May has been a month of big changes in the WordPress ecosystem. From enhanced SEO features in AIOSEO to important privacy updates in WPConsent and performance boosts in WooCommerce, there’s a lot to cover.

This month, we also saw the formation of a dedicated AI team at WordPress.org, which signals exciting developments to come.

Let’s explore the key highlights and discover what’s new in the world of WordPress!

DB Reset Pro Makes WordPress Database Resets Easier for Developers and Testers 🔃

The team behind popular plugins like SeedProd and Duplicator has launched a new tool: DB Reset PRO. It lets you reset your WordPress database easily and safely, with full control over what gets wiped and what stays.

The plugin removes posts, pages, comments, and users but keeps your admin account, site title, and all media uploads. Themes and plugins are deactivated but not deleted.

Built-in safety features include permission checks and clear reset warnings. There’s also an option to automatically reactivate selected plugins after the reset.

It’s ideal for debugging, development, and learning. You can quickly start fresh without needing to reinstall WordPress. The plugin also supports multisite and has a clean, WordPress-native design.

DB Reset PRO is free and now available on WordPress.org. It’s a useful tool for anyone who needs a reliable reset without affecting files or uploads.

WordPress Announced a Dedicated AI Team to Guide Open-Source Innovation

WordPress.org has launched a new AI Team to lead and coordinate artificial intelligence efforts across the platform.

The team’s goal is to help WordPress stay ahead as AI tools become more common in content creation and site management.

This move brings structure to AI-related work that is already happening in the ecosystem. It helps avoid fragmentation and makes sure that future innovation lines up with WordPress’s long-term goals and open-source values.

The team will take a plugin-first approach to development. This means new features will roll out as Canonical Plugins, which allows for faster testing and community feedback outside the slower Core release cycle.

The founding members are James LePage (Automattic), Felix Arntz and Pascal Birchler (Google), and Jeff Paul (10up). James and Felix will act as the first team representatives, helping organize work and connect with other Make WordPress teams.

WPForms Adds Square Payments for Free Users and Launches Google Drive Integration

WPForms now lets users accept Square payments on all plans, including the free version. This makes it easier for small businesses, nonprofits, and personal sites to collect payments directly through WordPress forms.

The Square integration allows quick setup without custom code. It supports basic payment forms, while advanced features, such as conditional logic, are still available through the PRO addon for paid plans.

WPForms has also launched a new Google Drive Addon. This feature helps teams manage uploaded files without needing to give everyone WordPress access.

Form submissions and file uploads can now be synced automatically to any folder in Google Drive.

The integration is designed to fit smoothly with Google Workspace. It makes collaboration easier by allowing teams, like HR, marketing, or client services, to access form files where they already work.

Plus, smart permissions ensure that users see only what they need, without extra WordPress user roles or logins.

WordPress Ecosystem Expands with 87% Increase in New Plugin Submissions

The WordPress Plugins team has reported an 87% increase in new plugin submissions compared to last year. This growth shows that there has been strong wave of innovation across the developer community.

The data shows a steady rise in submissions since September 2024. And many contributors point to AI as a driving force behind this increase.

A growing number of plugins now include “AI” in their titles, offering features like content generation, chatbots, SEO tools, translation, and AI image creation. Overall, developers are using AI to improve both front-end experiences and backend efficiency.

The Plugin Review Team has also upgraded its internal scanner. It now checks for more security issues, such as missing sanitization or escaping, and offers clearer code examples for fixes. It can also detect similar plugin names, which reduces duplicate plugins and confusion within the plugin directory.

Despite the higher volume of plugins, the team has kept average review wait times low. Faster reviews give developers more motivation to experiment, publish early, and contribute new solutions to the WordPress community.

AIOSEO Update Brings Google Indexing Insights Directly to WordPress

All in One SEO for WordPress has introduced a major new feature called the Index Status Report.

This tool shows you how Google views your website’s content, without leaving your WordPress dashboard. This allows you to find and fix SEO issues before they hurt your rankings.

The Index Status Report helps users understand which pages are indexed, which aren’t, and why. It displays five key categories: Indexed, Crawled but Not Indexed, Discovered but Not Indexed, Other Not Indexed, and No Results Yet.

AIOSEO says the feature fills a critical gap for users who struggle with invisible pages in search results. “While other SEO plugins only show basic indexing status, AIOSEO’s Index Status Report tells you exactly why pages aren’t being indexed—and what to do about it,” said Ben Rojas, President of AIOSEO.

Users can also view post-level indexing issues, including crawl status, canonical tags, and robots.txt rules. Each post has a direct link to inspect it in Google Search Console.

Plus, advanced filtering lets users sort by indexing state, post type, or crawl conditions.

Another feature tracks rich results eligibility. This helps users see which posts can show rich snippets in Google and which schema markup types are already applied, all without opening the post editor.

