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WP Super Cache

By Automattic

Performance & Optimization / Caching Solutions

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

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

7.59/10

User Rating

4.3/5 (based on 1346+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

6.75 / 10 (Medium 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 one of the oldest and most widely used caching plugins for WordPress, competing in a crowded field of performance tools ranging from simple page cachers to full optimization suites.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Long track record with a huge, active install base
Simple setup that works well for basic caching needs
Free with no upsells for core caching functionality
Backed by Automattic, ensuring ongoing maintenance
Flexible caching modes (simple, expert, CDN support)

Weaknesses

Interface feels dated compared to newer competitors
History of multiple serious vulnerabilities over the years
Some users report leftover cache/plugin conflicts after uninstalling

User Sentiment Analysis

With 1,345 ratings, WP Super Cache holds a solid 4.3/5 average, and the distribution is heavily skewed positive—73.8% five-star reviews—though a notable 12.9% one-star share suggests a vocal minority runs into serious issues.

Positive highlights

"Very easy to use and optimally accelerates the website(s)" — Rene Maurer
"WP Super Cache works immediately and makes the site noticeably faster" — Willem Jurka
"The plugin works good and the team answer questions and support whenever needed" — weboosteg
"Easy to setup and has effect" — labsii

Common complaints

Uncontrolled growth of cache files reportedly overwhelmed server/hosting resources
Deactivating the plugin caused an Internal Server Error for at least one user

Weaknesses

Sizeable one-star segment pointing to occasional serious technical failures
Long history of high-severity vulnerabilities (including RCE and PHP object injection) in older versions
One review criticizes the plugin for promoting Jetpack Boost within its interface

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Site owners who want a free, no-frills caching solution with a long history and strong community support. It's a good fit for blogs and smaller sites that need reliable page caching without a steep learning curve.

Not ideal for

Users on shared or resource-limited hosting who need tight control over cache file growth, and security-conscious site owners who aren't diligent about updates—given the plugin's history of high-severity vulnerabilities in past versions, staying current is essential.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers full caching functionality, including simple and expert caching modes, CDN support, and cache preloading—there are no artificial feature restrictions.

Final Verdict

WP Super Cache remains a dependable, free caching option with a large and mostly satisfied user base, but its long vulnerability history—including past remote code execution and object injection flaws—means users must stay diligent about updates. The 14.6% share of low ratings, tied to real complaints about runaway cache growth and server errors, suggests it isn't entirely trouble-free for everyone.

Compared to newer alternatives like WP Fastest Cache or LiteSpeed Cache, which offer more modern interfaces and active optimization features, WP Super Cache's appeal lies mainly in its simplicity and pedigree. It's a reasonable choice for straightforward caching needs, but users wanting more polish or built-in optimization extras may find better value elsewhere.

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.