Top 15 Social Sharing Plugins to Boost Traffic and Engagement on Your WordPress Site
Looking to boost traffic and engagement on your WordPress site?
Social sharing plays a huge role in helping you expand your reach and get more eyes on your content. By adding easy-to-use social sharing buttons to your posts, you encourage visitors to spread the word across their favorite platforms, driving more traffic and increasing visibility.
In this article, we’ll dive into the best social sharing plugins for WordPress, showcasing their features, ease of use, and customization options. Whether you prefer a simple, sleek design or a more robust, feature-packed solution, these plugins will help you enhance your site’s sharing capabilities and grow your audience.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Sharing Plugins WordPress Theme
Ease of Use
Look for plugins that offer simple setup and configuration processes. A user-friendly interface ensures that you can quickly integrate social sharing buttons without needing to dive deep into coding or complex settings.
Customization Options
Choose plugins that allow you to customize the look and placement of the social sharing buttons. This ensures that the buttons blend seamlessly with your website’s design and can be positioned where they will attract the most attention.
Supported Social Media Platforms
Ensure the plugin supports the major social media platforms where your audience is most active. Popular networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn should be supported, but it’s a bonus if the plugin includes niche or emerging platforms as well.
Performance Impact
Some sharing plugins can slow down your website, especially if they load additional scripts or use external services. Opt for lightweight plugins that don’t negatively impact your site’s loading speed or performance.
Mobile Responsiveness
Your sharing buttons should look and function well on mobile devices. A good plugin will offer responsive design and ensure that buttons are easily accessible on both desktop and mobile platforms.
Analytics and Tracking
Some sharing plugins offer tracking features that allow you to measure how often your content is shared, which can provide valuable insights into audience engagement. If analytics are important for your strategy, look for a plugin with built-in tracking.
Support and Updates
Choose a plugin from a developer who offers good customer support and regularly updates the plugin. Frequent updates ensure compatibility with the latest WordPress version and new social media changes.
Free vs Premium Options
While many sharing plugins offer free versions, premium versions often come with additional features such as more customization, support for additional social platforms, and enhanced performance. Consider your needs and decide if a premium version is worth the investment.
Looking for the best social sharing plugins for your WordPress site?
Here are some top options to help you make it easy for visitors to share your content, boost your site’s visibility, and expand your reach across social media platforms.
Check out these reliable plugins to enhance your site’s sharing capabilities and drive more traffic and engagement.
1. Social Warfare
Social Warfare is a powerful and user-friendly social sharing plugin for WordPress. It provides visually appealing, customizable sharing buttons that can be easily added to your posts, pages, and other content. This plugin emphasizes speed and simplicity, ensuring that the sharing buttons won’t slow down your website. Social Warfare also includes options for displaying share counts, tracking clicks, and integrating with Google Analytics for more insights.
Features:
- Lightweight and fast-loading
- Customizable button design with multiple style options
- Supports major social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.)
- Social proof feature showing share counts
- Google Analytics integration to track social sharing metrics
- Ability to add floating and inline share buttons
- Shareable content on Pinterest with image customization
- Social sharing popups (premium feature)
Plans:
- Free version: Includes basic social sharing buttons and limited design options.
- Pro version: Starts at $29/year and includes additional features such as social proof, advanced customization, and more design templates.
2. Monarch
Monarch is a premium social sharing plugin by Elegant Themes. It offers a sleek, customizable design with multiple sharing button styles and locations, including floating bars, pop-ups, and inline placement. Monarch also allows you to track social share counts and provides detailed analytics to monitor engagement. It integrates well with major social media networks and supports automatic pop-up sharing when users scroll through content.
Features:
- Multiple button styles (floating, inline, pop-ups)
- Supports over 20 social media platforms
- Social share counts visible for engagement tracking
- Automatic sharing triggers (e.g., after a certain time on page)
- Analytics for detailed performance tracking
- Customizable design to fit your theme
Plans:
- Monarch is included with the Elegant Themes membership, which starts at $89/year.
3. Easy Social Share Buttons
Easy Social Share Buttons is a versatile social sharing plugin offering more than 50 social networks. It allows for extensive customization with options for display types, button styles, and social network positioning. The plugin also includes built-in analytics, conversion tracking, and multiple design templates to ensure that the sharing buttons match the overall theme of your site.
Features:
- 50+ social networks supported
- 25+ display options (floating, inline, etc.)
- Built-in social share analytics
- Customizable design with color, layout, and icon options
- A/B testing for button placements and styles
- Content protection and content unlock options
Plans:
- Paid version: Starts at $19.99 for a single site license with lifetime updates.
4. Sassy Social Share
Sassy Social Share is a free social sharing plugin that offers a wide variety of button styles and supports a large number of social media platforms. It is lightweight and highly customizable, allowing users to add share buttons to posts, pages, and custom post types. The plugin also ensures compatibility with mobile devices for better accessibility.
Features:
- Support for over 100 social media platforms
- Customizable button styles and placement
- Mobile-responsive design
- Option to display share counts
- Multilingual support with translation-ready files
- Lightweight and fast-loading
Plans:
- Free version: Includes essential social sharing buttons with customization options.
