Social media is a big part of how people connect with websites today. If visitors like your content, they might want to follow you on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or other platforms. That’s why having social follow icons on your WordPress site is so important. These small icons give users a way to stay in touch with your brand even after they leave your site.
But adding these icons manually can be tricky, especially if you’re not good with coding. That’s where WordPress plugins come in handy. These tools help you add social icons without needing to write any code. You can choose the design, position, and links easily.
Here, we’ll show you 12 of the best plugins that can help you do this. Some of them are free, while others are paid. Each one offers different features, so you can pick what works best for your needs and budget.
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What to Look for in a Social Follow Icons Plugin
When choosing a social icons plugin, it’s good to have options to change how the icons look. Some plugins let you pick colors, shapes, sizes, and even how the icons appear when someone hovers over them. This helps you match them with your website design.
The icons should also work well on all screen sizes. Many people visit websites from their phones or tablets, so your social icons should adjust and look good on any device. A good plugin makes sure the icons don’t get too small or overlap with other content.
Another important thing is speed. Some plugins can slow down your site by adding too much extra code. Try to pick one that’s light and doesn’t affect how fast your pages load. A slow website can make visitors leave quickly.
Lastly, make sure the plugin works well with your theme and page builder. Whether you use Elementor, Gutenberg, Divi, or another tool, your plugin should fit in smoothly without causing issues or breaking anything on your site.
Top 12 Best WordPress Social Follow Icons Plugins
1. Simple Social Icons
Simple Social Icons is a lightweight and beginner-friendly plugin that lets you add customizable social media icons to your WordPress site. It’s perfect if you want a clean and straightforward way to display your social follow links.
You can easily change the icon color, size, alignment, and background to match your website’s design. The plugin works well with most themes and doesn’t require any coding knowledge.
It doesn’t offer advanced features, but it’s ideal for bloggers or small businesses who just want clean and effective social icons without slowing down their site.
2. Social Media Share Buttons & Social Sharing Icons – UltimatelySocial
UltimatelySocial is one of the most popular social sharing plugins available. It offers a wide variety of button designs and allows you to display follow icons, share buttons, or both.
You can choose from over 200 social media platforms and even add unique features like popups, counters, or animations to draw attention to your buttons. The customization options are very flexible.
This plugin is suitable for users who want visually attractive icons with lots of customization features without having to write any code.
3. AddToAny Share Buttons
AddToAny is a universal social sharing plugin that also supports social follow icons. It has a minimalistic design and lets you place buttons anywhere on your site — including floating bars and inline buttons.
It supports hundreds of social platforms and includes analytics integration so you can track how users interact with your content. The plugin is lightweight and optimized for fast loading.
If you’re looking for a flexible and modern-looking plugin with analytics support, AddToAny is a great choice.
4. Social Icons Widget by WPZOOM
This plugin offers a sleek way to add social follow icons to your widget areas like sidebars and footers. It’s super easy to use and includes dozens of pre-designed icon styles.
You can drag and drop it into your widget area and choose from multiple icon styles, sizes, and alignments. It supports major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and more.
It’s perfect for beginners who want a clean look and quick setup without overwhelming options.
5. Easy Social Icons
As the name suggests, Easy Social Icons makes it simple to add social media icons to your WordPress site. You can upload your own icon images or use the plugin’s default icons.
You also have the flexibility to change the icon size, add links, and place them via widgets or shortcodes wherever needed on your site.
It’s great for people who want full control over the icon appearance, especially if you prefer a custom look over default icons.
6. MashShare – Social Media Share Buttons
MashShare is a powerful plugin designed for websites with a focus on performance and social sharing. While it’s mainly for sharing content, it also includes options for adding follow buttons.
It offers high-quality share buttons similar to popular websites like Mashable and lets you display total share counts. The plugin is built for speed and won’t affect your site’s performance.
It’s best for news or magazine-style sites that want bold and engaging social sharing and follow tools.
7. Sassy Social Share
Sassy Social Share provides both follow and share icons with elegant styling options. It supports over 100 platforms and includes features like floating icons and sticky positioning.
The interface is user-friendly, and you can change the shape, color, and layout of the icons. It’s also compatible with Gutenberg and AMP, making it future-proof.
This plugin is great for those who want stylish icons that work seamlessly across devices.
8. WP Socializer
WP Socializer is a versatile plugin that supports both follow and share buttons. It has a simple setup and gives you full control over button placement and styling.
You can add icons to your sidebar, posts, pages, or even create floating bars. The plugin also supports email, print, and WhatsApp sharing.
It’s great for websites that want all-in-one functionality in a single plugin without clutter.
9. Simple Social Buttons
This plugin gives you straightforward and responsive social buttons for both follow and share. It supports major platforms and allows you to position icons in multiple ways — including before/after posts or as floating bars.
You can also customize the size, shape, and alignment of the icons. It’s user-friendly and works well with most WordPress themes.
Perfect for those who want simplicity and function without too many complicated settings.
10. Kiwi Social Share
Kiwi Social Share is a lightweight plugin focused on performance. It lets you add clean and minimal social follow or share buttons without slowing down your site.
It’s easy to configure and doesn’t come with bloated features. You can place the buttons on posts, pages, and archives with a few clicks.
Great for website owners who prioritize speed and simplicity over heavy design features.
11. Shareaholic
Shareaholic is more than just a plugin—it’s a complete marketing suite. Besides social icons, it includes content recommendations, monetization tools, and analytics.
The follow icons are easy to add, and you can use their drag-and-drop setup to customize placements. You also get social share counts and real-time tracking.
Ideal for publishers and content-heavy sites that want multiple features in one tool.
12. Super Socializer
Super Socializer combines social follow, share, and login features in one plugin. It supports over 100 networks and offers a lot of customization options.
You can choose where to place the icons, how they look, and what actions trigger them. The plugin also supports GDPR compliance and social commenting.
It’s best for websites that want complete social integration across all fronts.
How to Install and Configure a Social Icon Plugin on WordPress
Installing a social icons plugin is simple. First, go to your WordPress dashboard, click on “Plugins,” and then choose “Add New.” Search for the plugin you want, and click “Install.” After that, click “Activate.”
Once the plugin is active, go to its settings page. You’ll usually find a spot to paste your social media links. Add your Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or other profile links there.
You can then choose where you want the icons to show up—maybe in the header, sidebar, footer, or even floating on the page. Pick the icon style, color, and size that fits your site best.
After you’re done setting everything, save your changes and check your site. You should now see your icons working just the way you want.
Tips to Maximize Engagement Using Social Follow Icons
To get the most clicks on your icons, place them where people will notice them. The top of your page (header) is a good spot, or you can add them to the sidebar or footer so they show on every page.
You can also add a small message next to the icons to encourage people to follow you. Something like “Follow us for updates” or “Stay connected” can make a difference.
Try different placements and see what works best. Some plugins also let you track how many clicks your icons get. This helps you understand what your visitors like.
Keep your icons updated with the latest links and try to use platforms where your audience is most active. You don’t need to include every social media site—just the ones that matter to your brand.
Final Thoughts
There are many great plugins out there, but the best one depends on what you need. If you just want something simple and free, try Simple Social Icons or Easy Social Icons. If you need more features and don’t mind paying, Monarch or Novashare are excellent.
Think about your website’s design, how fast you want your pages to load, and what kind of control you want over the icon styles. Pick a plugin that checks the boxes that matter most to you.
If you’re a beginner, go with a user-friendly one. If you’re running a business or blog that needs extra tools, go for something with more advanced features.
In the end, your social icons should help your audience stay connected with you. The right plugin makes that easy without slowing down your site or making things complicated.
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