How debt accumulates
Each plugin solves one problem and creates two long-term ones: upgrade risk and surface area.
Signs you're past the threshold
Admin slowness, plugin conflicts on every update, broken editorial flow, plummeting Core Web Vitals.
The remediation playbook
Consolidate plugins, upgrade PHP, replace fragile components, and put a maintenance rhythm in place.
Key takeaways
- Plugins are the dominant debt vector
- Watch the admin experience as a leading indicator
- Consolidation beats replacement