LiteSpeed Cache
Free server-level cache and optimisation suite from LiteSpeed Technologies; full-page caching needs a LiteSpeed web server or QUIC.cloud CDN.
94
WP Super Cache
Free, lightweight static HTML page cache from Automattic, with preload, CDN URL rewriting and mobile support; no front-end optimisation tools.
Free installs1M+WordPress.org, active
Rating4.3/51,346 reviews
Price fromFreeFree
Last updated30 Sep 2026Version 3.1.4
Overview
WP Super Cache is a free page-caching plugin maintained by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and Jetpack. It does one job: it turns dynamic WordPress pages into static HTML files and serves those to anonymous visitors, which removes most of the PHP and database work for typical blog and brochure traffic. There is no paid edition.
How it works
You choose a delivery method. Simple mode serves the cached files through PHP and works on most hosts without editing server configuration, which is why it is the recommended option, including for multisite networks and sites behind Cloudflare. Expert mode adds Apache mod_rewrite rules so cached files are served without loading PHP at all. A legacy WP-Cache layer can also cache pages for known users, URLs with parameters and feeds.
- Preload mode visits posts, categories and tags to build the cache ahead of traffic.
- Garbage collection removes stale files on a schedule, and cache rebuild serves the old copy while a new one is generated.
- Pre-compressed cache files and 304 Not Modified support (Simple mode) cut bandwidth.
- Optional mobile support keeps a separate cache key for mobile user agents.
- The integrated OSSDL CDN rewriter points wp-content and wp-includes files to a CDN hostname.
- WooCommerce tells it not to cache cart, checkout and account pages.
Limitations
Everything beyond page caching is missing: no minification, file combining, deferred JavaScript, critical or unused CSS, lazy loading, image optimisation, database cleanup or Heartbeat control. There is no object-cache feature or Cloudflare API integration, and WP-CLI support comes from a separate community package. Automattic points users to its separate Jetpack Boost plugin for front-end optimisation.
Who should pick it
WP Super Cache suits bloggers and small sites that want a reliable, free page cache with very few settings, or developers who prefer to handle asset optimisation with another tool. Anyone chasing Core Web Vitals improvements will need to pair it with an optimisation plugin or choose a more complete caching suite.
Best for: Bloggers and small sites that want a free, low-maintenance page cache and will handle front-end optimisation separately if needed.
WP Super Cache is a dependable, no-cost page cache that is easy to switch on and rarely causes conflicts. It is deliberately narrow, though: without minification, lazy loading or CSS tools it will not move Core Web Vitals much on its own, so most sites need to pair it with an optimisation plugin.
Pros
- Completely free and maintained by Automattic
- Very simple setup with a recommended Simple mode
- Expert mode serves static files via mod_rewrite without PHP
- Cache preload and scheduled garbage collection
- Built-in CDN URL rewriting
- Natively respected by WooCommerce for cart and checkout
Cons
- No minify, combine, defer or CSS optimisation features
- No lazy loading or image optimisation
- No database cleanup or Heartbeat control
- No object cache or Cloudflare API integration
- WP-CLI only via a separate community package
Key features
What WP Super Cache highlights on its WordPress.org page and its own website, split by version.
Free version WordPress.org
- Static HTML page caching
- Simple and Expert delivery modes
- Legacy WP-Cache for known users
- Cache preload for posts and terms
- Scheduled garbage collection
- Pre-compressed cache files
- 304 Not Modified support
- Separate mobile cache option
- CDN URL rewriting (OSSDL)
- Cache rebuild during regeneration
- Multisite network support
- REST API endpoints for settings
Feature checklist
8 of 25 features we track in Caching & Speed, feature score 35/100
Caching 7/8
Page caching Key
Serves pre-built HTML pages.
Generates static HTML files served via PHP (Simple) or mod_rewrite (Expert).
Included
Browser caching rules
Sets cache headers for static files.
Supports 304 Not Modified in Simple mode; no expires rules for static assets.
Partial
Cache preloading
Builds the cache before visitors arrive.
Preload mode builds cache files for posts, categories and tags.
Included
Object cache
Redis or Memcached object caching.
No object cache integration.
Not included
Separate mobile cache
Different cache for mobile devices.
Optional mobile support appends a mobile key so phones get their own cache.
Included
WooCommerce-aware caching
Excludes cart, checkout and account pages automatically.
WooCommerce natively stops it caching cart, checkout and My Account.
Included
Page cache on any server
Page caching works on Apache, Nginx and LiteSpeed alike.
Simple mode runs via PHP on most hosts; Expert mode needs Apache mod_rewrite.
Included
Multisite support
Works on WordPress multisite networks.
Multisite supported; network activation and Simple mode recommended.