Review Feeds Simplifies Google and Yelp Reviews with No API Required

Smash Balloon has released a major update to Review Feeds Pro that allows you to display light-use Google and Yelp reviews without API keys. The change is designed to help users save time and avoid recent third-party charges, especially from Yelp’s paid API model.

Users can now paste a link to their Yelp page or Google Place ID to set up a review feed in minutes. There’s no need to connect billing accounts or enter credit card details.

The feature is ideal for users who only need to show a handful of reviews. Free plan users can display up to 10 reviews from a single source without any API integration. Pro users still have the option to enter API keys to unlock unlimited sources and faster feed updates.

With this update, users can highlight Google and Yelp reviews directly on their websites, promote trust, and increase conversions—all with fewer technical requirements.

WooCommerce 9.9 Beta Introduces Blueprints, Faster Dashboard, and Smarter Exports

WooCommerce 9.9 is set for release on June 2, 2025. The beta version is now available for testing, with new features that focus on speed and store management.

The update introduces ‘Blueprints’, which is a tool for exporting and importing store settings. It helps developers and agencies maintain consistent setups across sites.

Admin speed is also improved with asynchronous dashboard widgets. This change significantly reduces load times on uncached or high-traffic sites.

Additionally, store owners can now export selected products by ID and hide all shipping rates when free shipping is available. Both these features were previously only possible with code or third-party tools.

Other updates include automated database migrations and smoother navigation in Product Collection blocks. Experimental features, including COGS tracking and a redesigned Product Gallery block, are also available for early testing.

WPConsent Adds Per-Page Scanning and New Consent Defaults

WPConsent, a WordPress privacy and cookie popup plugin, has released a big update introducing new features for improving privacy compliance in WordPress.

It now offers per-page scanning, improved cookie settings, and cleaner uninstall options.

Site owners can choose which pages to scan for scripts and cookies. This helps reduce scan times, allowing users to focus on key areas like checkout, forms, and login pages. WPConsent also suggests commonly used pages for added convenience.

A new “Default Allow” option gives more control over how cookies are handled. When this setting is enabled, scripts and iframes will load by default unless the user opts out. If rejected, cookies are cleared and the page refreshes to reflect the updated consent choice.

WPConsent also now includes an option to delete all plugin data when the plugin is uninstalled. This ensures full data removal and supports cleaner site management.

The update also includes enhancements to Google Consent Mode compatibility and works well with plugins like MonsterInsights.

WPCode Adds Schema Generators and Improved Pixel Tracking

WPCode has released a new update with 20 new generators for adding schema markup to WordPress sites.

Users can now create structured data for articles, FAQs, reviews, and more—no coding required. This makes advanced SEO tools more accessible for beginners and small business owners.

The schema tool uses a simple form-based interface. Once filled, WPCode generates valid schema code that can be easily inserted and edited. Premium users can also use Smart Tags to dynamically auto-fill values.

This update also improves click tracking in the Conversion Pixel addon. Click events now send data to both Google Analytics and Google Ads for more complete reporting.

In Other News 🗞️

• MonsterInsights now supports Pinterest ad tracking. Users can measure conversions and return on investment (ROI) from Pinterest PPC campaigns using just their Tag ID and Ad Account, all from inside WordPress. No coding needed.
• WordPress 6.8.1 has been released as a maintenance update. It fixes 15 bugs across Core and the Block Editor, and improves stability in multisite, the REST API, and other key areas.

• AdTribes has updated its UI for managing WooCommerce product feeds. Bulk actions and workflow improvements are now live, along with a new Product Feed Validator to help check data quality before submitting feeds to marketplaces.
• A2 Hosting has rebranded as Hosting.com. The company promises improved performance and support while continuing with its core services and infrastructure.
• The folks behind rtCamp have launched GoDAM, a new digital asset management plugin. It offers enhanced video handling and media organization for WordPress users, especially agencies and enterprise teams.

• WordPress Campus Connect is now a global program bringing WordPress education to college campuses. After a successful 2024 pilot, it will host events and training at universities worldwide.

• Formidable Forms has rolled out improved anti-spam tools across all plans. The update includes honeypot protection, keyword filtering, and an integration with the StopForumSpam API.
• WordCamp Europe 2025 is just around the corner and will be happening June 5–7 in Basel, Switzerland. Some tickets are still available.

New Plugins & Tools

• DB Reset PRO 🔥 – Quickly reset your WordPress database without affecting media uploads or plugin files.
• MyPayKit 💳 – Create secure Square-powered payment forms for donations, invoices, and online sales.
• MD Governance – Control block editor settings by user role to create a safer, role-specific editing experience in WordPress.
• Thread Block – Display X (formerly Twitter) style threaded conversations in WordPress posts or pages using a Gutenberg block.

