WP Rocket Review: The Best WordPress Caching Plugin for Nutrition Professionals

Discover the power of a caching plugin in this WP Rocket review. Boost your nutrition website’s speed with this powerful tool. Improve user experience and gain an edge in the industry.

*Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links, which means when you sign up or purchase from these links we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. JK Nutrition Consulting is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.  Learn more in our disclosure statement.

In today’s rapid-fire world, no one has time to wait around for a website to load. This can be detrimental for anyone who relies on their website for potential client leads.

Furthermore, search engines like Google give priority to sites with a great user experience. This means having a fast-loading site is a necessity if you want to rank on page one.

So if you are wondering why your website may not be getting any traffic or client leads it could have to due to your website performance. 

For nutrition professionals, it is crucial to have a speedy website. Not only to attract new clients but also to drive traffic from search engines like Google. A fast site will demonstrate your ability to provide quick and effective solutions to their nutrition problems with no waiting time.

You may be wondering, “How do I even know if my website is performing slowly?” One tell-tale sign is a lack of client leads. It indicates people are not staying on your site long enough to learn about how you can help them. 

The sure way of finding out where your website stands is by testing its performance. 

Read on to find out if your site is slugging and how adding the WP Rocket WordPress plugin can rev up your website’s performance making it more enticing to readers and Google.

Why do we need to test website page speeds?

The time it takes for a page to load to a fully functioning website is called the Page speed load time. This is a metric Google likes to use to rank websites on their search engine.

You should be actively testing your website page speeds. The reason for this is that how fast your website loads will have a direct bearing on how many people can find you online.

Search engines like Google rely heavily on site speed when determining which sites will rank at the top of their search engine results page or SERPS.

If Google sees your website loading slowly they will think you stink and then kick you to the bottom of their search results.

This means fewer people will be able to find your Google listing or article. The fewer people that can find you online ultimately means fewer clients. This can have devastating effects on your business! 

Not only will your slow website tick off Google but it could prohibit someone from staying on your site long enough to learn about what you do. 

A slow website will create a poor user experience. According to Google, if a page takes longer than three seconds to load, some is more likely to bounce from your website. This also means less business potential! 

Ultimately, the time it takes for your website to load is what makes or breaks your business.

If you have no idea how your website ranks you need to test your website speeds pronto! The next section goes over how you can find out how your website ranks in speed.

How to test website page speeds

There are a few tests you can use to gauge the speed of your website. The best thing of all they are free to use! The most common speed tests include the following: 

• Google PageSpeed Insights
• GTmetrix
• WebPagetest
• Pingdom Tools

Google PageSpeed Insights

A free valuable tool from Google that provides that measures your website’s page speed is Google PageSpeed Insights (PSI). 

PSI uses Google’s open-source Lighthouse tool to measure how fast your website pages run on both mobile and desktop devices. It provides both lab and field data about how a single page performs. 

Lab data is collected from a controlled environment meaning that it may not always reflect the real-world performance on a page. Despite this, the data is important for identifying performance issues that can then be fixed.

The lab data is useful for debugging any performance issues your site may be experiencing. Field data is necessary to gain insights into how real users experience the website page.

The field data is collected from real users. This means that it provides a more accurate representation of how a page performs in the real world. Additionally, it is more limited in scope than lab data since it only includes data for a few key performance metrics.

This data is powered by Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX). 

Newer websites may not have enough real data and will note “Insufficient real-world data” at the top of the report.

No need to worry though the lab data is still available and is super helpful for showing you any performance issues you may have that need to be fixed. 

The PSI is a valuable tool that allows website owners to get an idea about where a page may be lacking in performance on both mobile and desktop devices. 

Improving performance is key to getting high rankings on Google search results.

GTmetrix

Another tool that provides an analysis of your website’s page speed is GTmetrix. This tool is paid but you can get some of the features for free. It offers what is known as a “waterfall test” to show an overall breakdown of a URL’s performance where all the elements break out like a waterfall. It consists of:

• HTML requests
• Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) requests
• JavaScript requests
• XMLHttpRequest (XHR) requests
• Font requests, including Google fonts
• Image requests
• Other requests

The free version is limited to only a desktop speed (no mobile) and certain locations. If you want more detailed information you will need to upgrade to the paid version.

WebPageTest and Pingdom

I have not personally used WebPageTest or Pingdom, but these are also recommended as good tools to evaluate the speed of your website.

WebPageTest is a free performance tool. In the free version, you can pick your location, whether you want to test mobile or desktop speed, as well as your browser and connection speed.

Pingdom Tools is a paid tool that gives you a detailed analysis of a website’s page speed.

What to do with the results of a page speed test

Once you tested your URL’s page speed, use the results to identify what areas need to be improved. 

Some of the ways that website speed needs to be improved include the following:

• Identify performance blockages
• Prioritize issues
• Optimize your images
• Minifying your code
• Leverage browser caching
• Enable compression
• Reduce server response time (TTFB)
• Minimize redirects
• Optimize critical rendering path
• Using a content delivery network (CDN)
• Review third-party scripts
• Implement lazyloading

Identify Performance Blockages

Looking for specific metrics that may be slowing your site speed. Some things that delay a website are page load time, website responsiveness, and how long it takes for a user to be able to interact with the page.

Prioritize Issues

Focusing first on what is contributing to the overall slow load times and weakening performance.

Optimize Images

Large images can slow down your website. You may need to change file formats as well as compress and resize these images to reduce the file size.

Minifying your code 

Minifying code is a fancy way of saying that you are “minimizing and removing unnecessary characters from your website’s CSS, JavaScript, and HTML code”. It reduces website file size and improves speed.

Leverage browser caching

Another way to improve speed is by storing static website files in a visitor’s browser so they can be quickly retrieved from the browser instead of taking time to download them from the server. This gives a better user experience by speeding up each page of a website.

Enable compression

When a webpage is called upon it sends a message to the server saying it needs files transferred to that person’s web browser. The files can be large and time-consuming slowing down performance. 

Compressing files to a smaller size will improve the time it takes to get from the server to the browser speeding up website load time.

Reduce server response time (TTFB)

Reducing server response time will speed up a site. This is because it will lower the amount of time it takes for a web browser to download web pages from the website’s server.

Minimize redirects

Sometimes a website will need to redirect one URL page to another before it loads. This can be time-consuming and make for a poor user experience. Minimizing the time it takes for a page to redirect from one URL to another can improve speed. 

Optimize critical rendering path

There is a specific path that a web browser goes to convert website code to visual website content. This can be time-consuming so optimizing the process to show the priority content relevant to the user can make for a better site experience.

Using a content delivery network (CDN)

A content delivery network or CDN can help to deliver website content faster to users. This is because they will use a server that is geographically closer to where your user is located.  Using a CDN will improve website load times for those who may live in different parts of the world.

Review third-party scripts

Third-party scripts are pieces of code that come from another party meaning outside of your website. They often add functionality features to a website or application. Some common ones include Google Analytics, marketing, customer support, displaying ads, social media integrations, and chatbots. 

You want to evaluate the effect these have on speed and minimize them if they are affecting page load times.

Implement lazyloading

Lazyloading is a technique that loads parts of a website as they are needed or viewed by the user. This can improve site speed by saving time by loading only critical resources. It can also shorten the length of a critical rendering path.

A caching plugin can fix these problems

Now you know what things need to be fixed on your site, you can start solving these problems with a caching plugin. 

If you’re wondering, “What is a caching plugin?” The next section will give you details on how this handy software can improve page speeds.

What is a caching plugin?

A caching plugin is a piece of software that lets web page files be stored in a temporary location known as the cache. This is usually in the website server’s RAM or hard drive. 

This is an auxiliary memory of website files waiting to be called upon by a user. This way when multiple requests for the same website page to be shown they will pull from the cache instead of going back to the server over and over again.

Using the cache instead of the server will save time and improve website page load times.

WordPress Caching

Normally when a user visits a page on your WordPress site, WordPress will generate the page in real-time. Since this involves many requests (querying the database, executing PHP scripts, and loading CSS and JavaScript files) it can be quite time-consuming especially if someone has a slow internet speed.

