WPEssential

WPEssential is the easiest way to create custom post types and custom taxonomies in WordPress without writing code. Build a portfolio, a product catalogue, events, team members, recipes or any other content type from one clear admin screen, then organise it with your own categories and tags.

The settings you need for register_post_type() and register_taxonomy() are in the builder, explained in plain words, with safe defaults. WPEssential validates each change before you save it and shows you the exact arguments WordPress will receive.

The builders and core screens work locally and need no account or licence. Only the Demo Library, and the account and licence features you choose to use, connect to wpessential.org (see External services).

Custom Post Type builder

• Labels generated for you from the singular and plural name, and editable one by one.
• Menu position and Dashicon, public and admin visibility, search and navigation menus.
• Supports: title, editor, featured image, excerpt, comments, revisions, custom fields, page attributes, post formats and more.
• Archives, permalinks and rewrite slug, with a choice of keeping or hiding the base slug.
• REST API and block editor settings, including a block template and template lock for new posts.
• Capabilities, export and delete-with-user settings.
• A preview of the compiled register_post_type() arguments, so you see exactly what WordPress gets.

Custom Taxonomy builder

• Hierarchical (like categories) or flat (like tags) taxonomies, attached to any post types.
• Labels, visibility, admin columns, quick edit and the tag cloud.
• Permalinks, rewrite slug and hierarchical URLs.
• REST API settings, term counting and term sorting.
• Import from Custom Post Type UI: preview your existing taxonomies and bring them across in one step.

Also included

• Dashboard and Modules: see what is active and switch modules on or off.
• System Status: WordPress, PHP, runtime and module diagnostics to share when you ask for help.
• Demo Library: browse ready-made demo sites.
• Docs: open the documentation from inside the admin.
• AI Connect (optional): an MCP endpoint for AI assistants, off until an administrator turns it on.

Fast and safe by design

• Post types and taxonomies are compiled when you save them, so normal page loads read one small compiled list instead of every saved definition.
• Capability and policy checks always run on the server; hiding a button is never the permission check.
• All admin requests use one typed, allow-listed AJAX gateway, and nonces are checked separately from permissions.
• Diagnostics and audit data are bounded and never store secrets.

WPEssential Pro

Custom fields, relationships between posts, admin columns and more are in the separate WPEssential Pro add-on, sold and delivered from wpessential.org. The free plugin never downloads or installs Pro.

External services

The free plugin talks to the WPEssential service at wpessential.org only in these cases:

• Demo Library: when an administrator opens the Demo Library screen, the plugin downloads the list of available demos from https://wpessential.org/wp-json/wpessential-server/v1/demos. No personal or site data is sent.
• Account: only when an administrator chooses to sign in to or create a WPEssential account. The name, email address and password they type are sent to wpessential.org to create the account or sign in. When they then connect the site, the site’s address (home URL) is sent, and wpessential.org may return a Pro licence that the plugin activates for this site.
• Licence: when an administrator enters a Pro licence key, or a connected account assigns one. The key and the site’s domain are sent to wpessential.org to activate, check or deactivate the licence.

Documentation and support links open wpessential.org in the browser only when clicked.

The service is provided by WPEssential: Terms of Service, Privacy Policy.