That’s all for this month’s WPBeginner Spotlight! 🎉 We hope this roundup helped you stay informed on what’s new and notable in the WordPress world.

Have a product update, launch, or project worth sharing? Let us know — your submission could be featured in an upcoming issue.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll be back next month with more WordPress insights and updates.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post WPBeginner Spotlight 12: New Tools for SEO, Privacy, and WooCommerce Performance first appeared on WPBeginner.

Welcome to the April 2025 edition of WPBeginner Spotlight! The WordPress community has been buzzing this month with exciting updates, new tools, and important changes across the ecosystem.

These include everything from the launch of WordPress 6.8 to major plugin releases like RewardsWP, product milestones, and upcoming events. Overall, there’s no shortage of news for site owners, developers, and WordPress enthusiasts alike.

In this roundup, we’ll highlight the biggest announcements and latest developments in the WordPress world.

aThemes, Maker of Popular WordPress Themes, Joins the WPBeginner Family of Products

WPBeginner has announced the acquisition of aThemes, a well-known provider of beautiful and easy-to-use WordPress themes.

aThemes is widely recognized for popular themes like Sydney and Botiga, which are favored by small businesses, freelancers, and creative agencies.

As aThemes is now part of the Awesome Motive family, users can expect faster innovation, enhanced customer support, and deeper integrations with other tools and plugins designed to make WordPress easier for everyone.

Syed Balkhi, CEO of WPBeginner, explained one of the reasons for the acquisition:

“In our annual WPBeginner reader survey, one of the user suggestions that we always get is to build a FREE WordPress theme that makes it easy to create stunning websites.”

Existing customers will continue to receive support and updates without disruption. WPBeginner plans to build on aThemes’ strong reputation and expand their offerings with additional features and design improvements over time.

WordPress 6.8 Released with Speed Boosts, Design Tools, and Security Upgrades

WordPress 6.8 is now officially available. It’s packed with a lot of exciting improvements for users and developers alike. This release focuses on performance gains, improved design tools, and stronger security protocols.

See the Full Story 🔗: What’s New in WordPress 6.8? (Features and Screenshots)

One of the standout features is the introduction of Speculative Loading. This new enhancement intelligently loads the next page that a user will likely access.

This results in a faster browsing experience and significantly reduced page load times.

The release also brings major updates to the Site Editor, including new design tools like section patterns, custom spacing presets, and enhanced typography controls.

These updates make it easier for users to create visually consistent and polished websites without needing custom code.

Security enhancements include transitioning to bcrypt for password hashing, which offers stronger protection against brute-force attacks and aligns WordPress security practices with modern standards.

Developers will also appreciate the additional APIs, block editor refinements, and expanded options for building custom blocks and plugins.

Charitable Pro Launches with Donor Dashboard, Recurring Giving, and Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Charitable, a leading WordPress donation plugin, has launched Charitable Pro, which is a major upgrade packed with powerful new fundraising features.

Charitable Pro introduces a streamlined Donor Dashboard. It allows supporters to manage their giving history, download receipts, and update payment information directly from the nonprofit website.

This improvement creates a better experience for donors and encourages them to make repeat contributions.

Organizations can also view detailed donor profiles, with options to easily download donor lists as CSV files, contact individual donors by email, and create more effective fundraising campaigns.

The new recurring donation feature allows nonprofits to easily set up monthly or annual donation options. Supporters can also choose to give automatically, helping organizations build sustainable revenue streams.

Peer-to-peer fundraising capabilities have also been added. This enables individual supporters to create personal fundraising campaigns, which can help organizations reach a wider audience through their community.

Plus, Charitable Pro continues to offer zero transaction fees, giving nonprofits an affordable and flexible solution to boost their online fundraising efforts.

WordPress Core Shifts to Annual Major Releases, Starting with 6.8

The WordPress project has announced a major shift in its core release schedule. Beginning with version 6.8, WordPress will now move to a single major release each year.

This new model is designed to create a more predictable timeline, allowing contributors, developers, and site owners to better prepare for updates.

Related🔗: How You Can Get Involved With The WordPress Project

It will also allow more time for larger features and innovations to be fully developed and tested before deployment.

Commenting on the change, Mary Hubbard, Executive Director of WordPress.org, explained:

“This decision reflects current realities — particularly the energy and resources being diverted due to ongoing legal matters. If those lawsuits are dropped or resolved, we’ll revisit this cadence and strongly consider returning to a three-releases-per-year schedule. That remains the ideal for a fast-moving, community-driven project like WordPress.”

According to project leadership, the move will improve stability while encouraging more participation in the release process. Maintenance and security updates will continue throughout the year as needed.

WPConsent Now Blocks Third-Party iframe Content Like YouTube, Google Maps, and reCAPTCHA Before User Consent

WPConsent, the privacy compliance plugin for WordPress, has released a major update with a new Content Blocking feature.