WordPress caching plugins can prevent this from happening. Similar to regular caching software, these plugins stockpile WordPress pages, posts, and other content. It puts all the static files in the cache and then pulls them up from that location when there are website page requests.

There are a few different types of WordPress caching. They include: 

• Page caching: the most common, stores static copies of WordPress pages
• Object caching: stores static copies of objects such as posts, pages, and comments
• Database caching” stores static copies of your WordPress database queries
• Content delivery network (CDN) caching: stores static copies of your WordPress content on a content delivery network

How does a caching plugin work?

A caching plugin can improve website speed by doing the following:

• Page caching
• Minify code
• Browser caching
• Content delivery network (CDN) integration
• Database optimization
• Object caching
• Gzip compression
• Lazyloading
• Expires headers
• Prefetching

Page caching

As we stated above, caching plugins will store static web pages in a location where they can be easily pulled up when it is requested. This will put less pressure on the server processing time and shorten page load times.

Minify code

Caching helps to condense and minimize CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files. This removes any unnecessary stuff that will slow down how fast the content is delivered to the user.

Browser caching

This tells a web browser to store website files locally. This way returning visitors can load images and files quicker than if they need to be pulled from the server.

Content delivery network (CDN) integration

A caching plugin works with the CDN to use a server location that is closer to the user. This reduces request delays and improves page load times.

Database optimization

Stores and enhances database queries to reduce how long a website takes to retrieve and display information. This is great for websites with a lot of dynamic content.

Object caching

Takes pressure off the server to process data by caching database queries and PHP objects.

GZIP compression

Compresses website files before sending them to the browser. This reduces how much data is being moved, thus increasing load times.

Lazyloading

Prevents images from being downloaded until they need to be seen. Prevents the use of unnecessary resources and speeds up page performance.

Expires headers

Tags on the backend of a website showing when certain web resources such as images need to be refreshed. The browser will then cache resources, reducing the server requests and speeding up webpage load times.

Prefetching

This feature predicts when a user is likely to request a web page and pre-loads the resources so they will load quickly.

These features are what make a caching plugin speedily deliver web content and how they improve page load times.

Do you need a caching plugin on your website?

If you have a slow-loading WordPress site then implementing a caching plugin may help to speed up performance.

Other factors that determine if you need a caching plugin include the following: 

• Size and traffic of your website
• Type of content on your website
• Your budget

A small website with low traffic may not need a caching plugin. However, if you are looking to rank on Google and want to grow your traffic you want to have the best speed possible. So think about getting a caching plugin.

A larger website with high traffic needs a caching plugin to enhance performance.

Any site with a lot of dynamic content meaning you have a lot of blogs, forums, and e-commerce stores, should implement a caching plugin. This is because this type of content will slow down load times. Caching can help speed up these pages.

The cost of the caching plugin will also determine your need for this software. Some are free, but they may come with limitations and you need to opt for the paid level. Depending on how much you can afford will also determine what caching plugin you choose.

If website speed is crucial for your business then implementing this plugin can be beneficial.

Benefits of a caching plugin

If you’re on the fence about a caching plugin this section will give you details on why a caching plugin might benefit your business.

A caching plugin is essential for improving website page speed. It

• Reduces server time
• Minimizes server load
• Pre-loads pages from the browser 
• Delivers cached content quickly to the user
• Potential to save money

Having a fast website will make viewers happy and turn them into potential clients. When visitors don’t need to wait forever to see your website will give them more incentive to stay on your website for longer.

This will help them understand how you can solve their nutrition problems and incentivize them to become a client.

You will also be able to get better rankings on search engines like Google. The more you rank on page one the more likely visible your website is and the more likely people are to click on your website.

The more people that come to your site the more you need your content to be brought up faster and serve a large number of requests without slowing the site.

A caching plugin also prevents the server from spending too much on generating resources from scratch. They store them to be pulled easily.

Speedy websites can also reduce the pressure on the server which may help you save money especially sites that with a lot of traffic volume.

Adding a caching plugin may not only significantly enhance website performance causing faster load times, but it can also heighten user satisfaction, and improve search engine rankings.

Types of caching plugins

There are many different caching plugins available for WordPress. Some of the most popular include:

WP Rocket*: A premium caching plugin known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive performance optimization features.

Cache Enabler: A lightweight caching plugin for WordPress that offers simplicity and efficiency, ideal for basic caching needs.

LiteSpeed Cache: An advanced caching plugin designed to work specifically with LiteSpeed servers, providing powerful optimization capabilities.

WP Super Cache: A popular and free caching plugin for WordPress, offering various caching methods and easy setup for improved website performance.

W3 Total Cache: A feature-rich caching plugin that supports various caching methods, content delivery network (CDN) integration, and advanced performance optimization for WordPress websites.

How to choose a caching plugin

Choosing the choosing a caching plugin there are some things to consider: 

• Ease of Use
• Features
• Compatibility
• Performance
• Support for Dynamic Content
• Scalability
• Integration with Content Delivery Network (CDN)
• Reviews and Ratings
• Updates and Support
• Performance Testing
• Cost

Ease of Use

Opt for a caching plugin with a user-friendly interface and easy setup process to ensure smooth implementation.

Features

Assess the features offered by the plugin, such as page caching, minification, browser caching, and compatibility with Content Delivery Networks (CDNs).

Compatibility

Ensure the plugin is compatible with your WordPress version and other plugins on your site to prevent conflicts and ensure seamless operation.

Performance

Look for performance optimization features like Gzip compression, lazyloading, and database optimization to enhance overall website speed.

Support for dynamic content

Choose a caching plugin that allows you to exclude specific dynamic content, such as comments and real-time updates, ensuring functionality remains intact.

Scalability

Consider the scalability of the plugin, especially if your website is expected to grow. It should handle increased traffic and content without compromising performance.

Integration with Content Delivery Networks (CDN)s

If you use a Content Delivery Network (CDN), ensure the caching plugin integrates well with it to optimize content delivery across multiple servers globally.

Reviews and Ratings

Check user reviews and ratings to gauge the effectiveness and reliability of the caching plugin based on the experiences of other WordPress users.

Updates and Support

Choose a plugin that receives regular updates to stay compatible with the latest WordPress versions and offers reliable customer support in case of issues.

Performance Testing

Before finalizing a caching plugin, conduct performance tests to measure its impact on your website’s speed and overall performance.

Cost

Consider your budget and whether the plugin offers a free version with essential features or if you need to invest in a premium version for advanced capabilities.

By carefully evaluating these factors, you can choose a WordPress caching plugin that aligns with your website’s specific needs and contributes to improved performance.

What is the WP Rocket Plugin?

One caching WordPress plugin to consider is WP Rocket*.

In my opinion, one of the best WordPress cache plugins is WP Rocket*. That is why I have put this WP Rocket plugin review outlining what it is, what it features and how it works, how to install and use it, how it worked for me as well as pricing and any pros and cons.

The WProcket plugin is a user-friendly WordPress caching plugin that significantly increases up your website page speed with just a few easy steps.

With just a few tweaks you will have an optimized website in no time. This plugin is great no matter what type of website you are running. It works on personal, small business, e-commerce, or corporate sites.

Key features of WP Rocket

WP Rocket* is a plugin that offers a lot of features. Some of the key features include:

Page Caching	Browser Caching
Object Caching	Cache Preloading
Content Delivery Network (CDN) Integration	Code minification/concatenation
Custom cache lifespan	Database optimization
Defer Javascript	Delaying Javascript
DNS Prefetching	Exclude content from cache
GZIP compression	Heartbeat Control
LazyLoading	Mobile detection and caching
Sitemap preloading	Static resource caching

Page caching

After a user visits a website for the first time WP Rocket* enables a website to store selected page content known as static files. Having content stored on the browser will reduce the time calling up the server and deliver content quicker the next time that person visits the website. 

This will also increase website page load times.

WP Rocket* also lets you control what pages are cached and exclude any content you do not want to be stored.

