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WP Redis

By Pantheon Systems

Performance & Optimization / Caching Solutions

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

WP Redis Review - In-Depth Analysis

Enhance your WordPress site's performance by using Redis for object caching. Ideal for high-traffic sites.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.85/10

User Rating

4.7/5 (based on 20+ reviews)

Active Installations

9,000+

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 you to back your WordPress Object Cache with Redis, a high-performance in-memory storage backend. For sites concerned with high traffic, speed for logged-in users, or dynamic page loads, a high-speed and persistent object cache is essential.

Redis is an excellent solution for this purpose, and it can scale across multiple instances of your application. This plugin integrates seamlessly with Redis, making it suitable for any self-hosted WordPress site that has Redis installed.

It is crucial to use the object cache wisely to avoid performance issues. Keep the number of keys sensible, avoid storing large amounts of data on each key, and manage frontend writes and deletes effectively.

The plugin also includes various WP-CLI commands for managing Redis operations, allowing for easy debugging and configuration. You can enable WP Redis and check connection details through these commands.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP Redis is a focused Redis-based object caching plugin for WordPress, with a straightforward approach and no premium version. It competes directly with Redis Object Cache, which is another popular choice in this category.

Top alternatives

Redis Object Cache ( WPS: 7.33)

Strengths

Open source and well maintained
Lightweight and efficient implementation
No need to keep the plugin installed after setup
Significant performance improvements especially on back-office operations
Simple drop-in based caching without complex activation

Weaknesses

Installation can be complex and requires manual steps
Lacks an automatic or user-friendly setup process
No premium or enhanced features beyond the free offering

User Sentiment Analysis

With a strong 4.7 out of 5 rating from 20 reviews, users generally praise WP Redis for its performance and reliability. The majority of feedback is positive, highlighting its effectiveness and lightweight nature.

Positive highlights

'Great Work! Just curious about something' - ejbt12
'Open and solid plugin' - strarsis
'Best plugin ever for BO' - FLORIAN PRACHE
'Best most lightweight Redis option for WordPress' - mandrael
'Bagus' - dashary

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Installation process is not straightforward and requires manual file copying
Requires technical knowledge to configure cache salt keys for multiple sites

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Developers and site administrators who are comfortable with manual plugin installation and configuration, and who want a lightweight, open-source Redis caching solution without extra features.

Not ideal for

Users seeking an easy, automatic setup or those who prefer a plugin with a graphical interface and premium support options may find this plugin less suitable.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version includes the full Redis object caching functionality with no restrictions or ads.

Final Verdict

WP Redis is a robust and efficient Redis caching plugin that delivers excellent performance improvements for WordPress sites, especially in back-office operations. Its open-source nature and lightweight design make it a great choice for technically skilled users who want a no-frills caching solution.

However, the manual installation and configuration process may be a barrier for less experienced users, and the lack of a premium version means no additional features or dedicated support. Compared to its main alternative, Redis Object Cache, WP Redis stands out for simplicity but requires more technical involvement.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free WP Redis plugin.

Object Cache

Redis

Cache

FAQ

If you are concerned with the speed of your site, backing it with a high-performance, persistent object cache can have a huge impact. It takes load off your database, and is faster for loading all the data objects WordPress needs to run.

A page load with 2,000 Redis calls can be 2 full seconds of object cache transactions. If a plugin you’re using is erroneously creating a huge number of cache keys, you might be able to mitigate the problem by disabling cache persistency for the plugin’s group:

wp_cache_add_non_persistent_groups( array( 'bad-actor' ) );

This declaration means use of wp_cache_set( 'foo', 'bar', 'bad-actor' ); and wp_cache_get( 'foo', 'bad-actor' ); will not use Redis, and instead fall back to WordPress’ default runtime object cache.