What Are Nulled Plugins In WordPress
WordPress being an open-source software has one of the biggest community bases available online today.
Ranging from non-techies to veteran developers, it caters to almost every demography of user you can think of.
With WordPress being under the GNU (General Public License), all plugins and themes created for the software are subject to the same license.
Thus, why nulled plugins and themes are even possible in the first place.
The GNU license or GPL allows anybody to take a piece of any WordPress-related code and modify it without any legal implications.
Nulled WordPress plugins are a common occurrence in the WordPress world. So much so that some plugin developers have taken to offering free versions of their plugins with paid premium versions just to reduce the impact nulled plugins bring to revenue.
The idea is simple, most users won’t need all of the extra features, and would rather have a fully-functional version than use a pirated (nulled) version.
But then, not all Plugin developers create free versions, this is what fuels the nulled plugin market which has only grown over the past decade.
In this article, we’re going to explore what nulled plugins are, the legality in using them, and security implications if any.
At the end of this article, you should have a clear understanding of why nulled plugins are created, how to detect when a plugin is nulled, who create them, and where to find them
We’ll also explore some use-cases where using a nulled plugin would be fine
What is a Nulled WordPress Plugin?
A nulled WordPress plugin is a plugin whose original code has been modified in such a way it grants any user the ability to use premium features without restrictions.
Plugin development companies & developers normally add a form of restriction to their plugins that force users to pay a fee (one-time or subscription) in other to get a pass.
An example is the WordPress Duplicator plugin which allows users to make complete site backups for free but offers cloud automated backups when you upgrade to the pro version.
A plugin is nulled when another developer modifies the original code of an existing plugin (i.e duplicator pro) to unlock features that otherwise require a form of payment to use.
The word nulled is a term used for plugins, themes, and other WordPress-related software. It’s called “nulled” because these files have been stripped from the code of the original developer and are then redistributed as a free resource.
Nulled plug-ins can be downloaded freely by anyone. It’s not hard to imagine how this could be useful to you if you’re short on cash or just want to try out something new. But some dangers are lurking in the world of nulled WordPress resources that many WordPress users do not know.
Is It Safe To Use Nulled WordPress Plugins?
Just as with anything pirated, nulled plugins are very unsafe for use especially on a live site.
Since these plugins are in most cases modified by unknown developers, there’s a high chance of malware being present.
99% of nulled WordPress plugins you’ll find out there on public sites have some form of malicious code that can expose your WordPress site to attackers.
Some hackers intentionally create nulled versions of popular plugins and make them available on the web for unsuspecting WordPress site owners to install and start using.
Sometimes, it might not be made apparent to the site owner that they have gained access, they could simply sit and watch the site grow and strike when it’s profitable to do so.
Another major reason why nulled plugins are unsafe is the fact that when new security and compatibility updates become available, a nulled plugin can not receive them.
Most WordPress plugins get updated every week, from additional features to complete codebase revamps.
If you’re stuck on a nulled version, there’s a high chance of your WordPress site experiencing incompatibility-related issues since new updates are not being applied.
You see, most plugin developers create their premium plugins to work with a licensing system, as long as you have a valid license, you’ll always be able to receive updates on any site a premium plugin is active on.
This is not the case for nulled plugins though and over time due to lack of updates, a plugin might retain vulnerabilities due to the old coding practices that were used to build the specific version.
So using a nulled plugin whether it contains malware from the get-go or not is always never a good idea.
Are Nulled Plugins illegal To Use?
Since WordPress uses the GPL / GNU (General public License), every plugin created to extend or enhance functionality is subject to the same license.
It doesn’t matter if a private company somewhere creates a paid premium plugin, once WordPress user lay their hand on their codebase, they are free to modify it as they see fit without legal consequences.
That being said, there are special cases where you can still be sued depending on the country you reside in as some countries do have special laws to protect the code.
But in a general sense, using a nulled plugin shouldn’t incur any legal action as the risk and consequences nulled plugins come with are enough.
How Can I Tell if a WordPress Plugins is Nulled?
To know if a plugin is nulled, simply navigate to the plugin settings and check for a valid license.
If no valid license is active and all or most of the premium features still work, that is a good sign that the plugin is a nulled version.
Another way you can check if a plugin is nulled is by contacting the plugin developer with the license information you have available, every paid WordPress plugin should always come with a license.
When Is it okay to use Nulled WordPress Plugins?
Nulled WordPress plugins are perfect when you want to have a feel for how a paid plugin works and if it can actually cater to your intended use case.
In many cases, it is okay to use a nulled WordPress in a staging/development environment to test out how it works and if it can handle the kind of tasks the developer claims.
Under no circumstances though should you perform a trial on a live WordPress website as even just a few minutes of the plugin being active can put your site at serious risk.
Once you’re done with testing, you can then go ahead and purchase the licensed version for use on a live WordPress website.
How are Nulled WordPress Plugins Distributed?
Nulled plugins are mostly distributed through online forums and dedicated blogs.
A quick google search for any paid popular plugin with the keyword nulled attached will bring up countless results with direct download links.
Some of these forums even offer a subscription-based model where you pay monthly / annually to get access to a limited number of nulled plugins uploaded and modified by unknown individuals.
These kinds of subscriptions sometimes even offer lifetime updates as well as a level of support.
Another major way nulled plugins are being distributed is through Facebook groups dedicated to WordPress users, nulled plugins are shared all the time for newbies who have absolutely no idea about the risk they pose.
A Good Alternative to Nulled WordPress Plugins
Sometimes, paid plugins are just so expensive to a point where you find yourself being forced to use a nulled version.
What many WordPress users fail to do is find another plugin developer with a plugin offering the same feature.
Oftentimes, you’ll find better and more affordable options; especially when you stop being distracted by all the extra features an expensive plugin has to offer.
You also have the option of hiring a developer on fiverr.com for a fraction of the cost to develop a working solution for your specific use case.
If you’re still bent on using premium plugins with no luck in finding a cheaper alternative, purchasing a WordPress course like LearnerBuilt which includes a database of premium plugins for every scenario you can think of just might be for you.
Not only does LearnerBuilt have the easiest-to-follow WordPress course content, but its premium plugin library also contains more than 3,000 regularly updated plugins that were bought directly from the developer.
No matter the scenario or use case, LearnerBuilt contains at least one plugin that can provide a solution.
If you’d like to learn more about LearnerBuilt, here’s a link to our landing page with more detailed information.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a new WordPress site owner or already manage a few, nulled plugins are an absolute no-no that should be avoided at all costs.
They have proven time and again to compromise the secure state of WordPress websites that use them and remain only useful when it comes to testing.
We hope you’ve found this article educative and useful in understanding nulled WordPress plugins, if you have any questions do not hesitate to leave a comment below and we will get back to you.
