11 February 2022
10 WordPress Cache Plugins to Increase Site Speed
If you’ve ever read a post on speed up a WordPress site, you know that WordPress cache plugins are a popular way of minimizing page load times.
Slow loading speeds are especially difficult for websites with a lot of content and dynamic content (text, images, videos, and products). If you don’t optimize your website, it will load slowly.
The simple truth is that if you want to improve the performance of your WordPress site and reduce the load on your server, an excellent caching plugin is a nice way to do so.
Improving your site’s loading speed may have clear and far-reaching advantages, such as higher SEO rankings, enhanced user experience, and more conversions, and it’s a must-have plugin in today’s environment. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best WordPress cache plugins.
Let’s have a look at what WordPress cache plugins do before we get started.
How Do WordPress Cache Plugins Work?
A cache is a collection of stored data that may be accessed when needed. In computers, information is stored on a hard disk. When it is requested, a computer needs to run several processes before the information can be present.
Cache solves this problem by processing frequently requested data and putting it in a temporary storage area or memory. This enables computers to access the file easily.
WordPress is, after all, a dynamic content management system. This implies that when a user visits your website, WordPress fetches data from the database and then does several additional tasks before sending the web page to the user’s browser.
When many visitors visit your website at the same time, this causes it to load more slowly.
Caching helps you to avoid a lot of processes on your WordPress site. Your cache plugin generates a duplicate of the page after the initial load. It then delivers that cached version to every subsequent user, rather than going through the entire page generation process every time.
Why Do You Need WordPress Caching Plugins?
Caching is helpful since it cuts the load on your WordPress hosting servers and speeds up your website. To increase the speed and performance of your WordPress site, you’ll need to set up proper caching.
A fast website boosts the user experience and encourages more page visits. This will also help you increase user engagement and the amount of time they spend on your website.
A fast website can help you gain even more organic search traffic to your site. Google offers fast websites a significant SEO benefit, which allows you to rank higher in search results.
Let’s have a look at some of the best WordPress caching plugins for boosting up your website.
10 Best WordPress Cache Plugins
There are several caching plugins available. Some are free, while others are inexpensive. Some are self-contained, while others are provided by WordPress hosting companies.
Depending on your needs, these are the best WordPress cache plugins to consider.
1. WP Rocket
WP Rocket is the premium WordPress cache plugin available. It’s the most straightforward and beginner-friendly caching plugin, which comes in handy if you’re unfamiliar with the technical terms for various caching options.
It enables users to cache their website with a single click. Its crawler collects your WordPress pages automatically to build up the cache. The plugin allows for suggested WordPress caching features such as gzip compression, page caching, and cache preloading.
For more, see your complete WP Rocket review.
Plugin Features:
- GZIP compression.
- Browser caching.
- It minified HTML, JavaScript, and CSS files to improve page load time.
- Database optimization.
- Lazy loading images.
- Options to locally host Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel.
Pricing:
WP Rocket is a premium WordPress plugin. It starts from $59 per year for a single site license up to $299 per year for unlimited sites.
2. WP Super Cache
WP Super Cache is a free cache plugin for WordPress with over two million installations. Many of the major WordPress hosting companies suggest it because it is free.
The plugin allows you to generate static HTML files from your dynamic WordPress blog. After processing heavy WordPress PHP scripts on your site, WP Super Cache sends the static HTML file to most of your website visitors.
WP Super Cache has three caching modes. The first is known as Simple mode, and it is the most often used method of file caching. With this, you won’t need to modify PHP files or set up your .htaccess file.
You also get the Expert mode, which is the best caching method for serving super cached HTML files to users. However, you must make changes to your .htaccess files.
There is also a WP Super Caching mode for caching pages for known users (the ones who log into your site, leave comments, etc.). Although it is the most flexible caching method, it is slightly slower than other methods.
Plugin Features:
- Page caching.
- Browser caching.
- Support for content delivery networks (CDN).