Browser caching

Like page caching, browser caching will store static website resources like images and files in a user’s web browser when the website is first visited. WP Rocket* enables files to be stored in a user’s browser so the next time a user visits the webpage the files do not need to be pulled from the server. 

This will also ensure a faster loading time from that website. 

Object caching

WP Rocket* offers object caching. This is when frequently accessed WordPress objects are stored as static files in the cache that can be pulled up quickly. Objects include posts, pages, and comments.

This reduces how often the server is called on to retrieve this content, enhancing the speed and efficiency of a WordPress website.

Cache preloading

Another feature of WP Rocket* is cache preloading. This is when WP Rocket automatically crawls your website to see any updates. It will make sure the cache is up to date and then preload the pages of your website. 

When pages are preloaded it minimizes the time users spend waiting to see the content on your site. 

CDN Compatibility

This plugin is also able to easily integrate with a content delivery network (CDN). A CDN is a network of servers that are connected and located geographically. They can pull website data and store it locally close to where the user is located. 

This is great because if your host server is far from the user then they will end up with slow page loading times. Incorporating the CDN will increase how fast a website loads.

WP Rocket* works with most CDNs including Cloudflare, Amazon Cloudfront, KeyCDN, and MaxCDN. They also have a premium CDN called RocketCDN*. For an extra monthly or annual fee that is configured for speed.  

Code minification/concatenation

Another important aspect of WP Rocket* is code minification and concatenation. Minification is a fancy way of saying shrinking files. It will remove unused and unnecessary characters and whitespace from website file code without messing with its functionality. 

On the other hand, concatenation is the act of combining multiple types of files into one single unit. 

So together these features help to improve performance by reducing server requests and overall page size through optimizing website files, reducing file size, and minimizing bloat.

Minification and concatenation are done on various types of code including HTML, JavaScript, and CSS files.

Custom cache lifespan

The custom cache lifespan in WP Rocket* will give you the ability to set the maximum amount of time you want a page to be stored in the cache.

Every hour WP Rocket* will check the cache files’ creation time and if it detects the content in the cache file is “older” than the current Cache Lifespan value then it will delete it and recreate a new file to hold in the cache. 

This will only happen if the Preload option is enabled. 

The default value for the Cache Lifespanc is 10 hours. However, sometimes you may want to set a longer lifespan since WP Rocket* will automatically delete files in the cache after website content is updated.

So this means if you are updating posts WP Rocket will be able to detect this and refill the cache with the new content. No need to do it yourself! Though if you want to change the time of the lifespan you can also do that.

Except for minified files, any cache files that are removed after the Cache Lifespan check will be located in a special folder at /wp-content/cache/wp-rocket/yourdomain.com/.  You can find minifed files in the /wp-content/cache/min/1/ folder.

Database Optimization

Every WordPress site has a database. This is a collection of data used to store and manage various types of information related to the website. It includes posts and pages, comments, as well as information about the registered users on the site. 

WP Rocket* can optimize your database with their database optimization tool. This means it can remove any unnecessary data from your database. It can get rid of things such as spam comments and things that are sitting in the trash.

A bloated database can slow down page speed so using an optimization tool like WP Rocket is great for cleaning it up. It reduces the size of the website’s database. A website with a smaller database will have faster page load times.

A smaller database will also have fewer server requests amping up the page speed instead. 

You can have WP Rocket regularly clean the database with their scheduled database cleaning. Or if you can do it manually at your leisure.

Defer Javascript (JSS)

Sometimes you want to wait to load certain files. That is where the Defer Javascript feature in WP Rocket* comes in handy.

When you “Load JavaScript deferred” on your WP Rocket plugin it will wait to load all the JavaScript files until after the website page is fully loaded and visible to the user. 

Prolonging the time to load the files will speed up the page and create a perception that the page is loading faster for the user.

Delaying Javascript (JSS)

Another way WP Rocket* improves Javascript files is with its “Delay javascript execution.” This feature delays JavaScript files from loading until the user interacts with a page such as clicking or scrolling over content. 

This feature can be enabled in the plugin settings. When it is turned on it will automatically defer the loading of any nonessential content. JavaScript files will not be loaded until the website gets a click or scroll.

Delaying files will improve website page load time by reducing how much content needs to be loaded when a user first visits your website. This feature will also reduce the use of bandwidth and improve the user experience thanks to its fast responsiveness.

Delaying some JSS files may cause an issue if a user needs to initially see them. Thankfully there is a section on the settings to add any files that you do not want to be delayed when the page is initially loading.

DNS prefetching

WP Rocket* also allows DNS prefetching. DNA stands for Domain Name System. This is a record that tells a domain how internet traffic should flow for that particular domain or URL.

DNS prefetching is when WP Rocket fetches DNS records ahead of when they are needed. It will guess that users are going to click on links. So the actual time to resolve the DNS instruction is less than if it did not prefetch it.  This prevents delays in page loading, and speeds up the website, thus offering a better user experience.

Exclude content from cache

WP Rocket* can completely exclude certain files from being stored in the cache. This “exclude content from cache” feature gives you the ability to pick particular pages and prevent certain parts of pages from being cached. 

This is great for any content that is frequently updated on your website like login pages or contact forms.

It is important to note that when excluding content you stick with things that require frequent updates to prevent any pages from loading slowly. 

If you have a website where you require a user to log in then you want to make sure they see the latest version of the page. So you want to use “never cache cookies” for these pages. Pages that are accessible to specific users should utilize the “never cache user roles” to restrict access for others. 

This is a very powerful tool, but it is also important to note that it may hinder website performance so you want to periodically monitor the impact it page load times.

GZIP compression

Compression is a necessary component of speeding up a website. That is why the WP Rocket* GZIP compression tool is so beneficial when looking to enhance website performance.

This feature allows WPRocket to compress the website’s CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files. In turn, the amount of data that needs to be moved between the server and a user’s website browser will be reduced. Less data means a faster website.

Once activated, WP Rocket compresses files before they are sent to the browser. File size gets reduced and site speed increases.

Heartbeat API control 

The Heartbeat API control in WP Rocket* is a feature that gives you the ability to manage or control the frequency of the WordPress Heartbeat API. 

The Heartbeat API is a WordPress feature that enables real-time communication between a server and the browser such as providing live updates in the WordPress admin dashboard and communicating with logged-in users in the background of the site. 

Since the Heartbeat API can cause a lot of server usage, WP Rocket has come up with a solution to control this function by allowing you to adjust the frequency of requests from the Heartbeat API. This will reduce server usage and improve website speed. 

There is also the ability to completely disable the Heartbeat API, this should be done with caution since it may affect real-time communication and features in the WordPress admin.

Managing the Heartbeat API with WP Rocket will help you find a balance between lowering server requests and getting adequate information and updates.

Lazyloading

One of my favorite features in WP Rocket* is lazyloading. This is when WP Rocket waits to load images, videos, and iframes until the user interacts with it. This will improve overall page load time and tell how much data is moved through the network. 

When a user first accesses your site it will selectively load media as a visitor scrolls reducing the amount of resources needed to load the page. This will amp up the page load times making your site appear faster to users.

Mobile detection and caching

WP Rocket*’s mobile detection and caching feature offers separate storage for mobile and desktop devices. How it works is that the plugin detects a user is bringing the website up on a mobile device.

So it will deliver a separate cache that is optimized for mobile use. Having a special cache for mobile and desktop use will give a better user experience and speed up page load times.

Additionally, if there are any devices that you do not want to be cached you can add them to the “Never cache user agents list” in the WP Rockets Advanced Rules tabs in the settings. 

Sitemap preloading

WP Rocket* can tell search engines about your website pages so they can be indexed more quickly. This is called sitemap preloading. This will improve your website rankings in search results.

It will also reduce the time a search engine spends crawling your site so there is more time for other tasks. Improvements in user experience can also occur when this setting is enabled.

When the sitemap preloading feature is turned on, WP Rocket will automatically find all the web pages on your site and send a request to search engines to preload a file listing out these URLs known as a sitemap.

There can also sometimes be issues with this sitemap preloading. It could interfere with the functionality of your site. If you have custom sitemaps it may not work properly. 

