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WP Super Cache

By Automattic

Performance & Optimization / Caching Solutions

WP Super Cache Review - In-Depth Analysis

WP Super Cache is a fast caching engine for WordPress that generates static HTML files to improve site performance.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

7.44/10

User Rating

4.3/5 (based on 1342+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000,000+

Update Frequency

Outstanding 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

WP Super Cache generates static HTML files from your dynamic WordPress blog. Once a static HTML file is created, your web server serves that file instead of processing heavier PHP scripts.

This means that 99% of your visitors will receive static HTML files, significantly reducing server load and increasing speed. The plugin offers three caching methods, with the fastest being Apache mod_rewrite, which bypasses PHP entirely.

For ease of use, the recommended setting is simple caching, which is quick to set up and effective. The plugin also includes features for garbage collection, CDN support, and preloading of cache files.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP Super Cache is a popular caching plugin that offers straightforward caching solutions compared to other advanced caching plugins available.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Easy to set up and use for beginners
Effectively speeds up website loading times
Reliable support and active development team
Free and open source with no hidden costs

Weaknesses

Lacks advanced optimization features found in some competitors
Can cause server issues if not configured properly
Interface is less modern compared to newer plugins

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's ease of use and effectiveness, though some report issues and concerns.

Positive highlights

Easy to setup and has effect. (labsii)
Very easy to use and optimally accelerates websites. (Rene Maurer)
Works well with responsive support from the team. (weboosteg)
Makes the site noticeably faster without hassle. (Willem Jurka)

Common complaints

Plugin can cause server errors or crashes if misconfigured
Some users find it intrusive with advertisements for other products
Deactivation may lead to internal server errors

Weaknesses

Cache files may grow uncontrollably causing hosting issues
Limited advanced features compared to premium caching plugins

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a free, simple, and effective caching solution without needing advanced features.

Not ideal for

Those requiring advanced caching options or who have limited server resources that may be affected by cache file growth.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version includes basic page caching, easy setup, and essential features to improve website speed without cost.

Final Verdict

WP Super Cache is a solid choice for users seeking a straightforward caching plugin that delivers noticeable speed improvements with minimal setup.

However, users should be cautious about potential server issues and the lack of advanced features, making it less suitable for complex or high-traffic sites.

Other Notable Features

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

Cache

Caching

Performance

FAQ

Go to Settings -> WP Super Cache and look for the “Cache Tester” form on the easy settings page. Click “Test Cache” and the plugin will request the front page of the site twice, comparing a timestamp on each to make sure they match.

If you want to do it manually, enable debugging in the plugin settings page and load the log file in a new browser tab. Then view your blog while logged in and logged out. You should see activity in the log. View the source of any page on your site. When a page is first created, you’ll see the text “Dynamic page generated in XXXX seconds.” and “Cached page generated by WP-Super-Cache on YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS” at the end of the source code. On reload, a cached page will show the same timestamp so wait a few seconds before checking.
If Supercaching is disabled and you have compression enabled, the text “Compression = gzip” will be added. If compression is disabled and the page is served as a static html file, the text “super cache” will be added. The only other way to check if your cached file was served by PHP script or from the static cache is by looking at the HTTP headers. PHP cached pages will have the header “WP-Super-Cache: Served supercache file from PHP”. WPCache cached files will have the header, “WP-Super-Cache: Served WPCache cache file”. You should also check your cache directory in wp-content/cache/supercache/hostname/ for static cache files.
If the plugin rules are missing from your .htaccess file, the plugin will attempt to serve the super cached page if it’s found. The header “WP-Super-Cache: Served supercache file from PHP” if this happens.
The pagespeed module for Apache may cause problems when testing. Disable it if you notice any problems running the cache tester.