If you’re looking for the best Caching plugin for your website, you’re in the right place.

Page load speed is an important Google ranking factor and the right Cache plugin could make your site load blazing fast.

In this post, you’ll learn what caching is and I’ll show you the best caching plugin for WordPress you can download.

Sounds good? Let’s get started…

What Is Caching and Why Do You Need It?

Caching is a process of storing data in a cache or a temporary storage area.

When a browser opens a page that’s cached, it doesn’t have to retrieve the information from your server over and over again. This results in faster page load time.

So, why do you need caching?

Because of speed matters! Nobody likes to visit a slow website.

For WordPress, caching works by generating a static HTML version of your dynamic WordPress page and cache it for your visitors.

A caching plugin creates an ultra-fast load time, that’s essential for improving Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and increase conversions.

Let’s take a look at the best Wordpress Caching Plugins available.

4 Best WordPress Caching Plugins

1. WP Rocket

WP Rocket is the only premium caching plugin on our list and the best plugins in terms of features and performance.

This plugin is extremely user-friendly and it takes care of the hard work for you. Once you turn on the plugin, the page caching is activated by default.

WP Rocket improves the indexing of your website by the search engine by simulating a visit to preload the cache. Apart from page caching, it has built-in browser caching to ensure static content are stored in the browser.

Unlike other plugins, it comes with tons of features aiming to make your page loads faster. WP Rocket eliminates the needs to install too many plugins. You don’t have to install an additional plugin to optimize your database or to lazy load your images. These features are available to you out of the box.

Price: $39/year for 1 website, $99/year for 3 websites, $199/year for unlimited websites.

Features:

• Simple, fast and intuitive setup with page caching activated by default
• Preload the cache when a page or post is updated for better indexing by search engine
• Schedule regular database cleanups to keep things running smoothly
• GZIP compression to optimize the rendering of web browser
• Google Fonts optimization to minimize HTTP requests for faster page load time
• Defer loading of JavaScript files
• Minification and concatenation of HTML, CSS, and JS files
• Lazy load your images as users scroll down the page to improve your page load time
• Exclude pages from being cached
• Fully compatible with CloudFlare
• Work seamlessly with CDN
• Supports WordPress Multisite
• Work with WooCommerce, Jigoshop, and WP-shop

2. WP Super Cache

WP Super Cache is run by Automattic, the same team behind WordPress.com. It’s the most popular free WordPress caching plugins with over 2 million active installs and 4.3 out of 5 stars rating.

It works by generating static HTML files from your dynamic WordPress blog and caches it instead of loading the page with WordPress PHP scripts.

One might argue that it lacks the option to minify the HTML, JS, and CSS files which is crucial, but you could use a plugin such as Autoptimize to do that.

I’ve been using Autoptimize alongside with WP Super Cache on some sites and it works extremely well.

Features

• Page compression and dynamic caching
• Support for Content Delivery Networks (CDN)
• Compatible with Cloudflare
• Support mobile caching and logged-in users
• Built-in scheduler to manage deletion and re-caching at given intervals

3. W3 Total Cache

The second most downloaded caching plugin for WordPress with over a million active installs and 4.3 out of 5 stars in the WordPress Plugin Directory.

W3 Total Cache is used and recommended by some of the biggest online publications such as Smashing Magazine, Mashable, and more. It’s a huge testament to its performance.

One of the promises of this plugin is that it will work on any type of servers or hosting you’re using.

It’s the most configurable caching plugins with its massive 16 pages configuration options. You could tailor the settings based on your server’s configuration.

I have to admit that if you’re new to WordPress, hosting, and caching, this plugin could look a little daunting. Even a seasoned blogger would take a while before getting used to this plugin.

Features

• Uses GZIP compression to reduce the size of files sent by your server
• Minification and concatenation of HTML, CSS and JavaScript files
• Support for Content Delivery Networks (CDN)
• Built-in integration with MaxCDN
• Compatible with CloudFlare

4. WP Fastest Cache

WP Fastest Cache is another popular caching plugin for WordPress. While it pales in comparison in terms of features, don’t let it fool you.

At this point of writing, it has an over 700 thousand active installations and the highest rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars compared to the other plugins on the list.

It works pretty similar to WP Super Cache. What it does better, in my opinion, is the addition of options to minify the HTML, CSS and JS files. Something that WP Super Cache is lacking.

From within the free version, you could buy a premium license for $39. It comes with more caching and optimization options for your website including database clean up, image optimization, mobile caching.

Features:

• Preloads the cache when a post or page is published so you can see your changes right away.
• Enables you to minify your HTML, JS and CSS files
• Combines CSS and JS files to reduce the number of requests for faster loading time
• GZIP compression to optimize web browser rendering.
• Enable/disable cache for mobile devices and logged-in users
• Block cache for specific page or post
• Supports CDN and SSL

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right plugin that works best isn’t easy. Because what works best on one site might not work as good on the others.

While there are other alternatives out there, these 4 plugins I’ve listed above are the most popular and have been tested by millions of websites.

If you’re looking for a free plugin to start with, choose either WP Super Cache or WP Fastest Cache. These plugins work great and their configuration is easy to understand. You might want to install Autoptimize to minify HTML, CSS and JS files if you choose WP Super Cache.

If you’re feeling a bit adventurous and you know what you’re doing, choose W3 Total Cache. Go through the 16 configuration pages and tweak the options till you found one that works best for you.

If you’re running an online business, you need expert support and performance is your utmost priority, choose WP Rocket. It has the best performance overall and it requires minimal configuration on your end.

I hope this guide helped you choose the best caching plugin for your website.

Let me know what plugin you are using in the comment below.