If you notice there is an issue after adjusting this section you can disable this function. You also can exclude specific pages and sitemap URLs from being preloaded. Simply add them to the box in the WP Rocket settings. 

Static resource caching

WP Rocket* can store content that doesn’t change without user interactions such as images, fonts, and CSS, JavaScript, or HTML files. The caching of these static resources will improve website speed and user performance by reducing how often the server is called to load these files.

Additional features of WP Rocket

In addition to the key features, WP Rocket* offers some additional helpful features such as

• e-Commerce friendly
• Google fonts optimization
• Multilingual compatibility
• Multisite Compatibility.

e-Commerce friendly

WP Rocket* can pair effortlessly with e-commerce plugins like WooCommerce, Easy Digital Download, iThemes Exchange, Jigoshop, and WP-Shop. It will automatically detect and exclude these storefront pages from being cached. This ensures users can view an updated cart and check out details so the business can run as usual without any disruptions.

Google fonts optimization

Certain Google fonts may slow down a website. WP Rocket*’s Google fonts optimization feature will detect if Google fonts are found on your website and then reduce server requests to make the text load faster. 

This feature is automatically enabled so no need to check if your site is using Google fonts.

If you find this interferes with your theme you can also deactivate this option. Details on how to do this can be found on WP Rocket’s website.

Multilingual compatibility

WP Rocket* can work with multilingual websites. It ensures that all the caching and optimization features that work on an English site are compatible with popular multilingual WordPress plugins. 

So if you have a website that is in multiple languages you can still have the ability to get optimal performance.

If any questions come up with your particular website it is best to reach out to WP Rocket for more support.

Multisite compatibility

If you are using multiple websites under the umbrella of one big site, WP Rocket* offers the ability to speed up all of these sites.

If you have multiple sites under one domain then you can use the one license, however, if you have different domains under the major site then you need to get a WP Rocket multi-license.

You also want to activate each website individually to avoid having issues on all sites.

How to install, activate, and use the WP Rocket plugin 

Now you know what WP Rocket* can offer here is a breakdown of how you can install and use the plugin:

• Check your page speed
• Purchase and download the plugin
• Install the WP Rocket plugin
• Activate the WP Rocket plugin
• Run an ON/OFF test
• Check page speeds with third-party tools 
• Configure WP Rocket settings to enhance speed
• Test and validate the plugin
• Clear the cache when needed
• Monitor and optimize regularly

Check your website’s page speed

Before you start using WP Rocket* it is best to check your website’s page speed using the tests mentioned above.

Purchase and download the plugin

First, you need to purchase a license. Go to the WP Rocket website* and click the “buy WP Rocket button” in the top right-hand corner of the website.

It will take you down to the part of the page where you can pick your license. If you have just one website click on the “single” license. If you have 3 or more websites click the “Plus” license. If you have more than 3 websites you want to use WP Rocket* on then click on the “Infinite licenses.”

Once you pick your license it will bring up a payment page where you can input your credit card or PayPal information to purchase the plugin.

Once you have all the information filled out you can click the “Place Order” button. You will get an email confirming your order.

Then you need to go to your account*. There you will see a button on the left-hand side of the screen that says “Download WP Rocket.” Click that button to download the WP Rocket plugin to your computer.

It will open up your computer and you can pick where you want to save the file. Pick the location where you want to save the file for the plugin. Then click the “save” button.

Once you click “save” the WP Rocket* plugin file will show up saved to your computer.

After you save the plugin file you can then move on to the installation process.

Install the WP Rocket plugin

To install the WP Rocket* plugin you need to login to your WordPress dashboard and scroll down to where it says “plugins.” 

Click the “plugins” button and then hit the “add new” button at the top of the screen. 

This will bring up a new screen that shows a list of plugins. At the top it says “Add New” and there is a button next to these words that says “Upload Plugin.” Click that button

From there you will click the button that says “Choose file.”

It will open the computer and you should see the WP Rocket* file. Click it so it’s highlighted and then click the “open” button.

It will go back to your WordPress dashboard plugin page showing a screen with the WP Rocket* file. Next to the file name will be a button that says “Install Now.” Click that button.

A new screen will open showing a button that says “Activate Plugin.” Click that button to activate the plugin.

The plugin will begin to unpack and install.

Once it’s done installing it will go back to the plugin page. At the top, it will show a message saying “WP Rocket is good to go!”

Activate the WP Rocket plugin

According to their website, once installed and activated, WP Rocket* should integrate more than 80% of web performances automatically. This is without any additional tweaks to the system. 

So you may want to check your page load times BEFORE and after simply installing and activating WP Rocket.

If you are still in the red on Google PageSpeed Insights there are additional settings you can configure in WP Rocket to amp up load times.

One thing to note is that it is important to SAVE any changes and check page speed EVERY time you configure a new setting. 

This will help you get the most out of the plugin and prevent any potential website problems.

Run an ON/OFF test with WP Rocket’s default settings

Once you have the plugin activated you can run an ON/OFF test to see how WP Rocket’s default settings are working on your site. This can be done by adding a specific query to the end of a URL of your website.

Take any regular post or page URL such as https://example.com/your-page-or-blog-post/ and then after the last slash (/) add “?nowprocket” without the quotation marks. For example it will be:

https://example.com/your-page-or-blog-post/?nowprocket

Adding ?nowprocket to the URL will give you the plain WordPress page or post without the WP Rocket caching.

You want to put both of these into speed tests so you can see how your site is initially optimized. Learn more in this article.

Check page speeds with third-party tools

From there, you want to also run more third-party speed tests on various pages that are first optimized by the activation of WP Rocket*. This will give you insight into what other changes may need to be tweaked to get your site scoring high on Google’s PageSpeed Insights and other testing tools like GTmetrix and Pingdom Tools.

Configure WP Rocket settings to enhance speed

Once you see your page speed test scores you can further configure WP Rocket* to enhance speed.

You can find the WP Rocket* plugin settings when you scroll down to where it says “Settings” on your WordPress admin dashboard. When you hover over the settings you will see a list pop open that is listed alphabetically. 

Towards the bottom, it will say “WP Rocket.” Click that button.

You will now see a dashboard for WP Rocket* with a welcome message saying that WP Rocket is activated. On the left, there is a list of sections where you can make further customizations. They include: 

• Cache
• File optimization
• Media
• Preload
• Advanced rules

• Database 
• CDN
• Heartbeat
• Add-ons
• Tools
• Tutorials

This dashboard will also have a list of articles on “Getting Started” and “Frequently Asked Questions.” If you are having trouble coming up with answers in these articles you can also reach out to WP Rocket’s support staff.

Though initially, WP Rocket will optimize your website there are additional settings you can customize to help fix any problems that are listed in your Page Speed Insight results.

Cache settings configuration

Once installed WP Rocket will automatically set up the page caching but there are some additional settings you can configure the “Cache” setting on your WP Rocket dashboard.

There are three parts to it:

• Mobile cache
• User cache
• Cache lifespan

Mobile cache

The cache tab will be defaulted to enable the “Mobile Cache.” No need to change this because you want your mobile site to be cached. 

Below that it says “Separate cache files for mobile devices.” This box does not need to be checked because most newer themes do not need a separate cache for mobile devices. 

However, if you have a desiccated mobile them or plugin you want to click this box. 

User cache

The next section is “User Cache.” This section should be unchecked unless you have a membership site where you have users logging on for specific content that is not on your regular site.

This feature will one cache for those who are not logged in and also generate individual cache files for each logged-in user. 

The “User Cache” should be used with caution as it may show logged-in content to logged-out users and vice versa. A third-party helper plugin like The Query Monitor* can be used to modify the rules and help with any problems.

You can also disable the cache for logged-in users.

Cache Lifespan

The last section on the Cache tab is “The Cache Lifespan.” This is automatically set for 10 hours. This means that files will be stored for 10 hours. After that time they are deleted and the cache is cleared. 

WP Rocket will scan the website for the new content and resave it in the cache for another 10 hours.

I have chosen to extend the cache lifespan to 24 hours because I do not update my website more than a few times a week. This amount of time will also put fewer requests on my server optimizing performance. 

