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/ Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster

Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster

By Gabe Livan

Performance & Optimization / Caching Solutions

Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster Review - In-Depth Analysis

Optimize your website's speed by selectively unloading unnecessary CSS and JavaScript files. Works best with caching plugins.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.58/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 1558+ reviews)

Active Installations

100,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

4.67 / 10 (Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Don't just minify and combine CSS/JavaScript files ending up with large, bloated and slow loading pages: Strip the fat first and get a faster website.

Faster page load equals happier visitors, more conversions, and more revenue. Often, themes and plugins load assets that are not needed on every page. This plugin helps you prevent unnecessary styles and scripts from loading, improving your website's speed and cleanliness of HTML source code.

Asset CleanUp scans your page to detect all loaded assets. You can select which CSS/JS files are unnecessary, reducing bloat. It works best with cache plugins and services that offer server-level caching.

Main benefits include decreasing HTTP requests, eliminating render-blocking resources, minifying files, and improving performance scores on testing tools. It also optimizes Google Fonts and local fonts, ensuring your website loads quickly and efficiently.

For those needing more features, the Pro version offers advanced asset management across all pages, enhanced performance options, and premium support.

Comparing to Alternatives

Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster stands out among popular WordPress speed optimization plugins by focusing on unloading unused CSS and JavaScript on a per-page basis, which can significantly improve page load times.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Allows selective unloading of unused CSS and JS per page or post.
Includes minification of CSS and JavaScript files.
Provides bulk unload options for easier management.
Integrates well with other optimization plugins like WP Optimize.
Supports preloading of local fonts with recommended settings.

Weaknesses

Interface can be complex for beginners due to many settings.
Not officially tested with the latest WordPress versions.
Still supports older PHP versions which may affect performance.
Some users report occasional display issues compared to other cache plugins.

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's effectiveness in improving site speed and its practical features, though some note a learning curve and compatibility concerns.

Positive highlights

'Really helped to speed up my site' - dc360
'Indispensable for better PageSpeed Insights results' - Rachel Valton
'Helps increase my website speed significantly' - iamthuan
'Improved my PageSpeed Insights mobile score from 84 to 98 points' - alamea
'Easy to use and works fine' - marcombz

Common complaints

Plugin not tested with the latest WordPress versions.
Supports older PHP versions like 5.6.
Initial setup can be complex and time-consuming.
Some minor display issues reported compared to other cache plugins.

Weaknesses

Lack of official support for newer WordPress releases.
Complexity may deter less technical users.
Potential compatibility issues with certain themes or plugins.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Developers and site owners who want granular control over asset loading to improve page speed and are comfortable configuring advanced settings.

Not ideal for

Beginners or users seeking a simple, one-click optimization solution without needing to manage detailed asset unloading.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers powerful features including selective unloading of CSS/JS, minification, bulk unload options, and font preloading, providing substantial speed improvements without cost.

Pro version (49 - 149 USD / year)

The premium version typically includes advanced features such as automatic asset unloading, enhanced compatibility options, priority support, and additional optimization tools.

Final Verdict

Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster is a robust plugin that excels in reducing page load times by allowing precise control over which CSS and JavaScript files load on each page. Its comprehensive features and integration capabilities make it a valuable tool for improving site performance.

While it may present a learning curve and has some compatibility considerations, its effectiveness and positive user feedback make it a strong choice for users willing to invest time in configuration to achieve faster website speeds.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster plugin.

Defer Css Javascript

Dequeue

Minify Css

Minify Javascript

Page Speed

Screenshots

FAQ

5.6+ – I strongly recommend you to use PHP 7+, if you’re website is fully compatible with it, as it’s much faster than any PHP 5.* and it will make a big difference for your website’s backend speed.

The plugin makes AJAX calls to retrieve the data from the front-end page with 100% accuracy. Possible reasons why nothing is shown despite the wait might be:

Your internet connection cut off after you loaded the edit post/post (before the AJAX calls were triggered). Make sure to check that and refresh the page if it’s back on – it happened to me a few times
There could be a conflict between plugins or your theme and something is interfering with the script that is retrieving the assets
You are loading the WordPress Dashboard through HTTPS, but you are forcing the front-end to load via HTTP. Although Asset CleanUp auto-corrects the retrieval URL (e.g. if you’re logged in the Dashboard securely via HTTPS, it will attempt to fetch the assets through HTTPS too), there could be cases where another plugin or .htaccess forces an HTTP connection only for the public view. Due to Same Origin Policy (read more here: https://developer.mozilla.org/En/Same_origin_policy_for_JavaScript), you can’t make plain HTTP AJAX calls from HTTPS connections. If that’s the case, try to enable “WP Remote POST” as a retrieval method in the plugin’s settings if you want to manage the assets in the Dashboard.
You’re using plugins such as Wordfence that block the AJAX request. At this time, if that’s the case, it’s best to enable managing assets in the front-end view (Settings).

In this case, it’s advisable to enable “Manage in the Front-end?” in “Settings” of “Asset CleanUp”, thus making the list to show at the bottom of the posts, pages, and front-page only for the logged in users with admin privileges.

Although I’ve written the code to ensure maximum compatibility, there are factors which are not up to the quality of the plugin that could interfere with it.
In case the assets are not loading for you, please write to me on the forum and I will be happy to assist you!