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FV Gravatar Cache

By FolioVision

Performance & Optimization / Caching Solutions

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

FV Gravatar Cache Review - In-Depth Analysis

FV Gravatar Cache speeds up your website by caching gravatars locally. It reduces loading times by storing gravatars on your server instead of fetching them from the Gravatar server.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.73/10

User Rating

3.9/5 (based on 11+ reviews)

Active Installations

600+

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

Gravatars can slow down your website significantly due to multiple calls made to the Gravatar server for each comment. This delay can lead to page load times extending to 20 seconds or more, especially on pages with numerous comments.

The FV Gravatar Cache plugin addresses this issue effectively. It caches gravatars using WordPress cron jobs and also caches them upon comment submission. Additionally, it maintains a single copy of the default gravatar, preventing unnecessary downloads for email addresses without associated gravatars.

For installation and support, please refer to the provided links.

Comparing to Alternatives

FV Gravatar Cache does not have any close direct alternatives in its category, making it a unique choice for caching Gravatar images in WordPress.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Effectively boosts site performance by caching Gravatar images.
Operates quietly in the background with minimal user intervention.
Free to use with no paid version required.
Reduces external calls to gravatar.com, improving page load times.

Weaknesses

Only caches Gravatars for registered users, not all commenters.
Limited caching coverage, sometimes caching only a small percentage of Gravatars.
Does not remove all plugin data upon deactivation, leaving database remnants.
Lack of support responsiveness without payment for issue resolution.

User Sentiment Analysis

With a 3.9 out of 5 rating from 11 reviews, most users appreciate the performance improvements, though about a quarter report issues with caching effectiveness and residual data.

Positive highlights

'Gravatar Cache boosted my site’s performance scores' — roam92
'Good but need more' — gokuldeepak
'Highly recommended' — Anonymous

Common complaints

Plugin leaves elements in the database after deactivation.
Caches only a small fraction of Gravatars (3-10%).
Plugin does not effectively cache Gravatars as expected.

Weaknesses

Limited caching scope to registered users only.
Incomplete cleanup on deactivation.
Support may require payment to address issues.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Site owners looking for a free, simple solution to improve comment avatar loading times by caching Gravatars for registered users.

Not ideal for

Users needing comprehensive caching for all commenters or those who require full data cleanup after plugin removal.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version caches Gravatar images for registered users to improve site performance without any cost.

Final Verdict

FV Gravatar Cache offers a straightforward, no-cost way to enhance site speed by caching Gravatar images, particularly benefiting sites with registered user comments. Its ease of use and silent operation make it appealing for those seeking basic caching functionality without additional expenses.

However, its limited caching scope, incomplete data removal upon deactivation, and reported caching inefficiencies may deter users needing more robust or comprehensive solutions. The absence of direct alternatives highlights its niche position, but potential users should weigh these factors against their specific needs.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free FV Gravatar Cache plugin.

Gravatar

Cache

Avatar

Screenshots

FAQ

Hit the “Empty Cache” button to clear the cache database and clear out the cache directory by hand (you can see the path at the very top of the Settings screen). Then hit the “Run Cron Now” button, it will refresh a couple of gravatars, so you can check the cache directory again, to see if it’s filling up correctly. “Current Cron offset:” will increment, so you can track the progess and see how the cron is running. You can also turn on “Debug mode” and check log.txt afterwards.