You can start with 10 hours and see how it affects your website and change as needed.

File optimization

While GZIP compression file optimization is automatically enabled when WP Rocket is first installed there may be some additional tweaks you can make to pass the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), the First Input Delay (FID), and the Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) on the Google PageSpeed Insights test.

The file optimization section is where you optimize files.  There are 2 sections: 

• CSS Files
• Javascript Files

Minify and Optimize CSS

The CSS files section gives you the option to minify and/or optimize these files. 

CSS minification means the WP Rocket can strip out the whitespace and comments of CSS files to reduce file size without messing with website functionality or design.

Be sure to make only one change at a time and then retest your page speed. There is also the chance these changes could break your site. So proceed with caution and change anything back if you find it causes problems.

Minification should improve loading time, performance, and the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP time on PageSpeed Insights.

Click the box and hit the “Save changes” button. Then check your website and page speed to see if anything changed.

If there are any files you want to exclude from minfication you can put them in the box under where it says “Excluded CSS Files.” List one CSS file URL per line.

The “optimize CSS delivery” section will stop your website from loading unnecessary CSS files at the top of the website. This will help to speed up loading time and help your website pass the “eliminate render-blocking resources” test on Google PageSpeed Insights.

Click the box and hit the “Save changes” button. Then check your website and page speed to see if anything changed.

This section also gives you the option to Remove Unused CSS or Load CSS Asynchronously. The recommendation for optimal performance is “Remove Unused CSS.” 

You can also add a list of CSS files that should not be removed.

Click the box and hit the “Save changes” button. Then check your website and page speed to see if anything changed.

JavaScript File Optimization

The JavaScript files section gives you the option to

• Minify
• Combine
• Exclude 
• Load

Minify and Combine JavaScript files

Minify javascript files work the same as for the CSS files above. When you click the “minify” button it will give you a warning that it may break your site. You can then hit the “Activate Minify Javascript.” and save the changes.

Then be sure to check if there are problems with your site. It will bring up a screen showing the button is clicked and your site is minifying Javascript files.

The combine JavaScript files option does exactly what it sounds like, combine the JavaScript files into one single file. 

This reduces the number of requests on your site increasing the speed and performance. This option is used only with sites that use HTTP/1 and NOT HTTP/2. 

If you’re not sure what type of website you have you can check for HTTP/2. 

My websites support HTTP/2 and that is why I have not used this option.

This option is also disabled when delaying JavaScript execution is enabled for best compatibility.

Load JavaScript Deferred

The “Load JavaScript deferred” feature in WP Rocket will also help to improve the “Eliminate render-blocking resources” problem in your page speed score.

This setting allows JavaScript files even minifed ones to load at the bottom of the page or deferring them completely. This will prevent files that take a lot of time to download from slowing down load times.

This section also offers the ability to exclude any files that may need to be excluded from being deferred to help with functionality.

Delay JavaScript Execution

The “Delay JavaScript execution” feature will help solve the problem of “Reduce unused JavaScript” in Googe PageSpeed Insights. 

It is the last feature in the File Optimization section and helps performance by doing what its name implies “delaying” JavaScript files and inline scripts until there is actual user interaction (scrolling, clicking, or keying into the website).

This is similar to the LazyLoad feature but for JavaScript files specifically. This is great for improving Google’s page speed requirements. 

After clicking the “delay JavaScript box” there is a list of “One-click exclusions.” Anything that is clicked will not be delayed if it needs to be viewed immediately on your site. 

Some JavaScript elements that I have opted to exclude include Google Analytics, the Plugin Complianz, and files related to my website theme.

The reason that I exclude Google Analytics is because I do not want to lose any potential tracking data. If a user leaves the page before the scripts load it could lead to miscalculations on website traffic.

Additionally, Google Analytics data is very important so you want to make sure it is not delayed.

Some regulations stipulate specific data collection practices so delaying Google Analytics could get you in trouble.

I have excluded the files for rel* plugin to comply with GDPR standards. This blocks third-party scripts until the users consent to cookie notices on a website. 

Delaying these files can affect the loading of cookies even after consent and also impact website performance. Potential problems like functionality, website speed, or interference from WP Rocket itself. 

It is not advised to delay files for this or any other GDPR plugin.

Another set of files that I excluded from being delayed were my website theme files. Delaying the Astra* them and the plugin may slow down your site and make it less user-friendly.

Instead, remove non-essential elements like social media widgets.

If your theme is slowing your website down it may be beneficial to look into a lightweight mobile-optimized theme like Astra*. 

If the tech stuff is too over your head you can also hire a developer for help.

There is also a box where you can type in any JavaScript files you want to exclude from being delayed. So if you find any issues with certain third-party JavaScript files being combined you can exclude them. 

Simply type the URL into the box with one per line.  If you are unsure if you need to include any files you can use the WP Rocket guide.

Media settings

There are 2 parts of the “Media” settings: 

• LazyLoad
• Image Dimensions

LazyLoad

The lazyload feature will delay the loading of certain images and videos on your website until they need to be displayed to the user. Normally, images and videos that are at the top and below the fold (the visible part of the screen) will start to load simultaneously.

This can cause slowdowns in page load time making your site seem slow to the user. The implementation of LazyLoad will start loading images at the top first and then load other image content on your site at a different time.

This will address The PageSpeed Insights recommendation to “defer offscreen images” and increase website speed.  As well as create a better experience for the user.

There are 4 parts to the LazyLoad section: 

• Enable for images
• Enable CSS for background images
• Enable for iFrames and video
• Exclusions box

Enable for images

When you click the “enable for images” box and hit save your website will then automatically load images at different times. Usually, the bottom images are after the top images have loaded.

Enable CSS for background images

The “enable CSS for background images” is a newer feature in the WP Rocket 3.15 release. This is a LazyLoad for CSS background images which will delay the loading of the background images until they need to be shown. 

This is automated and specifically covers CSS files without any need for extra work specifying specific instructions. It is important to note there have been some issues with this function. Especially with third-party CSS files which could affect the Time to First Byte (TTFB) in the Google PageSpeed Insight test. 

Enable for iFrames and video

You will only click the third box “enable for iFrames and video” if you have videos on your website. Otherwise, you can leave it unchecked. 

When you click this box another box will pop up saying “Replace YouTube iframe with preview image.” Clicking this box will replace the actual video with an iframe tag and default YouTube thumbnail. This will save time to keep the video from being automatically loaded. 

Instead, the video will not be loaded until the user clicks on the thumbnail. Then the video will play. This can only happen if the 1st box “enable for images is clicked” so be sure to do that first.

Exclusion box

The last part under the LazyLoad section is the exclusion box. Sometimes there can be issues where you want an image or video to load and need to exclude it. Or there can be an issue with the site after you save these settings due to third-party plugins or third-party CSS files. 

If you encounter any issues after making changes to LazyLoad you can exclude photos in the blank box or contact WP Rocket for more troubleshooting help.

It is important to make changes to the LazyLoad first and then see how the changes have affected your site and page speed. Then move on to the “Image Dimensions” section.

Image dimensions

The second part of the Media Settings is the “Image Dimensions” section. This section will add missing image dimensions such as missing width and height attributes to images. 

When browsers get information for loading images on the page it may cause images to shift around and mess up the page layout. This function prevents that from happening improving the reader experience.

This is a core element needed to pass Google’s Page speed tests so it is important to have this under control. It will scan images on a web page to see if they have specific width and height dimensions. If no information exists it will add the missing information so the site looks pretty to users.

If you notice any issues after adding this feature there is a way to exclude specific images. Check out this guide on WP Rocket for more information.

Preload settings

There are 4 sections to the preload setting on WP Rocket. They include: 

• Preload cache
• Preload links
• Prefetch DNS Requests
• Preload fonts

Preload cache

Like the Media settings, you want to implement each one of these separately, save the changes, and then check your site for any visual changes, and check the site speed tests.

The “Preload Cache” section has a box that says “activate preload” Click that box and hit save.

When you enable preloading WP Rocket will be able to automatically find your website’s sitemaps and save all of these URLs to the database. Then WP Rocket will make sure your cache is always preloaded.

