WP Rocket Review: Will It Really Skyrocket Website Performance?

I want you to imagine something for a moment.

You’ve crafted the perfect website.

It’s visually stunning, packed with engaging content, and primed to convert visitors into loyal customers.

But there’s one colossal issue. It’s slow.

Slow load times can frustrate visitors, drive them away and cost you valuable conversions.

Research shows that a site that loads in one second has five times the conversion rate of a site that loads in 10 seconds.

And those are losses no website owner can afford.

That’s why we set about putting the WP Rocket caching plugin to the test.

It promises to boost your website’s speed and overall performance with just a few clicks.

But does it live up to those claims?

In this WP Rocket Review, we’ll put this tool through its paces to see if it can:

• Skyrocket website performance
• Ease your speed-related woes
• Enhance the user experience

Here’s a quick hint: it’s definitely worth a look. 

Who Is WP Rocket For?

WP Rocket is designed for anyone who wants to improve their website’s speed and performance.

It’s especially useful for those who lack tech skills. Seasoned developers can make use of it too.

Here’s a quick look at who can benefit the most:

User	Why It’s Beneficial
Small Business Owners	Enhance UX for site visitors and boost conversions with faster load times.
Bloggers	Keep readers engaged with quick page transitions and improved SEO.
eCommerce Sites	Reduce cart abandonment and increase sales by speeding up your store.
Developers	Save time on performance enhancement by outsourcing them to this plugin.

Pros of Using WP Rocket

Here’s a quick look at some positives of this plugin:

• User-friendly interface: Easy to use and accessible to everybody, even those with limited technical knowledge. The plugin applies essential performance optimization settings automatically. Just activate it and it gets to work.
• Full range of caching features: Packed with caching options, including page caching, browser caching, and cache preloading. These features help your website load quickly by serving static versions of pages and preloading cached pages in the background​.
• File optimization: Plenty of file optimization capabilities like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript minification and deferred JavaScript loading.
• Media optimization: Supports lazy loading for images and videos. Media elements are only loaded when required.
• Database optimization: Clean up and optimize your WordPress database by removing unnecessary data like post revisions, trashed posts, and spam comments as well.
• CDN integration: Works with CDNs, including its own RocketCDN and popular third-party options like Cloudflare.
• eCommerce compatibility: Fully compatible with major eCommerce plugins like SureCart and WooCommerce.

Cons of Using WP Rocket

WP Rocket is not without its drawbacks, of course, so let’s cover those next:

• Premium pricing: WP Rocket is a premium plugin with no free version. If you’re on a budget, this is a definite drawback.
• Lack of built-in image optimization: No built-in image optimization so you’ll need the Imagify plugin.
• Resource-intensive features: Some features, like link preloading and extensive cache preloading, can be resource-intensive and may not be suitable for websites on shared hosting plans.
• Complexity for advanced features: While the basic setup is user-friendly, configuring advanced features like custom caching rules may require a deeper understanding of performance optimization.

What WP Rocket Users Say

Before we get into the full review, let’s first take a look at what real people have to say about the plugin.

One user on Reddit noted in a related thread asking if WP Rocket is worth the price.

They said that after using most major caching plugins, they’ve found that, “WP Rocket has improved sites the best while also having the highest chance of not breaking things on the website.”

Later in the same thread, the OP posted a follow up indicating they’d taken people’s advice, noting:

“…I ended up buying WP Rocket and my site speed jump[ed] to a score of 99 on Google. It’s pretty awesome for someone like me that wants to write not di[g] through CSS/JS.” – u/VonVader

Another user on the WordPress.org forums posted a glowing review of the benefits of using WP Rocket and WP Meteor in tandem:

Generally speaking, user reviews are positive. Most people feel it does what it claims to do and most have experienced a positive boost in site performance.

WP Rocket Pricing

Before you commit to any plugin, you need to know how much it costs.

Here’s how pricing breaks down for WP Rocket:

• Single plan: $59/year for 1 website. Ideal for beginner bloggers and small business owners looking to boost the performance of a single site.
• Plus plan: $119/year for up to 3 websites. Suitable for professional bloggers and small businesses managing multiple sites.
• Infinite plan: $299/year for unlimited websites. Best for agencies and developers who need to optimize numerous sites.

All plans include a 14-day money-back guarantee, ensuring a risk-free trial period to test if this plugin is the right choice for you.

