What is Jetpack in WordPress?

Jetpack combines security, performance, and audience-growth tools that you could otherwise install as separate plugins into one package for a self-hosted WordPress site. Automattic says more than 5 million WordPress sites use it (jetpack.com, August 2026). Each feature is a module you can switch on or off, so you run only what you need.

Key Jetpack features

• Site stats: traffic and visitor reports inside your WordPress dashboard.
• Social auto-publishing: posts new content automatically to Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, Tumblr, Mastodon, LinkedIn, and Nextdoor.
• Image CDN: a free content delivery network that serves your images and static files, like CSS and JavaScript, from Jetpack’s servers instead of yours.
• Login and uptime protection: free defense against brute-force attacks on your login page, plus an email alert whenever your site goes down.
• Backups: real-time cloud backups and one-click restores through the paid VaultPress Backup product, with storage starting at 10GB.
• Malware scanning: automated scans for malware, with one-click fixes, through the paid Jetpack Scan product.
• Anti-spam: comment and form spam filtering powered by Akismet.

Free vs. paid Jetpack

There is no single premium plan. The core plugin is free, and essentials like brute-force protection, downtime monitoring, and the image CDN cost nothing. Advanced features are paid: Automattic’s own FAQ lists backups, malware scanning, and site search as part of its paid plans. You buy them as individual products, such as VaultPress Backup, Scan, and Akismet Anti-spam, or in bundles named Security, Growth, and Complete. Prices change often, so check Jetpack’s pricing page for current rates before you commit.

Full Jetpack vs. standalone plugins

You don’t have to install the whole thing. Automattic also ships Jetpack’s major features as standalone plugins: VaultPress Backup, Boost, Protect, Search, Social, VideoPress, CRM, and Akismet Anti-spam. Choose full Jetpack when you want several of these tools under one plugin and one WordPress.com connection. Choose a single standalone plugin when you need exactly one feature and want less code running on your site.

Setting up Jetpack

Jetpack installs like any other plugin: search for “Jetpack” in your dashboard’s plugin screen, click Install Now, then Activate. You’ll be prompted to connect the site to a WordPress.com account, which most features require. Once connected, enable only the modules you need. For a feature-by-feature walkthrough and a verdict on whether Jetpack fits your site, read our full Jetpack review.