The plugin will make sure that your cache is always preloaded. This will ensure a fast loading speed even from the first time someone comes to your website. 

Clicking the “activate preload” box will create a full preload. This is the standard setting and will preload the cache for the homepage and any pages it thinks that a user is interested in seeing automatically. It will exclude admin as well as login/logout pages.

A full preload includes all URLs in a sitemap that are outlined by a third-party sitemap like Yoast SEO. If there is no plugin it will use the WordPress default sitemap and detect those URLs. Any URLs that are not in the sitemap but have received a visit from a user will also be included.

Once clicked preloading is initiated whenever there are saved changes that affect the front-end of the website changes in the WP Rocket plugin. If the “clear and preload cache” button in the admin toolbar is clicked preloading will be set off.

Preload links

The Preload links feature improves user experience by appearing to improve page load times. This is because when a user hovers or touches a link for at least 100 milliseconds or more it will anticipate the user clicking the link. WP Rocket will preload the link in the background. 

That way when the user actually clicks the link it will appear to load faster. One thing to note is that this feature does not affect PageSpeed scores. However, it is still important because it gives a better user experience.

Preload links are automatically applied to all pages and links. If you want to exclude any links you need to manually exclude these URLs. This needs to be done in the backend of the website’s theme function PHP file or you can download the WP Rocket | Regex Exclusions plugin. 

WP Rocket’s preload font feature replaces the need for other preload link plugins like Instant.page, Flying Pages Quicklink, and MemberPress Developer Tools. If you use WP Rocket you need to deactivate them before using the preload links feature.

Prefetch DNS

The Prefetch DNA Requests feature helps to optimize content on your site that comes from third-party websites such as fonts loaded from Google or a video from YouTube. The way it does this is by adding the original domain when there is a Domain Name Server (DNS) request are being made from the user’s computer.

If you have content on your website that is hosted on another website the user’s browser will need to get those files from that other domain. That can take some time to load and slow page speed. 

Prefetching DNS will request the content ahead of time before the file is actually called on. This way it will be completed quicker than if the website calls the request when it is literally made. So ultimately, the web page load time will increase.

To activate Prefetch DNS all you need to do is list out the URL with the original domain of the third-party file. You want to make sure you remove the “HTTP” or “HTTPS” and just leave the double slash. 

This feature does not eliminate the recommendation for “Reduce DNS Lookups” found in page speed results like GT Metrix. This is done by reducing how much third-party content on a website. 

So if you are getting a performance error regarding too many DNS requests you may need to eliminate some third-party content on your site. WP Rocket has a guide on why minimizing third-party content is the best way to improve website speeds.

Preload fonts

Just like the cache, the fonts on your website should be preloaded. Fonts can take some time to load so preloading them will improve page speeds.

This function will also fix the “Preload Key Requests” recommendation in PageSpeed Insights.

When this feature is activated it will signal to the user’s web browser to start downloading fonts earlier than it would if the feature is not activated. Those fonts with a CSS file are also identified and preloaded.

To use this function you want to type out the URLs of the fonts you want to be preloaded in the box provided under the Preload settings. Only include the fonts that are hosted on your website or your CDN’s domain. Google fonts will be optimized automatically.

These fonts can be found in the results of the Google PageSpeed Insights. Once you run a test for a URL search the page for “Preload Key Requests” and it will give you information on the URL fonts to include in the Preload fonts box.

Copy and paste them into the box, hit save, and then retest your page speed to check for improvements.

As always see how this feature affects your site. If you have any problems or further performance issues it is best to not use this feature.

Advanced rules settings

In the advanced rules settings, you can fine-tune the rules for the cache. There are 5 parts: 

• Never Cache URL(s)
• Never Cache Cookies
• Never Cache User Agent(s)
• Always Purge URL(s)
• Cache Query String(s)

Never cache URL(s) 

WP Rocket gives you the option to exclude certain pages from being cached. This can be done by simply typing in the URLs you want to exclude from being stored. If you have multiple URLs to exclude put each of them on a line.

Typically sensitive pages like custom login/logout URLs should be excluded from the cache. However, you have the option to add any URLs that you want to exclude.

Just note that this may affect performance issues on those pages.

Never cache cookies

There is a feature in WP Rocket that prevents caching and optimization for specific cookies. This “Never Cache Cookies” function helps prevent caching on shopping carts.

Cookie IDs can be found by checking out the eCommerce plugin’s information or using developer tools. WP Rocket has details about this on their website.

Never cache User Agent(s)

The Never Cache User Agent(s) feature in WP Rocket* will help prevent cached and optimized pages from being shown on specific devices and browsers. 

If you have a page that you want to not be shown on certain operating systems. For example, you can prevent a page from being shown on mobile devices or a Safari browser. 

Simply type in the name of the browser or device as the example is shown on the WP Rocket settings. 

Be careful using this feature as it could prevent caching on devices and browsers where you may want your website content to be stored. This can result in some performance issues. WP Rocket has a guide on how to troubleshoot any problems that may arise. 

Always Purge URL(s)

With the “Always Purge URL(s)” feature WP Rocket* lets users clear the cache whenever a specific page or post is updated. Simply type n the URL or URLs you want to be purged when they are updated.  This feature will also delete any outdated content related to that URL on other pages.

Multiple pages can be noted with the use of a wildcard (.*) at the end of the URL.  The Always Purge URL(s) function may not work with all hosting platforms where WP Rocket’s page caching feature is disabled.

You may also need to include a trailing slash (/)  in the URL depending on your permalink structure. If your URLs have this then remember to include it on the URLs you type into the “Always Purge URL(s)” box.

Cache Query String(s)

A query string is a part of a URL that contains data that is passed on to a web server. It comes after a question mark (?) and usually includes a specific piece of information known as a parameter. It provides additional details or instructions for the web page. 

For example in the URL example “example.com/page/?country=italy,” the query string is “country=italy.” “Country” is the parameter and “Italy” is its value.

So the Cache Query String(s) function on WP Rocket* will cache pages with certain parameters and instructions. Simply type in the parameter word into the box to cache specific pages.

There are some instances where the query string cache may be ignored. Learn more about this on WP Rocket’s website.

Database settings

The “Database” settings tab on WP Rocket* is where you can help reduce website bloat. There are 5 parts of this section: 

• Post cleanup
• Comments cleanup
• Transients cleanup
• Database cleanup
• Automatic cleanup

Optimizing your database is crucial for optimal website speed. Just be sure to back up your website database before making any changes in this section! 

The “Post cleanup” section will delete whatever box you click. So you have the option of cleaning up “Revisions,” “Auto Drafts,” and “Trashed Posts.”

I only click “Trashed Posts” because I do not want my post revisions and drafts to be permanently deleted.

You do not want your database to be filled up with spam and trashed comments. That is why you want to click the “Spam” and “Trash Comments” under the Comments Cleanup section.

Transients are temporary cached data in the database. These resources will expire after a while and can slow down your site. To get rid of them you want to click where it says “all transients” under the Transients cleanup section. 

WP Rocket also notes that they are safe to remove and will be automatically regenerated when your plugins need them.

The Database cleanup is important because too many requests from the database can slow down your website. 

Simply click the “optimize tables” box to clean up your database.

The Automatic Cleanup section allows you to have your database cleaned automatically on a schedule of your choosing. You can pick a daily, weekly, or monthly database cleanup. 

I like to use a weekly clean-up so my database does not get bloated too often.

Once the changes have been made you will get a note at the top of your screen telling you what posts are optimized.

If you have any issues with the database settings section check out this article.

CDN settings

As mentioned above a CDN is a Content Delivery Network. This network offers you the ability to fetch and store website data in locations closer to your users. If your server is in a different part of the world than someone visiting your website it could slow down page load times.

The use of a CDN will store data locally speeding up how fast a website loads.

This section is where you would tell WP Rocket* you have a CDN and will connect it to the plugin. There are 2 sections in this setting: “CDN” and the “Exclude Files from CDN.”

The first section “CDN” is where you will tell WP Rocket about the CDN you have. 

