Have you thought about what Drupal modules are? Would you like more insights on which modules are most beneficial for your website?
In this blog, we will discuss the best Drupal modules for your website, explore where to find extensions, and explain how to select the most appropriate modules. Then, we will give you a list of 22 modules divided into categories based on their functions.
So, let’s dive into the blog and examine the modules available.
What are Drupal modules?
Drupal modules are a set of files containing PHP code, JavaScript, and CSS that can be combined to add new functions to a Drupal site or enhance an existing one. They provide a comprehensive solution for Drupal development.
Different types of extensions, like core modules in Drupal, are integrated functionalities that manage users, while contributed modules are third-party extensions that can be downloaded directly from the official directory. Custom modules are custom-made for a specific site. The selection of the most useful Drupal modules will focus on third-party extensions, highlighting their availability and criteria to consider when selecting them.
Where to find and how to choose modules for Drupal
To find Drupal modules, consult the official directory on Drupal.org. If you know the module’s name, you can perform a targeted search. If not, narrow your search by category and filter results to display the most installed modules.
This blog discusses the issues of installing unnecessary modules and extensions in Drupal. It advises users to ask themselves if they genuinely need a Drupal module. Modules can help you add functions and consume resources, impacting site performance based on their number and programming. To avoid this, install modules only if they benefit your project. Avoid leaving inactive modules installed and regularly review and uninstall any unnecessary extensions. It is crucial to avoid unnecessary plugins and extensions on your site.
Select modules based on the update date and number of installations.
In ensuring the success of any Drupal installation, it is necessary to ensure that the module is compatible with the CMS version you use and is up to date. Check the latest update in the releases section of the directory. Access the module’s page in the official directory to examine issues and bugs and review reports. This will confirm no unresolved issues and assess the frequency and promptness of developer responses. Review the module’s number of installations by going to the Project information section, which provides an estimate of the number of sites using the module.
Top drupal modules
To understand it better, we will categorise Drupal modules into various sections.
Compatible with Drupal 10 and subsequent versions;
We have included compatibility with the latest Drupal versions for each module we are about to explore.
Modules for Drupal administration and site management
In this section, we’ll explore some Drupal modules that help us manage our sites. These modules enable various tasks, such as creating a sitemap or implementing redirects.
In some instances, you should modify the appearance of the back end. Even in such scenarios, Drupal offers extensions that allow us to do so. Let’s explore some of the most exciting options.
Admin Toolbar
In Drupal’s ecosystem, the administration menu we see when accessing the backend of our website is called the Toolbar. Installing this module can help us transform the toolbar into a dropdown menu, providing quicker access to different sections of the administrative panel. It also allows us to add a search bar facility to the toolbar.
Module Name: Admin Toolbar
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8.8.0 – 9
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Admin Toolbar
Pathauto
If you want to simplify the link generation process for a more user-friendly appearance, the Pathauto module is ideal. With the use of this extension, you can create aliases that would make the URLs more readable, for eg, /category/node-title , as opposed to a lesser comprehensive format, as seen in this eg,/node/1234
Module Name: Pathauto
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 9.3 – 10
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Pathauto
Redirect
The “Redirect” module proves very handy for setting up manual redirects and ensuring that they don’t conflict with rel canonical tags.
Module Name: Redirect
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 9.2 – 10
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Redirect
Metatag
To add structured data to pages on our Drupal site, we can employ the “Metatag” module. These add-ons enable us to add individual page metadata or set metadata for specific content types or all nodes.
Module name: Metatag
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 9.3 – 10
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Metatag
Simple XML sitemap
This module helps automate the creation of an XML-format sitemap for our site. Besides the sitemap generation, it also helps us facilitate the automatic map submission to search engines.
Module name: Simple XML sitemap.
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 9.3 – 10
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Simple XML sitemap
Devel
Devel is a developer-focused module that helps in crafting custom modules and offers various functions to simplify performance testing and bug detection.
Module name: Devel
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 9 – 10
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Devel
Extensions for Content Creation and Management
All the above-mentioned modules help us with site management and development. However, if you are looking for add-ons that allow you to incorporate specific elements such as contact forms or embed videos, take a look at this list of top Drupal modules for content creation and much more!
Paragraphs
Paragraph is an intriguing Drupal module that enables us to create pre-designed templates for our content. These templates, referred to as Paragraph Types, are reusable and can consist of text blocks, images, tables, galleries, and more. For example, you might want to embed a video in a section of text or include a text block with a quote.
Module name: Paragraphs
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 9.3 – 10
Link to module directory on Drupal.org Paragraphs
Webform
If you are looking for a module for crafting contact forms, Webform is worth exploring. This particular extension offers advanced features such as multi-step contact form creation and integration with various CRMs and anti-spam systems.
Module name: Webform
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 9.4
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Webform
Video Embed Field
The module will help embed videos from YouTube and Vimeo. The extension creates a custom field that allows us to showcase videos and select the desired resolution. Insert the video link to display a preview of our content. By using additional sub-modules, you can also embed videos from other platforms like Google Drive, Instagram, and Facebook.
Module name: Video Embed Field
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8.8 – 9
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Video Embed Field
Search 404
If a user visits a page on your website that has already been removed or even doesn’t exist, they will usually encounter a 404 error. With the help of the “Search 404” module, we can display pages similar to the one they were trying to reach. This extension will conduct a keyword-based search in the URLs, showing relevant search results and helping keep the user engaged on the site.