WP Rocket vs WP-Optimize vs W3 Total Cache: Quick Comparison

Feature	WP Rocket	WP-Optimize	W3 Total Cache
Best For	Beginners and advanced users looking for an all-in-one solution	Users needing extensive database and image optimization	Advanced users needing detailed control over caching
Pricing	Starts at $59/year	Free/Premium starts at $49/year	Free/Premium starts at $99/year
Ease of Use	Very user-friendly with most settings enabled by default	User-friendly but more manual setup required	Less user-friendly with a steeper learning curve
Caching Types	Page caching, browser caching, GZIP compression, cache preloading	Page caching, browser caching, GZIP compression	Page caching, browser caching, object caching, database caching
File Optimization	CSS and JavaScript minification and combination, deferred loading	CSS and JavaScript minification	CSS and JavaScript minification and combination
Database Optimization	Basic cleanup (revisions, drafts, transients)	Advanced cleanup (revisions, drafts, tables, and more)	Database caching but less cleanup control
Media Optimization	Lazy loading, requires Imagify for image compression and WebP support	Built-in image compression, lazy loading, WebP conversion	Limited to lazy loading
CDN Support	Integrates with CDNs including RocketCDN and Cloudflare	No built-in CDN support	Extensive CDN support including custom file CDN settings
Multilingual Support	WPML, Polylang, qTranslate	Limited	WPML
Advanced Features	Critical CSS generation, remove unused CSS, scheduled cleanup	Image compression with reSmush.it, integration with UpdraftPlus for backups	Advanced caching types, fragment caching, Varnish support
Support and Documentation	Excellent support and extensive documentation	Good support with comprehensive guides	Good support but documentation can be overwhelming

Key Findings

• WP Rocket is best for those who want an all-in-one solution with excellent ease of use and advanced features like Critical CSS and deferred loading of JavaScript. It’s a premium plugin with no free version.
• WP-Optimize is ideal if you need robust database and media optimization. It offers a free version with advanced features available in the premium plans.
• W3 Total Cache is suitable for advanced users who need detailed control over caching settings. The free version is powerful, but some advanced features require Pro.

Want to learn more about caching? This walkthrough uses W3 Total Cache to demonstrate how caching works.

Key Features of WP Rocket

WP Rocket is loaded with features, so here’s a quick rundown of what it has to offer:

✅ Page caching	✅ Lazy loading
✅ Browser caching	✅ CDN integration
✅ GZIP compression	✅ Heartbeat control
✅ Cache preloading	✅ Separate caching for mobile devices
✅ File optimization (CSS/JS Minification)	✅ Automatic cache expiry
✅ Database optimization	✅ Multilingual compatibility
✅ Critical CSS generation	✅ Cloudflare integration
✅ Deferred JavaScript loading	✅ Customizable cache lifespan
✅ Remove unused CSS	✅ Automatic updates
✅ Detailed documentation	✅ Sucuri integration
✅ Excellent customer support	✅ Built-in security features
✅ 14-Day money-back guarantee	✅ WebP compatibility

Let’s look at some of these features in more detail.

Page Caching

One of the primary functions of WP Rocket is page caching. It creates static HTML versions of pages, which reduces the load on the server and speeds up load times for visitors.

This is automatically activated upon installation​, so there’s no real setup required

Browser Caching

Browser caching stores frequently accessed resources in the user’s browser.

This decreases the number of requests to the server and speeds up page load times for returning visitors​.

Once the plugin is installed, it sets expiration lengths for specific file types before they will be loaded again.

It does this by making adjustments to your .htaccess file. This is a look at the changes the plugin makes:

GZIP Compression

WP Rocket applies GZIP compression to files, which reduces their size and speeds up their transfer from the server to the visitor’s browser.

This is another feature that is enabled by default.

Cache Preloading

WP Rocket also includes cache preloading. This means that it generates the cache even before users visit your site.

Basically, it mimics a visit to your site to create these cache files before a real visitor ever lands on your pages.

This ensures that the cached pages are always ready to be served quickly – even from the first visit.

According to official WP Rocket documentation, you’ll see this message in your dashboard after enabling the Preload function:

File Optimization

WP Rocket can minify, combine, and defer the loading of CSS and JavaScript files.

The minification process removes unnecessary characters from code, while combining files to reduce the number of HTTP requests.