Now if you don’t already have a CDN connected to your website WP Rocket has their own CDN called RocketCDN* which you can use for $8.99 per month. There will be a button you can click to sign up for this. 

Once you click the button it will take you to the WP Rocket* page to sign up for the CDN service. After you have set up the RocketCDN* you will go back to your settings page and click the “Enable Content Delivery Network” box.

Once you have enabled that box your “CDN name” should auto-populate a unique CNAME for your account.

The second section gives you the option to exclude any files from the CDN. This is usually done to resolve any issues with CSS font files that are not showing up. You can learn more in this article.

If you are low on funds and need a free CDN Cloudflare has a free option of their CDN. If you are using Cloudflare do not put anything in the top of the CDN section. Instead, you want to go to the Add-Ons feature in the WP Rocket settings. 

To learn how to install Cloudflare as you CDN check out the “Add-Ons” section below.

Heartbeat

The “Heartbeat” setting will affect behavior in the 

• Backend
• Post editor
• Frontend

It is made up of two sections: the “Heartbeat” and the “Reduce or Disable Heartbeat Activity.” 

When you click the “Control Heartbeat” box it will then bring up the second section “Reduce or Disable Heartbeat Activity.”  Here you can choose to either Reduce, Disable, or Do not limit the Heatbeat.

When you pick “reduce activity” the heartbeat intervals will be reduced from one hit per minute to one hit per 2 minutes.

WP Rocket recommends the following:

• Reducing activating for Behavior in the Backend
• Do not limit for Behavior in the Post Editor
• Disable for Behavir in the Frontend

They say that disabling various elements of the heartbeat may break anything on your website that relies on the API. Disabling the heartbeat in the backend could also prevent WordPress’ Site Health tools from running.

Add-ons

The Add-ons section is made up of 2 sections: 

• One-click Rocket Add-ons
• Rocket Add-ons

One-click rocket add-ons

The One-click Rocket Add-ons is the section where you can add on extensions with just a click. No configurations are needed. There are 2 extensions in the One-click Rocket Add-ons section. They include Varnish and WebP Compatibility.

Some web hosting companies use the cache tool Varnish. WP Rocket* provides a Varnish add-on that will make sure Varnish works in tandem with WP Rocket’s cache. 

Unsure if you’re website uses Varnish? Your web hosting provider can tell you if your site uses Varnish.

So reach out to them if you are unsure about whether or not you need to turn on this setting.

The 2nd one-click add-on is the Webp Compatability. WebP is an image format developed by Google that offers high-quality images with a much smaller file size than regular formats PNG and JPEG. 

This is also the format recommended by Google PageSpeed Insights. 

In this add-on, WP Rocket* works with WebP to optimize images by reducing their file size without compromising quality. 

Please note that WP Rocket does not create WebP images itself so if you want to use this add-on you need to use an additional image conversion plugin like Imagify*.

Once you turn this feature on WP Rocket will detect your WebP image plugin and optimize your images as well as set up a separate cache for them.

If all the images on your site are already WebP you can also turn this feature on.

Learn more about the WebP add-on feature in this article. 

Rocket Add-ons

The second section of the Add-ons settings is the Rocket Add-ons. This is made up of 2 parts: Cloudflare and Scuri. Depending on what your website uses will determine if these should be turned on.

Cloudflare is a free option of a CDN that can be used in conjunction with WP Rocket*.

Sucuri is a firewall and CDN company. They also have a free version. Choosing between these two CDNs depends on your needs. 

Once you choose your CDN you can then input the information into the add-ons area in the WP Rocket settings.

I use Cloudflare. If you are interested in learning how to set up Cloudflare you will need to go to the website and create an account. There it will give you the information to input into the settings area so you can set up cache options to synchronize Cloudflare and WP Rocket.

This article also gives you information on how to use Cloudflare with WP Rocket*.

Tools

The tools section goes over the Import/Export settings, Rollback, and Update Inclusions and Exclusions List.

This is where you can upload or download WP Rocket* settings. It also gives you a feature to roll back WP Rocket to an older version if the current version is giving you problems. 

The exclusions and inclusions are safeguards to prevent from breaking a site.

Learn more about this section in this article.

Tutorials

The last and final setting on WP Rocket* is the Tutorials tab. This gives you an overview of video tutorials on 

• Getting Started
• Passing the Core Web Vitals
• Troubleshooting
• Add-ons

In the Getting Started section learn how to find the best settings for your site, how to check if WP Rocket is caching your site, how to measure the speed of your site, and how preloading works.

In the Passing the Core Web Vitals section learn how to improve the Largest Contentful Pain (LCP), the First Input Delay (FID), and the Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) with WP Rocket.

In the troubleshooting section, you can learn how to troubleshoot display issues with file optimization, how to find the right JavaScrip to exclude, and how external content slows down your site.

In the add-ons section learn how to add Cloudflare to your site.

If you are someone who is a visual learner this area is great to learn how to get the best out of WP Rocket*.

Test and validate the plugin

It is very important to go step by step with each setting in WP Rocket* and see how one change affects your page speeds. So be sure to test your speed before making any changes. Then once you make the first change save it and then retest your page speed to see if it has improved speed.

You also want to check individual pages and blog posts to know how your site is working overall.

Clear the cache when needed

WP Rocket will automatically clear the cache when you make any changes to your site such as updating content, plugins, or modifying your website theme. However, you also can clear the cache manually when needed. 

Just go to the “Dashboard” tab under the WP Rocket* settings. To the right, there is an area that says “Quick Links.” Click the button that says “Clear and Preload Cache.”

Monitor and optimize regularly

Optimizing your website speed is not a one-and-done action. Monitoring web vitals metrics is something that needs to be done regularly. So make it a habit to check your page speeds every month. 

If you see any problems go back to the WP Rocket* settings and fix them accordingly.

Another cool feature is that if you run a test in Google PageSpeed Insights and have WP Rocket set up. it will give you tips on what to do in WP Rocket to fix those problems.

Are there any recommended settings for WP Rocket?

Each website will have its own set of things that need to be done to improve speed. So there is no one-fits-all approach when it comes to installing WP Rocket*. 

The best thing you can do is run some page speed tests and see what needs to be updated. Then make the changes accordingly on the WP Rocket settings page on your WordPress admin dashboard.

Be sure to take one change at a time. You do not know what can affect your website page speed. Some things will work for one site but not for another.

So just take it one task at a time. Remember if something doesn’t increase the speed of your site then don’t do it.

If you make a change and your site looks off? Don’t worry you can simply change it back or disable the change and it should go back to the way it looked before.

What if my website host offers a caching plugin?

Some hosting providers will offer a built-in caching plugin. You may be thinking this is great! However, it can also be a pain if there are limitations to its ability. Another problem is that you will lose it if you decide to switch hosts.

Having a third-party caching plugin is great because you know you will get a powerful advanced caching plugin and it will go with you wherever your website is hosted.

WP Rocket real-life results

You may be wondering, “Does WP Rocket work?” Here is a real-life example. Before installing WP Rocket* on my music blog. I had a mobile score of 54

 and a desktop score 48 of which is pretty bad.

After installing WP Rocket and making various tweaks to the WP Rocket admin settings I was able to increase my score to 95 on mobile 

and a 96 on the desktop!

WP Rocket pricing

Now you know how WP Rocket works here is a breakout of the pricing* for a year subscription.

There are 3 pricing tiers:

• Single
• Plus 
• Infinite

The Single pricing is for just 1 website. It is $59 per year.

The Plus tier gives you 3 licenses so you can install WP Rocket on 3 different websites. This costs $119 per year.

The Infinite tier gives you the ability to install WP Rocket on an infinite number of websites. This costs $299 per year.

So depending on if you have 1 or more websites will determine the type of pricing plan* you pick.

Pros and Cons

So now you know all about WP Rocket* and why it’s helpful to you as a website owner. Here we will dig into the pros and cons of this cache plugin.

