WordPress Caching Plugins in 2022

ByMaximus

There are plenty of Caching plugins for WordPress but very few work as expected in a production site. It is extremely important that your caching plugin works right every time, since their saved output is what your visitors actually see.

There are two “modes” caching plugins use to serve the saved static pages, PHP and mod_rewrite:

PHP mode is the most compatible with everything and doesn’t modify your .htaccess file. Uses PHP to serve the pages.

Mod_Rewrite mode is (in theory) a bit faster, changes your .htaccess and some rare compatibility issues may exist. It uses “mod_rewrite” module to serve the pages (no PHP involved).

Here are three caching plugins that you can fully trust. Practically you will not see any speed difference between them.

WP Super Cache

WP Super Cache supports both PHP (default and preferred) and mod_rewrite mode. An “unstable” Preload mode is available.

WP Super Cache plugin for some reason changes your wp-config.php permissions to 600. You should change it back to the previous permissions settings (usually 644).

The support is nothing to write home about. It is completely free and there is no paid version.

WP Fastest Cache

WP Fastest Cache Lite uses mod_rewrite, has a fully working Preload mode and some basic optimization options. If you really need an optimizer, don’t use Fastest Cache ones and use a dedicated plugin for that, like Autoptimize.

The support for WP Faster Cache is phenomenal. Kudos to the developer. There is a paid version available with more features.

Rapid Cache

Rapid Cache is a fork of Comet Cache (unfortunately abandonware now). MegaOptim fixed several issues of the old Comet Cache and also added some new features. This caching plugin uses PHP mode and offers great compatibility with everything.

Rapid Cache has a unique feature, inherited from Comet Cache: The whole cache is automatically deleted, when you install or remove a plugin or a theme.

The support could be better though. There is no paid version available at the moment.

Cache Enabler

Cache Enabler is a simple, yet powerful WordPress caching plugin that is easy to use, needs minimal configuration, and best of all helps improve site performance for a faster load time. It creates static HTML files of frontend pages and stores them on the server’s disk. This allows the static HTML files to be delivered instead of generating pages on the fly, avoiding resource intensive backend processes from the WordPress core, plugins, and database.

Works using PHP mode. A rather stable and simple caching plugin.

Related posts:

  1. Warning: WordPress Caching Plugins and Wordfence
  2. ZenCache: The BEST Caching Plugin for WordPress
  3. ZenCache, Comet Cache …. You name it. Still the BEST Caching Plugin!
  4. Must-Have Free WordPress Plugins for WordPress
  5. A Little Jewel Plugin for WordPress: No Cache AJAX Widgets

Maximus Decimus Meridius: Maximus is an entirely fictitious character but seems to be based on several characters, including Avidius Cassius, a general in Marcus Aurelius' armies.

Currently it is believed that he was a webmaster in his previous life.

5 Comments

  1. How about LiteSpeed Cache plugin? No mention? It has over 3 million active installations.

    1. LiteSpeed cache plugin worked well for me when tried it, but the whole site became slower actually.
      Not sure why, but it did.

  2. WP Super Cache that you suggest is an unsupported spaghetti plugin. Why suggest such a plugin?

    1. I suggested WPSC because it has a huge installed base and apparently serious bugs or security issues are/will be fixed. You can ignore 2+ millions of installations easily ….
      Also we commented about the very poor support.
      The WPSC cache plugin works right, it is completely free and that is why we suggested it.
      (not sure what you mean with “spaghetti” plugin.

      1. Litespeed caching plugin slows down the whole site IF page optimizations are enabled. Actually the more options you enable in this plugin, the slower it becomes. This is what happens in most all-in-one plugin, and LS cache is such a plugin.
        If you enable caching only and DISABLE EVERYTHING ELSE, the caching plugin is ok. Same speed as the others caching plugins, at least this is what i saw in a premium shared hosting account.

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