There has been a lot happening in the WordPress world this month, and we’re here to break it all down for you!
There are plenty of new developments, including WPForms’ new instant SMS/WhatsApp notifications. We also cover the exciting launch of WPConsent, a plugin for managing cookie consent and compliance with the GDPR and other privacy regulations. Plus, WordCamp Asia brought together over 1400 attendees from 70 countries.
We’ve also got new tools and integrations on the way—AIOSEO is making keyword tracking smarter, and Uncanny Automator is adding even more powerful integrations.
And don’t miss WooCommerce’s fresh rebrand, along with a few other exciting plugin launches.
Let’s dive into all these updates and explore what’s new in the world of WordPress!
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WPForms Introduces ⚡ Instant SMS & WhatsApp Notifications to Boost User Engagement
WPForms has just introduced a game-changing update for users with the new WPForms Twilio Addon. It allows you to send instant SMS and WhatsApp notifications directly to people who submit your forms.
This feature is perfect for businesses looking to deliver personalized messages, whether it’s a friendly confirmation, appointment details, or a follow-up message—all with just a few clicks.
Jared Atchison, co-founder of WPForms, shared how simple the process is:
“In the form builder, just choose SMS or WhatsApp and pick your recipient’s phone number from the dropdown. From there, you can type in the message you want to send moments after the form is submitted. It’s that simple.”
The Twilio integration is incredibly easy to set up, allowing you to start sending messages right away without needing any technical expertise.
Once your Twilio account is connected, you can customize the notifications to include personalized details like the user’s name, order summary, appointment time, or booking confirmation. This makes every message feel tailored and meaningful, which can improve the overall user experience.
WPForms takes things even further with conditional logic, giving users the power to choose how they want to receive updates—whether via SMS or WhatsApp.
You can also combine text and email notifications to ensure your message reaches customers no matter where they are.
This new functionality is available for all WPForms Plus, Pro, and Elite users, and it’s an excellent way to increase engagement and keep users informed in real time.
WPConsent Has Launched — A Powerful New Plugin for Managing Cookie Consent and Privacy Compliance
Managing cookie consent has never been easier with WPConsent—a powerful new plugin designed to help WordPress site owners comply with privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
What sets WPConsent apart from other cookie plugins is that it automatically detects and blocks scripts that use cookies until the user actually allows cookies. These include scripts from Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Facebook Pixel.
Mircea Sandu, Co-Founder of WPConsent, wrote in his announcement:
“With WPConsent, you can create and manage cookie banners that meet your privacy compliance needs without any technical hassle. It’s simple, intuitive, and ensures full transparency for your users.”
WPConsent’s easy setup means there is no need to manually add cookie data. The plugin handles everything with a single click, and you can manage cookies from a central dashboard.
You can also customize cookie categories and create banners that match your website’s branding—without coding.
WPConsent also provides a geolocation feature, allowing you to display cookie banners only to visitors from specific countries or regions, such as the EU.
The plugin makes it easy to add a cookie policy page to your site using a shortcode, and users can easily access the policy details directly through the consent banner.
WPConsent is now available for download. A free version of the plugin is also available for users who want to try it before upgrading to a paid plan.
Over 1400 Attendees from 71 Countries Gathered for WordCamp Asia 2025 in Manila
WordCamp Asia 2025 brought together over 1,400 attendees from 71 countries, with nearly 15,000 people joining online. The event featured inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and exciting networking opportunities.
ℹ️WordCamps are community events organized in a conference format by passionate members of the WordPress community. Click here to learn more about WordCamps.
This year’s event introduced new ways to engage:
Solutions Spotlight: Quick, 10-minute lightning talks on innovative products and strategies.
YouthCamp: Hands-on workshops for kids and teens (ages 8-17) focused on web basics, design, and development.
Career and Social Corners: Spaces for networking, professional connections, and informal discussions.
Contributor Day kicked off the event, bringing together nearly 800 contributors to tackle tasks like bug fixes, Gutenberg enhancements, and accessibility improvements. The day highlighted the importance of open-source collaboration.
🔗Related: Contributing to the WordPress Ecosystem (My Thoughts)
During the conference, Matías Ventura delivered a keynote speech on the future of Gutenberg and WordPress, followed by insightful sessions on SEO, performance optimization, and AI workflows.
A panel on WordPress in 2030 explored the expanding open-source community and the future challenges WordPress will face.
The event finished with a look at the next generation of WordPress innovations, which left attendees inspired and connected for the journey ahead.
Awesome Motive’s CEO, Syed Balkhi, Talks Business Strategy, WordPress Growth, and AI at Annual Retreat
At Awesome Motive’s annual retreat, CEO Syed Balkhi shared valuable insights into business strategy, the growth of WordPress, and the future impact of AI.
When talking about business strategy, Syed shared his approach to managing his company’s growing portfolio of brands:
“Our goal is to eliminate roadblocks, provide more resources where we can, but really move out of the way because ultimately, the team that’s there knows the customer base the best.”
On the topic of WordPress growth, Syed expressed his excitement for the platform’s future:
“I see WordPress powering over 50% of websites in the next five years. The ecosystem is evolving, and there’s so much to be excited about.”