Included
CSS & JavaScript 0/7
Minify CSS & JS
Strips whitespace from CSS and JavaScript.
No minification features.
Not included
Combine files
Merges CSS/JS files.
No file combining.
Not included
Defer / delay JavaScript Key
Loads scripts after the page renders or on interaction.
No defer or delay JavaScript options.
Not included
Remove unused CSS Key
Generates only the CSS each page uses.
No unused CSS removal.
Not included
Critical CSS
Inlines above-the-fold CSS.
No critical CSS generation.
Not included
Font optimisation
Self-hosts or preloads web fonts.
No font optimisation tools.
Not included
Preload and prefetch
Preload fonts, images or links and prefetch DNS.
No preload, prefetch or preconnect controls.
Not included
Media & delivery 1/7
Lazy loading
Defers off-screen images and iframes.
No lazy loading feature.
Not included
Image compression
Compresses uploaded images.
No image compression.
Not included
WebP / AVIF delivery
Serves next-gen image formats.
No WebP or AVIF conversion or delivery.
Not included
CDN integration
Rewrites asset URLs to a CDN.
Integrated OSSDL off-linker rewrites wp-content/wp-includes URLs to a CDN.
Included
Cloudflare integration
Purges or configures Cloudflare.
No Cloudflare API integration; docs only advise Simple mode with Cloudflare.
Not included
Lazy-load video embeds
Replace YouTube and Vimeo embeds with a lightweight preview.
No video embed placeholders.
Not included
Included CDN service
A CDN is part of the product or plan, not just URL rewriting.
No vendor-run CDN included.
Not included
Housekeeping 0/3
Database cleanup
Removes revisions, transients and spam.
No database cleanup tools.
Not included
Heartbeat control
Limits the WordPress Heartbeat API.
No Heartbeat API control.
Not included
WP-CLI commands
Clear or warm the cache from the command line.
WP-CLI commands via the separate wp-cli/wp-super-cache-cli package.
Third-party
Pricing
Free
$0On WordPress.org
Free
FreelifetimeUnlimited
Fully free plugin from Automattic; no paid tier.
Prices are list prices from the vendor's site, checked 14 Oct 2026. Many vendors discount the first year.
How many sites use WP Super Cache?
Free installs from WordPress.org, the vendor's own claim, and our estimate of paid installs.
Free version (WordPress.org)
1M+
Active installations reported by WordPress.org.
Vendor claim
—
The vendor does not publish a total.
Estimated Pro / paid installs
n/a
There is no paid version.
Stats & health
Weekly downloads
88,298 downloads last week, 66.7M all time
Rating breakdown
| Version | 3.1.4 |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 30 Sep 2026 (34 days ago) |
| Tested up to | WordPress 7.1.4 |
| Requires | WordPress 6.8+, PHP 7.4+ |
| Support threads (2 months) | 4 of 6 resolved |
| On WordPress.org since | 5 Nov 2007 |
Company & policy
| Refund policy | Not applicable (free plugin) (source, 5 Oct 2026) |
|---|
WP Super Cache compared
Autoptimize/WP Super Cache
Jetpack Boost/WP Super Cache
WP Super Cache/xSpeed Cache
Perfmatters/WP Super Cache
NitroPack/WP Super Cache
WP-Optimize/WP Super Cache
Hummingbird/WP Super Cache
Cache Enabler/WP Super Cache
Breeze/WP Super CacheLiteSpeed Cache/WP Super Cache
W3 Total Cache/WP Super Cache
WP Fastest Cache/WP Super Cache
WP Rocket/WP Super Cache
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FAQ
Is WP Super Cache free?
Yes. WP Super Cache has a free version on WordPress.org.
How many sites use WP Super Cache?
WordPress.org reports 1M+ active installations of the free version.
Does WP Super Cache have page caching?
Yes: included. Generates static HTML files served via PHP (Simple) or mod_rewrite (Expert).
Does WP Super Cache have defer / delay javascript?
No: not included. No defer or delay JavaScript options.
Does WP Super Cache have remove unused css?
No: not included. No unused CSS removal.
Is WP Super Cache free?
Yes. It is a free plugin from Automattic with no premium version or paid add-ons.
Which caching mode should I use?
Simple mode is recommended for most sites, including multisite networks and sites behind Cloudflare. Expert mode is faster because Apache serves cached files directly, but it needs mod_rewrite and careful configuration.
Does WP Super Cache minify CSS and JavaScript?
No. It only handles page caching, compression and CDN URL rewriting. For minification, lazy loading or critical CSS you need a separate optimisation plugin.
Is it compatible with WooCommerce?
Yes. WooCommerce signals WP Super Cache not to cache the Cart, Checkout and My Account pages, so no manual exclusions are required.
Last updated 5 Oct 2026. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit.