Speed Optimization

WP-Optimize and WP Rocket are both plugins for optimizing WordPress speed, but they have different features and purposes.
we’ll compare the differences between each plugin and explain which one you should choose in which situations.

1️⃣ Key differences between WP-Optimize and WP Rocket

functionality	WP-Optimize 🚀vs	WP Rocket 🚀 â
main Purpose	provides database optimization & caching	caching & Page Speed Optimization
optimize your database	✅ Powerful DB cleaning features	❌ Basic DB cleaning (Auto-optimize X)
page Caching	✅ (Not in free version, paid feature)	✅ Advanced page caching support
image Optimization	✅ Provides basic image compression	❌ (requires a separate image compression plugin)
CSS/JS file optimization	✅ Support for minifiles (minification)	✅ Support for minifiles, merges, asynchronous loading, and lazy loading
Lazy Load	✅ Support for	support for advanced features
Gzip compression support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
CDN support	❌ None (requires direct CDN setup)	✅ Cloudflare and various CDN support
mobile caching	❌ None	✅ Yes
pricing	free & Paid (Premium version required) premium version: 2 domains: $49 5 domains: $99 unlimited Domains: $199	paid (1-year license required) 1 domain: $59 3 domains: $119 50 domains: $299

2️⃣ Detailed comparison by plugin

✅ WP-Optimize: a plugin that specializes in database optimization

WP-Optimize is a plugin that offers WordPress database optimization, image compression, and some cachingfeatures.

its main features include

1. database cleanup 🛠
   • allows you to delete revisions, transient cache, spam comments, and trash data.
   • speed up your site by reducing unnecessary database load.
2. image compression 📷
   • Support for WebP conversion and JPEG compression.
   • no need for a separate image optimization plugin.
3. basic caching features (paid)
   • caching features are available in the paid version.
   • focused on DB optimization rather than page caching.

WP-Optimize is recommended for

sites where database optimization is important
if you only need image optimization and basic caching
✅ If you want to use it for free

✅ WP Rocket: A caching plugin that specializes in speed optimization

WP Rocket is a paid plugin that targets advanced caching features, CSS/JS optimization, and speed improvements.

its main features include

1. advanced caching system 🚀
   • generates static HTML files to significantly reduce page loading speed.
   • mobile caching support → speed up mobile page loading.
   • cache preload feature → faster when visitors first access your page.
2. CSS & JS Optimization 🎨
   • Merge CSS/JS files to reduce HTTP requests.
   • Asynchronous JavaScript loading → faster page speed.
   • Unused CSS can be removed.
3. Lazy Load support 📷
   • improve initial loading speed by making images load every time the page loads.
4. CDN and Cloudflare support 🌍
   • integrate with Cloudflare to increase global speed without the need for a separate CDN service.

WP Rocket is recommended for

✅ If you want to maximize WordPress speed optimization
✅ Need professional caching and performance optimization features
✅ Want to integrate with a CDN to increase global speed

3️⃣ WP-Optimize vs. WP Rocket Choice Guide

purpose of Use	recommended plugin
database optimization is most important	✅ WP-Optimize
need basic speed optimization for free	✅ WP-Optimize
needs full caching + optimization features	✅ WP Rocket
Needs CSS/JS compression and loading speed optimization	✅ WP Rocket
Need global speed boost with CDN integration	✅ WP Rocket

4️⃣ UsingWP-Optimize and WP Rocket Efficiently

if you are not currently purchasing the WP Rocket plugin, we recommend that you install WP-Optimize first to clean up your database, which is not supported by the wp rocket plugin, and then use the wp rocket plugin.

if you use both plugins, your site may crash due to plugin conflicts, or your site may become slower. you can proceed with the 2 caching plugins in the order below.

1. Install WP-Optimize plugin and optimize it (clean the database)
2. Deactivate the WP-Optimize plugin and uninstall the plugin
3. install the WP Rocket plugin
4. Installing the WP rocket plugin + imagyiy plugin

After optimizing your database with WP-Optimize, you can significantly improve the speed of your website by using WP-Rocket’s caching feature. if you additionally utilize a CDN, you can improve your site’s speed considerably. If you do, you can improve your site’s speed considerably, as you can see from the distant

Clean up your database after installing the WP-Optimize plugin

Go to theWP Rocket homepage , select a plan, pay and download the plugin.

install the downloaded WP ROCKET plugin to WordPress – > Add New Plugin – > Upload Plugin – > Upload Plugin -> Select a file to upload the plugin, click Install Now and the WP ROCKET plugin will be installed.

after installing WP ROCKET plugin, you need to activate it and then proceed with optimization settings in WP ROCKET plugin settings. I wrote a separate article on how to set up WP ROCKET plugin and what it does, and you can find more details in this article.

🔥 Final conclusion: which plugin should you choose?

