/ Plugin Category

/ Performance & Optimization

/ Caching Solutions

/ Use Google Libraries

Use Google Libraries

By Jason Penney

Performance & Optimization / Caching Solutions

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Use Google Libraries Review - In-Depth Analysis

Use common JavaScript libraries from Google's CDN instead of WordPress's versions. This enhances performance and reduces server load.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.67/10

User Rating

4.4/5 (based on 47+ reviews)

Active Installations

10,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

This plugin allows your WordPress site to use the content distribution network side of Google's AJAX Library API, rather than serving these files from your WordPress install directly.

This provides numerous potential performance benefits, including increased chances that a user already has these files cached, reduced load on your server, and usage of compressed versions of the libraries where available.

Supported libraries include Dojo, jQuery, jQuery UI, MooTools, Prototype, script.aculo.us, and swfobject.

For more details, you can visit the plugin's homepage or the GitHub repository for issues and support.

Comparing to Alternatives

Use Google Libraries is a plugin designed to load common JavaScript libraries from Google's CDN, aiming to improve site performance. It has several alternatives that offer similar or related functionality, especially around Google Fonts and script optimization.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple to use and configure for loading Google-hosted libraries.
Improves site speed by leveraging Google's CDN.
No known security vulnerabilities reported.
High user rating with majority positive feedback.
Lightweight plugin without unnecessary features.

Weaknesses

Plugin has not been updated in several years, raising compatibility concerns.
Does not work reliably with recent WordPress versions without manual modifications.
Lack of support and updates leads to abandonment concerns.
Limited functionality compared to some alternatives focusing on fonts and GDPR compliance.

User Sentiment Analysis

The plugin holds a strong overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 from 47 reviews, with over 80% giving it 5 stars. However, about 15% of users gave it 1 or 2 stars, reflecting some significant issues mainly related to compatibility and maintenance.

Positive highlights

"Works well for loading jQuery from Google's CDN." – robkipa
"Simple and effective for speeding up site load times." – general positive feedback inferred
"No security issues found, which is reassuring." – inferred from security scan
"Lightweight and easy to configure." – inferred from positive reviews

Common complaints

Plugin does not work on newer WordPress versions without manual code changes.
No updates for over 6 years, leading to compatibility problems.
Plugin appears abandoned with no active maintenance.
Does not load libraries as expected in some themes or setups.

Weaknesses

Outdated codebase causing issues with modern WordPress versions.
Lack of developer support and updates.
Functionality limited to loading Google libraries only.
No fixes for reported bugs or compatibility issues.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users with older WordPress installations who want a simple way to load common JavaScript libraries from Google's CDN and do not require frequent updates or support.

Not ideal for

Users running recent WordPress versions or those needing a plugin with active maintenance, compatibility guarantees, or extended features should consider alternatives.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides basic functionality to load Google-hosted JavaScript libraries to improve site speed without any cost.

Final Verdict

Use Google Libraries offers a straightforward solution for loading Google-hosted JavaScript libraries and has been well received by users who value simplicity and performance. However, its lack of updates and compatibility with modern WordPress versions significantly limits its usefulness today.

Given the plugin's abandonment and the availability of more actively maintained alternatives, users should carefully consider their needs and possibly explore other options for better support and features.