Hey there! If you’ve worked with Umbraco before, you know it’s already a powerhouse out of the box. But let’s be real—what really takes your workflow from “good” to “why didn’t I find this sooner?” are the right packages. Today, I’m sharing my absolute must-have Umbraco packages that I lean on for almost every project. These tools save me time, keep me sane, and make clients happy. Let’s dive in!

1. uSync: The Sync Hero

Let’s kick things off with the package I literally cannot live without: uSync. If you’ve ever lost sleep manually syncing content types, settings, or data types between environments (raises hand), this one’s for you. uSync automagically serializes your Umbraco configurations into files, making deployments or environment setups feel like a breeze. No more “it works on my machine” awkwardness. Plus, the peace of mind knowing that everything’s version-controlled.

2. Umbraco Forms: Because Nobody Likes Reinventing Wheels

Look, building custom forms from scratch is fun… for about five minutes. Then reality hits, and you’re knee-deep in validation logic and spam filters. Enter Umbraco Forms. It’s intuitive, integrates seamlessly with Umbraco’s backoffice, and handles everything from contact forms to multi-step surveys. Bonus points for the pre-built themes and integrations (e.g reCAPTCHA). It’s not just a time-saver—it’s a client-pleaser.

3. Contentment: The Swiss Army Knife of Property Editors

Ever wish Umbraco had a few more “aha!” moments in its UI? Contentment by Lee Kelleher is that wish granted. This package adds a treasure trove of handy property editors, like toggle switches, icon pickers, and even a delightful “Code Editor” for when you need to sneak in some HTML/CSS/JS. My personal favorite? The “Notes” editor—it lets you add helpful hints for content editors right in the backoffice. No more frantic Slack messages asking, “What does this field do?!”

4. Skybrud Redirects: For That 404-Heartbreak Prevention

Broken links are the silent killers of SEO and user experience. Skybrud Redirects is my go-to for managing redirects without needing to beg your hosting provider for IIS access. It’s simple: add old URLs, point them to new ones, and let Umbraco handle the rest. The interface is clutter-free, and it even supports regex for you overachievers out there. Plus, importing/exports are a lifesaver during migrations.

Wrapping Up: Tools Are Your Friends

These packages aren’t just about cutting corners—they’re about working smarter, delivering better results, and keeping your sanity intact. Umbraco’s community is one of its greatest strengths, and these tools are proof of that.

What about you? Got a favorite Umbraco package I didn’t mention? Drop a comment or shoot me a message—I’m always hunting for new gems to add to the toolbox.

Until next time, happy coding! 🚀