Module name: Search 404
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8 – 9
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Search 404
Drupal modules for spam protection
Here, we will discuss several systems to protect contact forms, comments, and other sections of the site from spam. Some of the extensions we will explore enable us to integrate a captcha code, while others employ less intrusive protection methods for users. Let’s dive into the most installed anti-spam Drupal modules.
Captcha
These captcha modules allow us to control spam by requiring all users to input a captcha code. This helps distinguish non-legitimate visitors, such as those using a contact form, from legitimate visitors.
Module name: CAPTCHA
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8.9 – <11
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: CAPTCHA
reCAPTCHA
This Drupal module uses the Google reCAPTCHA service to protect the site from spam.
ReCAPTCHA version 2 is currently supported, with future compatibility planned for invisible reCAPTCHA. Note that this Drupal extension also requires the CAPTCHA module we just discussed.
Module name: reCAPTCHA
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8 – 9 – 10
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: reCAPTCHA
Honeypot
Some Drupal spam protection modules don’t require captcha usage. Honeypot is a great example. It guards contact forms, registrations, and comments automatically without hindering the experience for “human visitors.”
Module name: Honeypot
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 9.2 – 10
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Honeypot
Modules for Statistics
Numerous modules allow us to monitor site statistics, display the number of visits, and track user behaviour. Let’s explore the main ones.
Indeed, the most well-known system for collecting site statistics is Google Analytics.
However, recent developments regarding Google Analytics and GDPR have prompted reconsidering services involving data transfer to countries like the United Kingdom. For this reason, we’ll also explore another Drupal module that allows GDPR-compliant site metrics collection.
Google Analytics
As the name suggests, this module allows us to integrate Google Analytics into our Drupal site.
Module name: Google Analytics.
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 9.3 – 10
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Google Analytics
Matomo Analytics
Among the alternatives to Google’s service is Matomo Analytics, which can be self-hosted to avoid data transfer issues. You can manually install Matomo or use our ready-to-use Matomo Analytics service.
Alternatively, depending on the CMS you’re using, you can use a plugin or module. Let’s explore the Drupal module “Matomo Analytics” for metric tracking.
Module name: Matomo Analytics
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8.8 – 9
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Matomo Analytics
Other Drupal modules
These are some of the other extensions to enhance your Drupal site and its functionality. Among these essential ones, you will find modules that can help manage cookies. Moreover, depending on the type of site you are building, you might need to integrate a live chat system, manage reservations, or optimise content for SEO.
Let’s explore some Drupal modules that address these and other needs.
EU Cookie Compliance (GDPR Compliance)
EU Cookie Compliance is one of the most widely used cookie modules. When we consider the top Drupal modules, it allows you to manage cookies on your site.
With this extension, you can customise the cookie banner and display it only to visitors from countries in the European Union. Additionally, the modules let us categorise cookies, allowing users to consent to specific categories.
Module name: EU Cookie Compliance (GDPR Compliance)
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8.8 – 9
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: EU Cookie Compliance
Live Helper Chat
The “Live Helper Chat” module helps in creating an easy-to-use live chat system that activates when users visit your Drupal site.
This extension lets us enable the chat across the entire site or configure rules to display it only on specific pages or under certain conditions.
Module name: Chat: Live Helper Chat
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8 – 9
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Live Helper Chat
BAT – Booking and Availability Management Tools
“Booking and Availability Management Tools”, usually known as BAT, are the most commonly used Drupal modules for managing online reservations.
The system allows us to set and display available dates using an interactive calendar. Additionally, we can associate pricing information that varies based on specific conditions.
Module name: Booking and Availability Management Tools
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8 – 9
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: BAT
Backup and migrate
Drupal modules help us create backups of our site and database. These modules can be useful during migration or for creating site copies.
However, note that when choosing a hosting, you should consider the presence of an automatic backup system.
Module name: Backup and migrate.
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 9.3 – 10
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Backup and migrate.
Real-time SEO for Drupal
If you’re looking to improve the SEO of your Drupal site, the “Real-time SEO” module might interest you. This extension is based on Yoast SEO, one of the most widely used WordPress plugins for content optimisation. Although not affiliated with Yoast, this module is developed by third parties.
The extension analyses your written content and offers suggestions for improvement, including readability scores based on the Flesch Reading Ease.
Module name: Real-time SEO for Drupal.
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8 – 9
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Real-time SEO
AddToAny Share Buttons
The “AddToAny Share Buttons” module allows you to incorporate social sharing icons such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp into your Drupal site.
This extension allows you to create a menu with social icons. You can choose to use default icons or insert your own and customise their style and colours.
Module name: AddToAny Share Buttons
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8 – 9
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: AddToAny Share Buttons
Mailchimp
You can use this Drupal module to integrate your site with Mailchimp.
With this extension, you can leverage all the functions of integrating with one of the most popular email marketing services. For instance, you can create email sign-up forms and campaigns directly from the Drupal interface.
Module name: Mailchimp
Compatibility with Drupal versions: 8.7.7 – 9
Link to module directory on Drupal.org: Mailchimp
Conclusion
We’ve explored how to choose modules for your Drupal site and where to find them. In this article, "The best Drupal modules for your website," we introduce some of the best Drupal modules.
There are Add-ons that allow us to manage cookies, create contact forms, embed videos, modify the administration panel, and much more. In this article, we’ve covered some of the most used ones, keeping in mind that the CMS directory contains over 49,000 modules.