He also reflected on the growing importance of AI, particularly in how it will impact the future of work:
“AI is as transformative as electricity and the internet. It’s going to reshape how a lot of things are done, and I’m more excited than concerned about it.”
Additionally, when discussing work-life balance, Syed shared a personal perspective:
“Nobody will remember you working late more than your kids. Prioritizing family is important, but balance comes in stages.”
▶️Watch the full interview on the Thrive Themes YouTube Channel.
Remove Unused Media from Your WordPress Site with Search & Replace Everything
Search & Replace Everything has launched its latest feature, Remove Unused Media. This is designed to help WordPress site owners clean up their media libraries.
The new tool finds and removes media files that are no longer in use, helping users free up valuable space on their sites.
It scans the entire WordPress database, going beyond just posts and pages to ensure all unused media files are identified. Once the scan is complete, users are presented with a list of files, including details like title, path, and size. Files can then be deleted with a simple click, either individually or all at once.
By streamlining the process of managing media libraries, Remove Unused Media helps site owners keep their WordPress sites lean and efficient. This is all without the risk of accidentally deleting important files.
The feature is available for pro users of the Search & Replace Everything plugin.
WordPress.org Shares Noel Tock’s “WordPress in 2025” Report
WordPress.org has published a comprehensive WordPress in 2025 report by Noel Tock, which offers valuable insights into the future of WordPress.
The report highlights the direction the WordPress ecosystem is heading and provides a clear roadmap for its growth and sustainability over the next few years.
Among the key takeaways are predictions about how WordPress will continue to evolve as the most dominant platform for website building.
Tock’s analysis highlights the increasing importance of the block editor, the ongoing efforts to make WordPress more user-friendly, and the larger focus on performance optimization and security.
The report also looks at the future role of AI in WordPress development, as well as the growing need for community contributions to help the open-source WordPress project thrive.
AIOSEO Enhances Keyword Tracking and WooCommerce SEO Features in Latest Update
All in One SEO for WordPress has released a major update, further improving smarter keyword tracking and WooCommerce SEO features.
The update introduces a smarter keyword rank tracker, which offers deeper insights and better control for users looking to optimize their SEO strategies.
Notable features include the ability to track keyword rankings for individual posts, integrate with Google Search Console to import relevant keywords, and see related keywords alongside performance metrics.
Ben Rojas, President of AIOSEO, shared his excitement about the new feature, saying:
“One of the coolest features added to our already powerful Keyword Rank Tracker is the Related Keywords tab. This lets you see suggested terms for the keywords you’re already tracking.”
AIOSEO has also made WooCommerce product attribute management easier because you can now apply global settings, export attribute data, and include product attributes in XML sitemaps. These features can improve consistency and efficiency for online stores, as well as WooCommerce SEO performance.
In Other News
Smash Balloon, the popular social media plugin suite for WordPress, now integrates with GDPR compliance plugins like GDPR Cookie Compliance and Real Cookie Banner. These integrations allow users to easily manage cookie consent and comply with privacy regulations.
FunnelKit released Funnel Builder 3.9. This introduces new UTM campaign tracking for detailed traffic analysis, new order bump positions, and better revenue attribution for online stores.
WordPress 6.7.2 was released as a maintenance update. It contains security patches and 16 bug fixes for WordPress core and the block editor.
WP Simple Pay – Effortless Stripe Payments for WordPress
WP Simple Pay makes it easy to accept Stripe payments in WordPress securely. Easily create payment forms for one-time or recurring payments. Its user-friendly interface lets you start accepting payments immediately without writing any code.
Advanced Coupons has released a PushEngage integration, which allows users to send coupons via push notifications. This can help to improve engagement and conversion opportunities directly on WordPress websites.
WordPress.com has renamed Demo Sites in Studio to Preview Sites. They have also added extra storage and personalized URLs to offer users more flexibility and control over their preview environments.
Uncanny Automator version 6.2 introduced new integrations for Threads, Duplicator, SeedProd, and Thrive Theme Builder, along with powerful new automation features for WordPress sites.
WPBeginner Maintenance Services 🛠️
Keep your WordPress site secure, optimized, and up-to-date with no effort needed! Our WordPress Site Maintenance service handles everything from regular backups and performance checks to proactive security monitoring. We make sure your site runs smoothly while you focus on growing your business.
New Plugins
WPConsent – A powerful plugin designed to help WordPress site owners comply with GDPR and other privacy regulations. WPConsent provides customizable cookie banners, script blocking, and an easy-to-use interface for managing cookie consent.
ScreenGlow Image Editor – This plugin allows users to paste, upload, and edit images and screenshots within the WordPress dashboard. It offers tools to create mockups, add backgrounds, annotate screenshots, and beautify designs.
Shortcodes Analyzer – A plugin designed to help developers and site owners keep track of and manage shortcodes on their WordPress sites. It allows users to easily identify, optimize, and troubleshoot shortcodes across posts and pages.
That wraps up this edition of WPBeginner Spotlight! We’re always eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions on how we can make this series even better.
If there’s any exciting WordPress news or updates you’d like to see featured in our next issue, feel free to send us a message.
We’ll be back next month with more news, insights, and updates from the WordPress world. Thank you for being such a valued part of our community!
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