New producers spend their first year collecting plugins. We did too. The truth we wish someone had told us is that you do not need 200 plugins. You need a handful you actually understand, and most of them are free or already in your DAW. Here is the short list we would hand someone starting out, and what each one is really for.
//One synth you commit to
//One EQ you trust
//A compressor and a limiter
These usually come stock with your DAW, and the stock ones are good. A compressor controls dynamics so a part sits steady in the mix. A limiter catches peaks and sets your final loudness. You do not need a boutique compressor in year one. You need to understand attack, release, ratio, and threshold on the one you already have.
//A reverb and a delay
Space and depth. Almost every DAW ships a usable reverb and delay. Valhalla Supermassive is free, sounds great, and will cover you for a long time. The trick is using less than feels right, not buying a fancier one.
//One free multiband to learn movement
//What to skip for now
Skip the analog emulation bundles, the vintage console strips, and the giant sample libraries. They are great later, when you can hear what they add. Early on they are a distraction that lets you avoid the real work, which is learning to hear and learning to finish songs.
The producers who improve fastest are not the ones with the biggest plugin folder. They are the ones who know their small set cold and spend the saved time making music.