A slow website would mean more waiting and that may increase the bounce rate of your website.
Hence WordPress cache plugins are needed and basically they keep the site as static cache files making them load faster.
Following is the list of WordPress cache plugins:
1. W3 Total Cache
This cache is trusted even by mattcutts.com official spokesperson of Google search algorithm. W3 Total cache comes with a host of features like
- Minify: Minify is used to minimize the css and jquery and javascript load on any website. Minify minimizes and compresses css and jquery so that they load quickly and take lesser space causing a site to load faster.
- CDN: CDN is content delivery network and more info about CDN is given here: https://www.sktthemes.org/WordPress-plugins/WordPress-cdn-providers-options-and-what-is-cdn/
CDN increases the page speed of any website by loading content from faster servers from around the world. CDN is basically used to store heavy content like images, videos etc.
- Mobile support: W3 Total cache supports mobile compatibility and responsiveness and even applies cache for these devices.
- Compatible with all sorts of hosting: It is highly compatible with dedicated, vps as well as with shared hosting. However most of the shared hosting users need cache more due to slow response speed in shared hosting.
- Browser Cache: Browser cache is done so that repeat customers/visitors who visited the site previously can quickly access the site. Browser cache also includes leverage browser caching.
2. WP Super Cache
WP Super Cache has been compared many times with W3 Total Cache. Many ignore it is better than WP Super Cache.
WP Super Cache has been supported by Automattic and they are also the contributing authors in this plugin. Automattic is the same company who brought WordPress to us.
However as per our experience W3 Total Cache has been better of the two for us. But users may try and tell us which one they like better.
Here is one such result comparing W3 Total Cache with WP Super Cache.
3. Quick Cache
Quick Cache is a no fuss WordPress plugin. It is fast doesn’t require too much in terms of configuration and does the job. There is also a pro version for just $15 which provides better cache.
However in WordPress reviews people have complained to have their site broken. Hence recommended for fresh sites. Existing site users please back up before using.
4. WP Fastest Cache
WP Fastest Cache doesn’t require much configuration. However people complain of broken site. Recommended for sites with good speed and just want to use a simple cache system.
5. Lite Cache
Lite Cache as the name suggests is light weight cache plugin. It is easy to use and doesn’t take time to configure. It detects mobiles and applies cache for them as well. This serves good for highly participating blogs where comments take a lot of time to load. Lite Cache keeps comments also in cache making it faster.
6. Cloudflare
Cloudflare even though is a CDN but the free version of it produces static html files of the website which serve as good as a cache. It also reduces spam and bots and helps protect against attackers.
Surely recommended.
7. Hyper Cache Extended
Hyper cache works well when your site is super slow. It works and serves one the static cached page when your site is slow to browse. Hence allowing you to control when to have cache. It allows both plain and gzip compressions as well as compressed storage to reduce disk space.
8. DB Cache Reloaded Fix
This plugin works good. This plugin claims to reduce cpu usage by reducing disk space as well. On some accounts DB Cache Reloaded Fix really works and works real fast on some accounts it doesn’t.
So it is left for users to use it and decide if this cache works for them.
9. WP Fast Cache
Great for normal blog users. It comes with very less complexities and configurations. Only problem is it doesn’t cache or properly work with custom post types. It does cache the normal pages and posts but ignores the custom post types.
Conclusion
If you have a bigger site on WordPress W3 Total Cache is the clear winner and we would recommend it for anyone. In case your site breaks or doesn’t work properly with W3 Total Cache use WP Super Cache.
For small websites with less traffic and moderate speeds and static content mostly Cloudflare does the task well.
For smaller to medium websites who don’t want to take hassle of configurations or aren’t happy with either wp super cache or w3 total cache kindly select among the others like hyper, reloaded, fastest, fast or lite cache.
Let us know which one you are using.