Deferring JavaScript loading ensures that scripts do not block the rendering of the page​​.

Specifically, the plugin allows you to control file optimization, including:

• Load CSS asynchronously
• Remove unused CSS
• Defer JavaScript
• Optimize Google Fonts

Database Optimization

There are also tools for cleaning up the WordPress database by removing outdated revisions, drafts, and other unnecessary data.

This helps keep your database lean and improves overall site performance. It also can be used to clean up comments and transients.

Lazy Loading

The plugin also supports lazy loading for images and videos, which means that media is only loaded when it becomes visible.

This reduces the initial load time of pages​​, as media is only loaded once the visitor scrolls to it.

CDN Integration

WP Rocket works well with several CDNs, including its own RocketCDN and third-party options like Cloudflare.

Using a CDN ensures that content is delivered from servers closest to your visitors. This can improve load times globally​.

eCommerce Optimization

For eCommerce sites, WP Rocket ensures that pages like the cart, checkout, and account pages are never cached.

This prevents potential issues with dynamic content while still helping your site benefit from the speed boost.

It’s also been optimized to work with all the top eCommerce plugins.

Heartbeat Control

WP Rocket provides options to control the WordPress Heartbeat API.

This can help reduce the server load by limiting the frequency of background tasks performed by WordPress and plugins​.

Some of these tasks include:

• Post autosave
• Dashboard notifications
• Real-time data
• Revisions
• Schedule posts

Advanced Rules

Lastly, WP Rocket offers advanced rules for fine-tuning your caching settings.

You can exclude specific pages, cookies, and user agents from being cached. This provides detailed control over when, where, and how you cache.

A Look at the WP Rocket User Experience

WP Rocket is designed to make websites blazing fast by applying performance optimizations from the moment it’s activated.

You can’t always see it, but you can feel the impact of it working.

For instance, just look at this speed test of a new install:

Performance numbers like that speak for themselves.

We’ve already covered many of these aspects in the Features section above, but here are ways WP Rocket can impact how site visitors experience your website.

1. Page Caching

Reduces server load and speeds up page load times. A speedier site improves the user experience and boosts SEO over time​.

2. Browser Caching

Stores frequently accessed resources like images, JavaScript, and CSS files in the visitor’s browser.

This means these elements don’t need to be reloaded when they visit again. This speeds up load times for returning visitors.

3. Lazy Loading

Images are loaded only when they enter the viewport, not during the initial page load.

This reduces the initial load time and can shave valuable milliseconds and even seconds off load times – particularly for those on slower connections​.

4. Minification

WP Rocket reduces the size of your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files by removing unnecessary characters and combining them.

This minimizes the number of HTTP requests and further speeds up the site experience​​.

5. Deferred JavaScript Loading

JavaScript files are loaded only after the main content of the page has loaded. This prevents render-blocking scripts from delaying the display of site content​.

6. Critical CSS Generation

WP Rocket can be used to generate critical CSS for your pages. This ensures the above-the-fold content loads quickly.

A Look at the WP Rocket Dashboard Features

The backend interface is user-friendly and packed with features to help you fine-tune website performance:

1. Dashboard

The dashboard provides a clear overview of plugin settings. It also displays quick actions like purging the cache and starting cache preloading.

It’s designed to be intuitive, making it easy for you to navigate and configure​​. We like the look of it when browsing as everything has a place and is clearly labeled.

2. File Optimization

This section allows you to minify and combine CSS and JavaScript files, defer JavaScript loading, and optimize CSS delivery.

These settings help reduce file sizes and improve load times.

3. Media

In the media settings, you can enable lazy loading for images, videos, and iframes. You can also specify WebP compatibility if you’re using WebP images.

This tab ensures that media files are optimized for faster loading​​.

4. Preloading

WP Rocket’s preloading feature builds your site’s cache before visitors arrive.

You can activate preloading for the homepage and its links or use sitemap-based preloading to cache your entire site based on its sitemap​.

This is also where you can exclude certain URLs from preloading.

5. Database Optimization

The Database tab lets you clean up unnecessary data such as post revisions, drafts, and transient options.

Regular database optimization can improve your site’s performance and reduce bloat​​.

6. Content Delivery Network (CDN)

Under the CDN tab, you can configure your CDN preferences. It prompts you to sign up for RocketCDN, the plugin’s proprietary option.