This feature allows site owners to block embeds, such as YouTube videos, Google Maps, and reCAPTCHA forms, until users explicitly provide consent.

The new feature is an essential tool for improving compliance with the GDPR and other privacy regulations.

This update also includes a redesigned preferences panel that gives users more intuitive control over the data types they agree to share.

Overall, the updated interface aims to improve transparency and encourage informed consent among website visitors. This can help website owners meet global privacy standards with minimal effort.

AffiliateWP Launches RewardsWP: A Refer-a-Friend Plugin for WordPress and WooCommerce

AffiliateWP, a leading WordPress plugin for creating and managing affiliate programs, has launched RewardsWP. It is a new refer-a-friend plugin designed specifically for WordPress site owners.

RewardsWP was created in response to user requests for a simple, customer-first referral solution that works directly inside WordPress.

It runs as a standalone plugin, meaning you don’t need AffiliateWP to use it. However, the two plugins work smoothly together if both are installed.

With RewardsWP, customers are automatically enrolled in referral programs after purchase. A customizable Rewards Widget appears across the site, allowing customers to share referral links via social media or email and redeem earned rewards without leaving the site.

The plugin supports a range of reward types, including discount coupons, free products, free shipping, and percentage-based discounts.

It also includes features like automatic enrollment for new and existing customers, guest purchase support, fraud prevention safeguards, and automated email notifications.

Plus, RewardsWP works out of the box with WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads. This makes it easy for store owners to launch customer referral programs without relying on third-party platforms.

WordPress.com Launches AI Website Builder for Instant Site Creation

WordPress.com has introduced a new AI Website Builder that is designed to help users create fully personalized websites in minutes using artificial intelligence.

The AI Website Builder asks users a few simple questions about their goals, preferred styles, and content needs.

Based on this information, it automatically generates a custom website layout, including recommended pages, starter text, images, and navigation menus.

This new tool aims to simplify the website creation process, especially for beginners and small businesses that want to get online quickly without having to design from scratch. After generation, users can still customize the results using WordPress.com’s standard editing tools.

WordPress.com says the AI Builder will continue to evolve with more advanced features over time, helping site owners launch, adapt, and scale their websites more quickly and efficiently.

The feature is available now for WordPress.com users and will roll out additional customization options in future updates.

Related🔗: Best AI Website Builders for WordPress (Expert Picks)

In Other News 🗞️

• Uncanny Automator released a new update that adds support for Facebook Lead Ads, new Bluesky triggers, and more automation options for platforms like LearnDash and LifterLMS.
• WordCamp volunteers can now earn profile badges on WordPress.org that recognize their important contributions to WordPress events and community-building efforts.
• WPCode’s Search & Replace Everything released an update that brings media backup features, smarter image detection, and drag-and-drop support for replacing content across WordPress sites.

• Thrive Themes introduced a new built-in Font Library. This gives users GDPR-compliant typography management without relying on third-party font providers.
• WordCamp Europe 2025 tickets are now available, with this year’s event taking place in Basel, Switzerland. It will feature workshops, networking sessions, and keynotes from top WordPress leaders.
• AdTribes added a new Product Feed Validator tool to help WooCommerce store owners catch listing errors early and ensure smoother marketplace submissions.
• MonsterInsights introduced TikTok Ads tracking with a one-click pixel setup, making it easier for WordPress site owners to track ad conversions directly in their dashboards.

• WordPress VIP achieved FedRAMP Moderate Authorization. This expands its ability to work with U.S. government agencies and large enterprises that need rigorous cloud security compliance.
• PushEngage rolled out a native Shopify integration, which allows stores to send real-time order notifications without complicated custom setups.
• Easy Digital Downloads released a new update with built-in checkout address field customization. It gives digital product sellers more flexibility to adjust their checkout forms without extra coding.

New Plugins 🔌

• RewardsWP 🔥– A powerful refer-a-friend plugin for WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads. It lets you create customizable referral programs that reward both the referrer and the referee.
• Acknowledgify – A lightweight plugin that lets developers and agencies acknowledge their work on a website with a virtual humans.txt file, meta tag, and front-end attribution.
• Meet the Team Lite – A simple, responsive plugin that lets you display team members with photos, bios, and social links using Gutenberg blocks or shortcodes.

That’s a wrap for this month’s WPBeginner Spotlight! 🎉 We hope you enjoyed catching up on the latest news and updates from the WordPress ecosystem.

Got a product launch, feature update, or cool project you think we should cover? Send us a message, and we might feature it in our next edition.

We’ll see you again next month with another round of WordPress news. Thanks for reading and being part of the WPBeginner family!

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post WPBeginner Spotlight 11: WordPress 6.8 Launch, Core Release Changes, and Major Plugin Highlights first appeared on WPBeginner.