- GZIP compression.
- Enable cache preloading functionality.
Pricing:
It’s completely free! There are no paid options or add-ons. Install, activate, and use for free on as many websites as you like.
3. W3 Total Cache
With over 1 million installs, W3 Total Cache is a popular plugin. When the plugin is fully configured, they say you’ll experience a 10x boost in overall site speed.
Most hosting plans, including shared, dedicated, and VPS server hosting, are compatible with the plugin. Because it’s free, you may enjoy all of its features right after downloading the plugin—no upsells to deal with.
Further, It caches every part of your site, and integrating with multiple content delivery networks can enhance server speed.
The makers claim that the plugin may save up to 80% of your bandwidth by minifying your HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and RSS.
W3 Total Cache also supports Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) and Secure Socket Layer (SSL).
Plugin Features:
- Minification.
- CDN integration.
- Browser cache.
- Object cache.
- Database cache.
- Lazy load images.
Pricing:
W3 Total Cache is an open-source plugin, and it’s available free of charge. However, the premium version is only available from within the plugin’s admin interface and costs $99/year with no multiple site licenses available.
4. WP Fastest Cache
WP Fastest Cache is one of the most accessible WordPress caching plugins available in the official WordPress repository since it has fewer setup settings for WordPress caching.
It creates static HTML files from your dynamic WordPress site, much like any other caching plugin.
The plugin minifies HTML and CSS files to make them smaller. It also allows you to turn off emojis on your website. It efficiently uses WordPress browser cache to minimize page load time for repeat visitors and merges many CSS files into a single file to reduce HTTP round-trips.
The plugin’s premium version has several unique features for improving page performance, including image optimization, database cleaning, mobile caching, and much more.
After installing the free version, you may purchase the premium version of WP Fastest Cache straight from your WordPress dashboard.
Plugin Features:
- Auto-deletion of cache files whenever a post or page is published.
- SSL and CDN support.
- Enable/Disable cache option for mobile devices.
- Block cache for specific pages or posts.
- Code minification.
- GZIP compression.
- Cache preload.
Pricing:
WP Fastest Cache lite version is available for free on the official WordPress plugins repository. However, the Premium version starts from $49.99 for one site for a lifetime license up to $300 for ten sites.
5. Cache Enabler
Cache Enabler is a service provided by KeyCDN, a well-known content delivery network (CDN). It is an excellent alternative if you’re only searching for a highly lightweight caching plugin. It features the most basic settings section.
If you’re going to use Cache Enabler, I recommend using it in combination with the free Autoptimize plugin to optimize your code and scripts. The two work very well together. Autoptimize takes care of minification, combining files, and deferring JavaScript/CSS, while Cache Enabler takes care of page caching.
Plugin Features:
- Fast and efficient cache engine.
- Automatic smart cache clearing.
- WebP support.
- WP-CLI cache clearing.
- It works perfectly with other third-party plugins.
Pricing:
Cache Enabler is available for free on WordPress.org, with no premium plugin version.
6. LiteSpeed Cache
LiteSpeed Cache is a free WordPress cache plugin that includes a server-based cache. It contains a lot of site optimization tools that help to speed up page loading.
Plus, moving to LiteSpeed Cache is simple since you can import/export your settings from other caching plugins.
Aside from caching, the plugin includes image optimization and lazy loading features. This lets you optimize the images on your site for better site speed and performance.
Plugin Features:
- Multiple CDN support.
- Cloudflare API.
- PageSpeed score optimization.
- Image optimization and lazyload.
- Single Site and Multisite (Network) support.
Pricing:
LiteSpeed Cache is a completely free plugin that does not have a premium version.
7. Comet Cache
Comet Cache is another well-known caching plugin with over 40,000 active installations. Unlike other caching plugins, Comet Cache can also cache logged-in users. If you run a membership site, an eCommerce site, or any other site that requires users to register, it is a must-have plugin for you.