But the plugin works with other CDN providers as well, including Cloudflare.

7. Heartbeat Control

In the Heartbeat tab, you can manage the WordPress Heartbeat API. Doing so will reduce server load by limiting the frequency of background tasks.

It’s particularly useful for optimizing the performance of your WordPress admin area​.

8. Addons

WP Rocket includes several addons, such as Varnish cache, Cloudflare integration, and Sucuri integration.

These addons extend the capabilities of WP Rocket and help maintain optimal performance and security​​.

WP Rocket Speed Test Results

To properly do our due diligence, we ran a couple of speed tests on GTMetrix using WP Rocket.

To begin, we ran a test on a test site using just Spectra page builder plugin installed

The results were impressive:

But one thing we know for certain is that using a performance-based page builder like Spectra won’t require WP Rocket at all. You’ll still get top-tier performance.

So to conduct that test, we installed WP Rocket alongside Spectra. As you can see, the results are even better:

In our opinion, just using a fast page builder like Spectra should be more than enough to keep your site running quickly.

But if you want that extra speed boost, this plugin could give you the results you’re looking for.

Final Verdict: Is WP Rocket Worth It?

WP Rocket is one of the most user-friendly caching plugins available for WordPress. It offers a healthy set of features designed to optimize website performance.

From basic caching and file optimization to advanced features like critical CSS generation and CDN integration, it’s designed to get the job done.

But that leads us to the ultimate question: Should you buy WP Rocket?

After a thorough assessment, here’s what we think.

Buy WP Rocket If:

• You need a user-friendly solution: If you’re looking for a caching plugin that works out of the box with minimal configuration, WP Rocket is a great choice. It’s designed to be easy to use​ and you’ll get a lot out of it without even touching the settings area.
• You want comprehensive performance optimization: It covers all bases, including page caching, browser caching, GZIP compression, file optimization, and more. If you need an all-in-one solution for performance optimization, this plugin delivers.
• You run an eCommerce site: It’s fully compatible with WooCommerce and other eCommerce platforms, ensuring that critical pages like the cart and checkout are not cached​​.

Don’t Buy WP Rocket If:

• You’re looking for a free solution: WP Rocket is a premium plugin with no free version. If your budget is tight and you need a free caching solution, consider alternatives like W3 Total Cache or WP-Optimize, which offer free versions with essential features​.
• You only need basic caching: If your site’s performance needs are minimal and you only require basic caching, it might be more than you need. Simpler, free plugins might suffice for basic caching tasks​​.
• You require built-in image optimization: While it integrates with Imagify for this purpose, you’ll need to factor in additional costs if image optimization is a critical requirement for your site​​.

WP Rocket is an excellent investment for those looking to enhance WordPress website performance with minimal hassle.

Its extensive feature set, ease of use, and effective customer support make it a top choice.

However, if your needs are basic or you’re constrained by budget, exploring other options might be more suitable.

If you opt for Spectra, you might not need a caching plugin at all. The page builder plugin is optimized for speed already with the performance record to prove it!

WP Rocket Review FAQs

Is WordPress Rocket worth it?

Yes, WP Rocket is worth it for many people due to its comprehensive features and ease of use. It provides a wide range of performance optimizations, including page caching, browser caching, GZIP compression, and file optimization. All of these can speed up your website. Best of all, the plugin often shows immediate performance improvements upon activation​​.

What is better than WP Rocket?

What’s better than WP Rocket depends on your specific needs. While WP Rocket is highly regarded for its ease of use and comprehensive feature set, other plugins might be better suited to certain users:

• W3 Total Cache: Ideal for advanced users who need detailed control over caching settings.
• WP-Optimize: Excellent for users who need robust database and media optimization. It offers built-in image compression and advanced database cleanup features​.
• LiteSpeed Cache: A great option if your hosting provider uses LiteSpeed servers.

Which is better, W3TC or WP Rocket?

WP Rocket is generally considered better for most users. It’s easier to use right out of the box.

It’s ideal for people who want effective performance optimization without needing to delve deeply into technical settings.

Can I use WP Rocket for free?

No, WP Rocket does not offer a free version. It’s a premium plugin, and you must purchase a license to use it.

However, WP Rocket provides a 14-day money-back guarantee. This means you can try the plugin and request a refund if you are not satisfied with the results​.