Pros of WP Rocket

Some of the things that make WP Rocket* great are it is 

• Affordable
• Easy to use
• Lots of features
• Improves page performance
• Compatibility 
• Automatic optimization and updates
• Great support and guidance
• Money back guarantee

Affordable

WP rocket plugin is affordable when looking at other premium plugins making it a great option for small businesses and solopreneurs.

If you are a nutrition professional who is looking for a way to improve your website speed, then WP Rocket is a great option with all the features you are getting for just $59 a year.

Easy to use

This caching plugin is also pretty easy to use. With just an upload to your WordPress dashboard, it can optimize your site in minutes. Thanks to the installation and activation being so straightforward. The interface is user-friendly showing all the options available.

Improves page speed

As you saw with my real-time results, WP Rocket is a plugin that can speed up your website performance and improve page speed test results.

Lots of features

When compared with other caching plugins, WP Rocket stands out for all its bells and whistles. It is a premium plugin that offers a lot of optimization options in the form of both page and browser caching along with minification and concatenation, GZIP compression reducing server load time along with removing unused CSS and delaying JavaScript which is not always seen with other caching plugins.

Compatibility

The WP Rocket plugin has been said to be compatible with most themes and plugins. It is also compatible with 99% of WordPress hosting providers. This means there should typically not be any problems using this plugin on your website.

Automatic optimization and updates 

Another nice thing about WP Rocket is that it has automatic updates and some automatic optimizations. Automatic updates ensure users will always have the latest version. Any potential bugs or performance issues will be fixed. This also means compatibility with the latest WordPress versions for security and great website performance.

The plugin is also automatic in some of its optimizations like minification and concatenation of CSS and JavaScript files. This will streamline your website without any manual changes. 

WP Rocket will detect mobile users and cache accordingly to deliver the best performance on smartphones and tablets.

Great support and guidance

The WP Rocket settings have a ton of articles, tutorials, and videos to help and guide you as you work to optimize your website speed.

If you can’t get a question answered from their documentation and video series they also have a responsive support staff available to answer questions via email. If you need a quicker answer you can also ask a question in their Facebook group.  

Money back guarantee

WP Rocket offers a 14-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the plugin you can get a full refund on your original purchase. Just simply click the “Get Refunded” link in the billing section of your account.

Cons of WP Rocket

While there are a lot of great things about WP Rocket* there are some downsides too. Here are some cons to consider:

• No free trial
• No image optimizer included 
• May take some tweaking to improve page speed
• May require a helper plugin to get results
• No monthly payment plan
• Learning curve for non-tech people 
• Not available in WordPress.org Plugin Repository

No free trial

One downside to WP Rocket is there that they do not offer a free trial. If you cannot decide whether or not you want it within 14 days you are stuck with the paid annual subscription.

No image optimizer included

While WP Rocket does have an add-on for optimizing images in the Google preferred image format WebP. It needs to be purchased separately.

However, there is a way to get optimized images in the WebP format by using Google’s PNG to WEBP Converter or TinyPNG.

May take some tweaking to improve page speed

Using WP Rocket is a great way to speed up your website load times. However, it may take some tweaking of the settings to get your website in the Green on Google’s PageSpeed tests. 

I have found that I had to go back and forth and un

This may be challenging for people who are not the most tech-savvy. With that being said you can always reach out to their support department or Facebook group for fast answers.

May require a helper plugin to get results

Sometimes WP Rocket may need a helper plugin to get speed results. For some of my sites, I needed to enlist the help of the Asset CleanUp plugin to get my website in the Green on Google Page Speed Insights. 

Other times I was able to get the website in the Green score with WP Rocket alone.

No monthly payment plan

Another complaint of WP Rocket is that there is no monthly payment plan available. They only offer an annual subscription. For anyone who prefers a month-to-month plan, you are out of luck. 

Personally, I like paying upfront for the year and not having to think about the payment until the next billing cycle. 

Learning curve for non-tech people 

As I said there can be some learning curve for non-techies to optimize page speeds which could make you get a little frustrated. That being said initial installation is as easy as uploading it to your WordPress site.

So you may need to hire someone to help you if the tech department and their Facebook group can’t help you.

WP Rocket is not in WordPress.org Plugin Repository

The plugin WP Rocket* is not available in WordPress.org’s plugin repository which some feel is a con since the security issues, updates, and development notes are not accessible to the general public. 

What are people saying about WP Rocket?

Out of 42 WP Rocket* reviews on G2.com this plugin has gotten a 4.2 out of 5 stars. It has been praised for its ability to speed up website performance. 

WP Rocket Alternatives

If you feel like WP Rocket* is not for you there are some alternative WordPress caching plugins. They include:

Autoptimize	Cache Enabler
Cachify	Comet Cache
Hyper Cache	Hummingbird
LiteSpeed Cache	Perfmatters
SG Optimizer (SiteGround)	Swift Performance
W3 Total Cache	WP Fastest Cache

Autoptimize

A caching plugin that specializes in optimizing your site’s HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code by aggregating, minifying, and caching scripts and style files. While optimizing code is great it does not provide page or browser caching as well as GZIP compression. So it may pale in comparison with WP Rocket.

Cache Enabler

A lightweight caching plugin that focuses on simplicity and effectiveness in improving page speed and loading time. Cache offers basic file caching that cannot compete with WP Rocket’s features. 

Cachify

A caching plugin that uses APC, an alternative PHP cache, directly in the web server’s system cache to help improve page speed and loading time. Cachify seems to be just a basic caching plugin with support for WebP images when compared with WP Rocket’s comprehensive features.

Comet Cache

Provides easy setup with features like caching, GZIP compression, and browser caching, aiming to enhance website performance. When compared with WP Rocket it is lacking in comprehensive features. Comet cache seems to be more of a basic cache plugin with the ability to upgrade to the paid Pro version with more features.  

It may pale in comparison with WP Rocket’s premium features.

Hyper Cache

A lightweight and efficient caching plugin suitable for low-resource hosting environments. It appears to be more of a basic caching plugin compared with WP Rocket.

Hummingbird

A caching plugin developed by the WordPress developer platform WPMU DEV, that includes caching, performance monitoring, and optimization tools to enhance website speed. It seems to be not as compatible and costs more than WP Rocket and has a 7-day free trial.

LiteSpeed

A server-level cache means the end-user or website owner will not have as much control as a browser cache plugin, which is offered with WP Rocket. It speeds up websites by bypassing PHP and database queries. Getting some advanced features may require a LitesSpeed server. 

Perfmatters

Not specifically a caching plugin, Perfmatters will allow you to disable any unnecessary features and files improving overall performance. WP seems to have more bells and whistles than this plugin.

SG Optimizer

This plugin is designed specifically for websites hosted on SiteGround* though you don’t need to be on their platform to use the plugin. It offers caching and optimization features. WP Rocket may be more comprehensive in its ability to cache and optimize your site.

Some even say the combination of WP Rocket and the SG optimizer can be great for anyone on Siteground.

Swift Performance

Offers caching, optimization, and image compression to improve website speed and performance. This plugin may need more technical assistance than WP Rocket without the ability to customize and get the most features.

W3 Total Cache

A plugin designed to enhance a website’s performance and user experience by leveraging caching and integrating CDN to optimize the hosting server’s speed and responsiveness. When compared with WP Rocket W3 Total Cache was said to have a more complex interface with fewer customizations.

WP Fastest Cache

A standalone caching plugin that is known for its simplicity and ease of use in improving website speed. This seems to be a cost-effective plugin but is less robust than WP Rocket.

If you are looking for a free WordPress caching plugin, consider the options above. However, depending on your needs you may be missing out on some key features to speed up your website.

Final thoughts on WP Rocket

For me, WP Rocket* has been a game changer for my website speed. On my one site alone I went from a mobile score of 54 to 95! While it lacks a free trial and requires some tech setup, its seamless integration and robust features of page and browser caching along with minification and compression make it a worthy investment, especially for those who want advanced optimization. 

Depending on your needs, budget, and capabilities WP Rocket may be the best WordPress caching plugin for you.

More Resources for Your Business

• 50 Ways to speed up your WordPress Site
• How Imagify can speed up our website
• How SEO can improve website traffic
• How KeySearch helps your business