Further, the plugin uses WordPress browser caching with the Apache server. This means you can boost the page speed by eliminating multiple roundtrips between the server and browser.
You may also serve all cached files on your site through your preferred content delivery network (CDN). It is compatible with common CDN networks such as CloudFront, MaxCDN, and others.
To prevent creating a new version of the cache when your server is busy, the plugin checks server load and temporarily disables cache expiration.
The plugin also displays cache statistics to help you understand the status of your site’s cache.
Plugin Features:
- Control the automatic cache-clearing behavior.
- Developer friendly.
- WP-CLI Compatibility.
- Well-documented and straightforward configuration.
Pricing:
There’s a lite version available. However, the premium version starts from $39 for a single site license up to $139 for unlimited sites.
8. SG Optimizer
SiteGround’s SG Optimizer is a free caching plugin that you can download from WordPress.org.
SG Optimizer is a WordPress plugin designed specifically for SiteGround-hosted WordPress blogs. It’s a cache plugin, but it also helps you compress images, merge files, minify HTML, CSS, JS, and many other things.
This plugin is suitable for both new and experienced users.
If you have SiteGround hosting or are looking for a host for your WordPress site, we recommend SG Optimizer!
Plugin Features:
- You can enable/disable the automatic cache purge and exclude URLs from the cache.
- Option for enables/disables minification of your HTML, JS, and CSS resources.
- You can also optimize your images individually or in bulk.
- Gzip Compression.
- Browser caching.
Pricing:
SG Optimizer is a completely free plugin.
9. Swift Performance
Swift Performance is a WordPress caching plugin that transforms caching as you know it. It has outstanding performance-optimizing features. Although it is a relatively new WordPress plugin, it has achieved massive popularity among users in a brief time.
It includes all of the tools you’ll need to boost your website’s performance and speed without breaking a sweat. Duplicate metadata expired transients, and spam comments are all cleaned up by the plugin’s database optimizer.
You may also use its minification function to speed up static resources delivery by combining or minifying CSS and JavaScript with a single click. It also works with bbPress, Cloudflare, WooCommerce, Varnish, and many other platforms.
Plugin Features:
- Page caching.
- GZIP compression.
- CSS & JS Optimization.
- Browser caching.
- It has a built-in DB Optimizer to maintenance the WordPress database.
- Option to disable plugins on certain pages.
- Extended CDN Support.
Pricing:
Swift Performance lite version is available for free on the official WordPress plugins repository. However, the Premium version costs $49.99 a year for a single site.
10. Hyper Cache
Hyper Cache is a PHP-only caching plugin that you can use on low-cost hosting settings and high-end servers.
Because it operates with a set of default values, activating Hyper Cache is simple.
The plugin has a mobile theme switch option that enables caching even if you use different layouts for mobile and desktop users. This is useful if you have a responsive theme on your site or require multiple ad formats for different devices.
Hyper Cache’s ability to provide cached pages to comment authors is another unique feature. If you wish to, you may turn off serving cached pages to comment authors.
Plugin Features:
- For both the desktop and mobile versions of the site, there is a double cache.
- Option to change the theme on your phone.
- Support for CDNs.
- To improve perceived speed, provide expired sites to bots.
Pricing:
Hyper Cache is an entirely free plugin.
Choosing the Best WordPress Cache Plugins for Your Needs
There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” solution when it comes to picking the best WordPress caching plugin for your site.
Choose either W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache if you want the best free WordPress cache plugins that perform the job. Both are regularly updated and used by more than a million websites.
Choose WP Rocket if you want the best WordPress cache plugin with excellent support and minimal settings. It is also a part of our list of essential WordPress plugins.
Additionally, you can also use the SG Optimizer caching plugin, which is available for free for SiteGround websites. Similarly, hosting companies like Bluehost and WP Engine give free built-in caching services to their customers.
We hope this information helped in determining which caching plugin is best for your website. If you like this post, you might also want to read:
