/ Plugin Category

/ User Management & Authentication

/ User Registration & Login

/ WP Required Taxonomies – Categories and Tags Mandatory

WP Required Taxonomies – Categories and Tags Mandatory

By Jose Vega

User Management & Authentication / User Registration & Login

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

WP Required Taxonomies – Categories and Tags Mandatory Review - In-Depth Analysis

This plugin enforces taxonomy term selection when publishing posts. Users must select categories or tags to proceed.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.65/10

User Rating

4.1/5 (based on 8+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

5 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin works with Gutenberg and the classic editor. It requires users to select a taxonomy term when publishing posts, such as categories or tags.

It supports all taxonomies, including post categories, post tags, product categories, product tags, and custom taxonomies. The plugin works with all post types, including posts, pages, WooCommerce Products, and Events.

Use cases include forcing users to select a category or tag when publishing posts, WooCommerce Products, or any custom post type. This plugin is completely free.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP Required Taxonomies – Categories and Tags Mandatory has no close direct alternatives in its category, making it a unique solution for enforcing taxonomy selection in WordPress.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and straightforward to use
Effectively enforces category and tag selection
Free to use with no hidden costs
Works well with custom taxonomies
Quick setup and implementation

Weaknesses

Known security vulnerabilities fixed only in recent updates
Bug causing the need to click update twice when publishing or updating posts
Lack of developer responsiveness for support
Limited features compared to more comprehensive taxonomy plugins

User Sentiment Analysis

With a majority of 75% five-star ratings, users generally appreciate the plugin's functionality and ease of use, though a minority report issues affecting usability.

Positive highlights

"Does exactly what we needed for client" — dkenny
"Straight forward, quick and easy. So far no problems." — truca
"Simple to use, all free, does exactly what is needed" — Marie-Aude
"I like this plugin!" — Rickey
"Worked perfectly for my use case within minutes." — instadesign

Common complaints

Bug requiring the update button to be clicked twice to publish or update posts
Developers are unresponsive and contact forms do not work

Weaknesses

Security vulnerabilities related to Freemius SDK and unauthorized AJAX calls, fixed in version 1.1.8
Occasional bugs affecting post update workflow
Limited support and developer communication

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users needing a simple, free solution to enforce mandatory category and tag selection, especially for custom taxonomies, without requiring advanced features.

Not ideal for

Users who require robust support, frequent updates, or advanced taxonomy management features, or those concerned about past security vulnerabilities and plugin bugs.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version includes all core features to enforce mandatory selection of categories and tags, supporting custom taxonomies without restrictions.

Final Verdict

WP Required Taxonomies – Categories and Tags Mandatory is a straightforward and effective plugin for enforcing taxonomy selection, praised for its simplicity and free availability. It fills a niche with no direct alternatives, making it valuable for users with basic needs.

However, users should be aware of past security vulnerabilities and some bugs that affect usability, alongside limited developer support. Those needing more advanced features or guaranteed support might consider other options.