• if you need database cleanup and light speed optimization: ✅ WP-Optimize (available for free)
• if you want the best speed optimization: ✅ WP Rocket (paid, but the best)

💡 Recommended combination:
👉 WP-Optimize (free) + LiteSpeed Cache (free) combination → Performance & Free Optimization
👉 WP Rocket (paid) + imagify (free) alone → powerful caching and image optimization

🚀 We recommend choosing the right plugin based onyour budget and site goals.

there are many reasons why your WordPress admin (Admin) page might be slow. server issues, plugin overload, and lack of database optimization are the main culprits. below, we’ll walk you through the possible causes and solutions step-by-step.

1️⃣ Top Causes of Slow WordPress Admin Page

1. server performance issues

• Low PHP version: Performance degradation occurs when using PHP 7.4 or lower.
• LowPHP memory limit: A low default (128M) can cause slow admin pages.
• InsufficientCPU and server resources: Possible overload when using low-end shared hosting.

slower PHP version itself can slow down site performance, and a low PHP memory limit can slow down the admin page itself.

2. plugin/Theme Over-Installation and Conflicts

• over-installation of plugins: If you have a lot of plugins that you don’t need, it can slow down the loading of the admin page.
• using heavy plugins: e.g.) SEO plugins, security plugins, inefficient cache plugins.
• theme performance issues: Inefficiently written theme causing poor performance.
• theme and plugin conf licts: server errors caused by conflicting plugins that are incompatible with the theme

this can happen if unused plugins are not deleted properly, your site slows down if you have a lot of heavy plugins installed, or if an existing plugin conflicts with an existing plugin because it was not deleted properly.

conflicting plugins that are incompatible with your WordPress theme can also cause your site to slow down.

3. database overload

• outdated revisions (post revisions) and temporary data (transients) overwhelming the database.
• slow admin if there is a lot of data set to autoload in thewp_options table.

4. AJAX overload (admin-ajax.php)

• overloaded when there are many AJAX requests, such as real-time notifications, WooCommerce dashboard data, etc.

2️⃣ How to optimize WordPress admin speed

1. Optimize your PHP settings

1. Upgrade your PHP version
   • We recommend using PHP 8.0 or higher.
   • upgrade your PHP version from your cPanel or hosting admin page.
2. change your PHP-PHM settings
   • changing PHP-FPM settings, PHP FPM plays an important role in improving the speed of your admin page.
3. Increase PHP memory limit
   • set memory_limitto 512M or higher in cPanel.
   • add the code below to yourwp-config.php file.

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M'); define('WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT', '512M');

2. optimize plugins and themes

1. deactivate unnecessary plugins
   • check all of your currently active plugins and deactivate the ones you don’t use.
2. replace heavy plugins
   • examples of plugins that can be problematic
     • Elementor: Heavy page builder plugin.
     • WooCommerce: Can cause inefficient AJAX requests.
   • alternative: Use a lightweight plugin.
3. test changing to the default theme
   • to test admin page speed, check the performance after changing to a lightweight theme like Twenty Twenty-One and generaterpress.
4. Use the WP-Optimize plugin
   • Install the WP-Optimize plugin to perform database optimization tasks
     • deleting post revisions.
     • deleting temporary data (transient).
     • removing trash and spam comments.
5. manual database optimization
   • run the following queries in phpMyAdmin to delete expired and unnecessary data:sqlCopyEditDELETEFROM wp_options WHERE option_name LIKE '_transient_%'; DELETE FROM wp_options WHERE option_name LIKE '_site_transient_%';

3. Reduce AJAX requests

1. Install the Heartbeat Control plugin from
   • Reduce admin-ajax.php load by limiting Heartbeat API requests from WordPress.
   • Install the Heartbeat Control plugin → Reduce or disable “Heartbeat Frequency”.
2. Disable the WooCommerce dashboard
   • WooCommerce → Settings → Advanced → Disable “WooCommerce Dashboard”.

4. optimize your cache plugin

1. Optimize WP Rocket settings
   • If WP Rocket is enabled, check the options below
     • Disable CSS/JS minification: it can conflict with certain plugins or themes.
     • limit cache preloads: to prevent excessive preloading.
   • Run WP Rocket → “Clear Cache”.
2. avoid conflicts with other cache plugins
   • Avoid using other cache plugins like LiteSpeed Cache, W3 Total Cache, etc. with WP Rocket.

5. check server performance

1. upgrade your hosting
   • if you’re on a low-cost shared hosting, you may be underutilizing your CPU or RAM and need to upgrade the hosting server itself.
2. Use the Query Monitor plugin
   • Install the Query Monitor plugin to analyze the queries executed on your admin pages.
   • identify which plugins or themes are causing inefficient queries and take action.

3️⃣ Additional checklists

1. clear your browser cache and cookies
   • if your admin page is slow, clear your browser cache and cookies and retest.
2. Check your CDN settings
   • If you are using a CDN (e.g. Cloudflare), check your CDN cache settings if the admin page is slow.
3. check your site health
   • Go to WordPress → “Tools → Site Health” to see recommendations regarding your server and plugins.

🚀 Conclusion

1. Prioritizeoptimizing your PHP settings, disabling unnecessary plugins, and optimizing your database.
2. Use plugins like Query Monitor and WP-Optimize to analyze performance and iterate on optimizations.
3. if you continue to have issues, consider upgrading your server environment or seeking professional help.