plugins on live websites?
Many free WordPress troubleshooting plugins, like Health Check & Troubleshooting, have safe modes that allow you to diagnose issues without affecting the live website. Always ensure the plugin is compatible with your WordPress version, and it’s a good practice to back up your site before making any changes.