5. AddToAny
AddToAny is a free social sharing plugin known for its simplicity and ease of use. It provides a clean and customizable interface for social media buttons and supports over 100 platforms. The plugin offers various display styles, such as floating and inline buttons, and integrates easily with popular social networks.
Features:
- 100+ social networks supported
- Customizable button styles and placements
- Responsive design for mobile devices
- Integration with Google Analytics to track sharing activity
- Share counts displayed for social proof
Plans:
- Free version: Provides essential social sharing features with customization options.
6. Shareaholic
Shareaholic is a social sharing plugin that combines social sharing with additional content promotion tools like related posts, content recommendations, and ad monetization. It offers beautiful share buttons that can be customized to fit your site design, and it tracks sharing activity with detailed analytics.
Features:
- Share buttons with support for 100+ networks
- Content recommendation and related posts integration
- Click-to-tweet option for engagement
- Ad monetization tools
- Analytics and social sharing performance reports
- Lightweight and easy to use
Plans:
- Free version: Includes essential sharing features and basic customization options.
- Premium version: Starts at $10/month for additional features like detailed analytics and content promotion tools.
7. Social Pug
Social Pug is a feature-rich social sharing plugin for WordPress. It provides customizable share buttons for major social media platforms and a clean, modern design. The plugin also includes social proof features, such as share counts, and integrates well with other WordPress plugins like WooCommerce.
Features:
- Supports popular social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.)
- Customizable button design and placement
- Social proof with share counts
- Lazy loading for faster page loads
- WooCommerce support for product sharing
- Google Analytics integration for tracking
Plans:
- Free version: Basic social sharing buttons and features.
- Pro version: Starts at $29/year for additional customization options and analytics.
8. WP Social Sharing
WP Social Sharing is a simple and lightweight plugin designed to add social sharing buttons to your WordPress posts. It supports multiple social networks and offers a clean design that doesn’t slow down your website. The plugin is ideal for users looking for a minimal, no-fuss sharing solution.
Features:
- Support for major social media platforms
- Customizable button sizes and locations
- Clean, minimal design
- Mobile-responsive
- Easy to install and use
Plans:
- Free version: Basic sharing buttons with customization options.
9. Jetpack by WordPress.com
Jetpack by WordPress.com is an all-in-one plugin that offers social sharing buttons along with a suite of other features, including security tools and performance enhancements. The social sharing module in Jetpack integrates seamlessly with your website, making it easy to add sharing buttons to posts and pages.
Features:
- Integrated with WordPress.com for easy setup
- Support for all major social media networks
- Customizable button styles
- Quick social sharing with minimal setup
- Additional features like security and performance enhancements
Plans:
- Free version: Includes basic social sharing functionality.
- Paid plans: Starts at $4/month for additional features such as backups and site analytics.
10. Super Socializer
Super Socializer is a free social sharing plugin that allows users to add social share buttons, logins, and social commenting to their WordPress site. It supports more than 100 social networks and comes with various customization options, including button styles and placement.
Features:
- Supports 100+ social networks
- Customizable button designs and placement
- Social login functionality for users
- Integration with Google Analytics
- Social commenting system
Plans:
- Free version: Provides social sharing, commenting, and login features.
11. Custom Share Buttons by AddToAny
Custom Share Buttons by AddToAny is a versatile social sharing plugin that allows you to create customizable share buttons for WordPress. It integrates easily with a wide range of social media platforms and provides various button styles and placements.
Features:
- Customizable buttons with over 100 social platforms
- Floating and inline share button options
- Integration with Google Analytics
- Responsive and mobile-friendly design
- Option to add share counts for social proof
Plans:
- Free version: Basic social sharing functionality with customization options.
12. Social Icons
Social Icons is a simple plugin that adds social media icons to your WordPress site, allowing visitors to easily share your content. It provides several icon styles and supports major social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Features:
- Simple and clean social media icons
- Customizable icon sizes and colors
- Support for major social media networks
- Easy to configure and integrate
- Lightweight and fast
Plans:
- Free version: Includes essential social icon features.
13. Floating Social Media Icons
Floating Social Media Icons is a straightforward plugin that adds floating social media buttons to your website, allowing users to share your content easily. The floating buttons remain visible as users scroll down the page, making sharing convenient.
Features:
- Floating social media buttons that stay visible while scrolling
- Customizable button style and colors
- Support for major social networks
- Mobile-responsive design
- Simple and easy to use
Plans:
- Free version: Provides basic floating social sharing buttons.
14. Simple Social Icons
Simple Social Icons is a lightweight plugin that adds social media icons to your WordPress site. It’s easy to set up, with options to customize the icon colors and size. The plugin supports a limited number of social networks, but it’s perfect for those looking for a minimalistic sharing solution.
Features:
- Simple and clean design
- Customizable icon sizes and colors
- Support for major social media platforms
- Lightweight and fast
- Easy setup and configuration
Plans:
- Free version: Includes basic social sharing icon features.
15. Ultimate Social Media Icons
Ultimate Social Media Icons is a plugin designed to add responsive social media icons to your WordPress site. It offers a range of icon styles, including rounded, square, and flat designs, and supports a wide variety of social networks.
Features:
- Supports over 40 social media platforms
- Customizable icon sizes, shapes, and colors
- Option for floating or inline icons
- Mobile-responsive design
- Easy to use and configure
Plans:
- Free version: Includes basic social media icon features with customization options.
Best Free Sharing Plugins
Social sharing is a powerful way to increase traffic and improve user engagement on your WordPress site. By integrating social sharing buttons, you make it easy for visitors to share your content across popular social networks. While premium plugins offer a variety of advanced features, many free WordPress plugins still provide essential functionality for social sharing. These plugins are ideal for smaller websites or blogs that want to improve visibility without breaking the budget.
The best free social sharing plugins offer simplicity, customization options, and mobile-friendly designs. They enable you to add social buttons to your posts and pages, encourage engagement, and track sharing activity. Below, you’ll find a list of the top 5 free social sharing plugins that are easy to use, lightweight, and packed with useful features to help boost your social presence.
| Theme Name | Key Features | Active Installations | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sassy Social Share | Supports 100+ social platforms, customizable buttons | 100,000+ | Free |
| AddToAny | 100+ networks supported, mobile-responsive design | 1 million+ | Free |
| WP Social Sharing | Customizable button sizes, simple design | 10,000+ | Free |
| Jetpack by WordPress.com | Automatic sharing, integrated with WordPress.com | 5+ million | Free |
| Super Socializer | 100+ social networks, customizable buttons, social login | 10,000+ | Free |
Premium Sharing WordPress Plugins
For website owners who need advanced functionality, enhanced customization, and additional support, paid or premium social sharing plugins are an excellent choice. These plugins offer more features compared to free versions, such as premium designs, more social network integrations, detailed analytics, and improved support.
Premium plugins often come with extra customization options, better user engagement tools, and options to display social proof, which can help boost the credibility and reach of your content.
Premium social sharing plugins are ideal for businesses, e-commerce websites, and blogs looking to scale their social sharing efforts and optimize user interaction. Below is a list of the top 5 premium social sharing plugins for WordPress, each offering unique features designed to elevate your website’s social media strategy.
| Theme Name | Key Features | Active Installations | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch | Multiple display options, 20+ social networks, analytics, customizable design | 100,000+ | Starts at $89/year |
| Easy Social Share Buttons | 50+ social networks, A/B testing, analytics, mobile responsive | 20,000+ | Starts at $19.99 |
| Social Warfare | Customizable button styles, Google Analytics integration, lightweight | 20,000+ | Starts at $29/year |
| Ultimate Social Media Icons | Over 40 social media platforms, customizable icons, responsive design | 5,000+ | $29/year |
| Shareaholic Premium | Content recommendations, detailed analytics, ad monetization | 50,000+ | Starts at $10/month |
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, selecting the right social sharing plugin for your WordPress site can have a significant impact on user engagement and the visibility of your content. From simple, free options to feature-rich premium plugins, there’s a solution to suit every need. By adding social sharing buttons to your site, you can make it easy for visitors to spread your content, increasing traffic and expanding your reach on social media.
Take the time to choose a plugin that aligns with your website’s design and goals, and you’ll create a more interactive and connected experience for your audience. With the right social sharing tool, you can amplify your content’s reach and drive meaningful engagement.
FAQs
What is a social sharing plugin for WordPress?
A social sharing plugin for WordPress allows you to add social media sharing buttons to your website, making it easy for visitors to share your content on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Why should I use a social sharing plugin?
Using a social sharing plugin helps increase your website’s reach by making it easier for visitors to share your content, which can drive more traffic and improve engagement.
Are free social sharing plugins good enough for my website?
Free social sharing plugins offer essential features and are suitable for small websites or blogs. However, premium plugins provide advanced features like more customization, analytics, and social proof.
Can social sharing plugins slow down my website?
Some social sharing plugins may affect page load times if they’re heavy or poorly optimized. It’s important to choose a lightweight plugin that doesn’t impact performance significantly.
Which social media platforms are supported by most plugins?
Most social sharing plugins support popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and WhatsApp. Some also include niche platforms such as Reddit, Tumblr, or Instagram.
Do social sharing plugins display share counts?
Many social sharing plugins display share counts, which act as social proof, showing how many times your content has been shared. However, some plugins do not include this feature in their free versions.
Are social sharing plugins mobile-friendly?
Yes, most modern social sharing plugins are mobile-responsive, ensuring that buttons are easily accessible and look great on mobile devices.
How can I track the performance of social shares?
Premium social sharing plugins typically offer built-in analytics or integrations with Google Analytics to track the performance of shared content and measure engagement.
Can I customize the design of social sharing buttons?
Yes, most social sharing plugins allow you to customize the design of the buttons, including the color, size, and placement on your website.
Are social sharing plugins compatible with all WordPress themes?
Most social sharing plugins are compatible with a wide range of WordPress themes. However, it’s always recommended to check compatibility or test the plugin before installation to ensure smooth functionality.
