Every website owner knows the importance of a quick loading speed, particularly for those using WordPress. Often, a slow website can be attributed to an excess of plugins or low-quality web hosting.
Considering a caching plugin like WP Rocket or Autoptimize might be a wise move, but don’t expect them to work wonders on their own. It’s true that one caching plugin can’t solve all your loading speed issues, which is why the Perfmatters WordPress plugin is a fantastic addition to your website optimization toolkit.
I currently have Perfmatters running on my WP BASIC PRO site, so feel free to test my website’s speed with any tool you like. For example, if your site’s load time on Google PageSpeed Insights is 80%, I’m confident that incorporating Perfmatters will boost that number to over 90%.
In case you need some guidance, I’ll walk you through the process with a live example in this post. Additionally, I’ll provide an in-depth review of the Perfmatters plugin, covering its most notable features and benefits, as well as its pros and cons, reasons to use it, and much more.
What is Perfmatters?
It’s a webpage speed optimization plugin for WordPress. The brains behind this innovative plugin are Brian Jackson and Brett Jackson, both of whom possess extensive programming knowledge.
Brian Jackson boasts over 13 years of WordPress experience, having co-founded Kinsta hosting and served as their former Chief Marketing Officer. He’s also the owner of the Woorkup blog. It’s essential to know the people responsible for the product you’re investing in, so I’ve included a brief introduction to these two experts.
A reputable developer or owner often indicates a high-quality product. With that in mind, you can trust that the Perfmatters plugin, backed by the expertise of its creators, is a reliable solution for optimizing your website’s loading speed.
Exclusive Perfmatters Discount Code – Limited Time Offer
Test Your Webpage Speed Before Using Perfmatters
I’m sure that once you install and configure this plugin, your webpage loading time will see a significant improvement.
That’s why I suggest testing your website’s loading time before using Perfmatters on your WordPress site.
There are numerous online tools to help you assess webpage loading times and examine other related metrics. Google Page Speed and Pingdom are two of the most well-known options.
Other tools, such as Website Speed Test, GTmetrix, and WebPageTest.org, are also available for you to gauge your site’s performance.
Why Choose Perfmatters?
While I won’t insist on you using this plugin, I believe you’ll be amazed by its impact once it’s installed on your site.
Based on my research, many professional bloggers and website owners use both Perfmatters and a premium caching plugin. If you don’t already have a caching plugin, I suggest considering WP Rocket or WP-Optimize, which are premium options. However, WP Rocket is the top recommendation.
Alternatively, there are two free caching plugins you can try: WP Fastest Cache and W3 Total Cache.
Additionally, a Content Delivery Network (CDN) can boost security protection and improve webpage loading times. A premium CDN generally outperforms a free one, but if you’re on a tight budget, Cloudflare’s free plan is a suitable choice for small, low-traffic websites.
Now, let’s take a look at the live testing results of my website’s page speed.
Before installing Perfmatters, my WPBasic Pro blog had a page speed score of less than 80% on desktops and 55% on mobile devices, as measured by the Google tool.
I was amazed at the difference Perfmatters made on my blog. It increased the speed score to over 99% on desktops and nearly 95% on mobile devices.
You can also check the loading times of other websites using the Perfmatters plugin, like Wpcoupons.io and arizonamri.com.
Note: While not required, using a premium caching plugin alongside Perfmatters can help you achieve the best results. If you prefer, a free caching plugin is also an option.
Perfmatters Features & Setup
Perfmatters boasts a variety of features to enhance WordPress performance, allowing users to easily toggle each option on or off in the plugin settings section.
You don’t need any programming knowledge to use this plugin, as its configuration options have been designed with beginner WordPress users in mind.
Performance Features
Perfmatters includes all the essential features for WordPress performance optimization. The creators designed it as a comprehensive web performance solution for any WordPress site.
Take a look at the general features that rapidly boost webpage performance:
- Disable Emojis
- Disable Embeds
- Remove Query Strings
- Remove jQuery Migrate
- Remove RSD Link
- Remove Shortlink
- Disable Self Pingbacks
- Disable REST API
- Remove REST API Links
- Disable Dashicons
- Disable Google Maps
- Disable Comments
- Remove Comment URLs
- Disable Heartbeat
- Heartbeat Frequency
- Limit Post Revisions
- Autosave Interval
Note– You can disable the above options from the plugin settings page. However, these options are not relevant for WordPress. You should therefore avoid enabling them with just a click.
Perfmatters Fonts Feature
The use of cloud features can significantly slow down webpage loading times. If your site utilizes Google Fonts through a theme setting, it could cause delays. To improve loading times, disable this feature and opt for the theme’s system font instead.
Perfmatters Security Features
WordPress security is a crucial aspect that should never be overlooked. Given its popularity, WordPress is a frequent target for hackers.
You can explore our other guides on WordPress security, such as:
You can read our other guides about WordPress security.
Perfmatters allows you to disable some standard security features, enhancing site security and performance. You can also use a dedicated WordPress security plugin or disable specific features.
- Disable XML-RPC
- Change Login URL
- Hide WP Version
- Remove wlwmanifest Link
- Disable RSS Feeds
- Remove RSS Feed Links
- Disable Password Strength Meter
Along with Perfmatters, you can use a WordPress security plugin or disable some features primarily.
For WordPress security, I recommend iThemes Security and Sucuri. Beginners might prefer the free plugin, All-in-One WordPress Security. WP Security Ninja is another alternative security plugin for WordPress sites.
WP Security Ninja is another alternative security plugin for WordPress sites.
Perfmatters Lazy Loading Features
Sometimes, images cause a website to load slowly. If your site contains numerous large image files, enable the lazy loading feature.
Advanced options like lazy image loading and DOM monitoring will further increase your website’s loading time compared to other performance plugins. If your WordPress site has many PNG images, consider converting them to JPG format.
Additionally, the plugin’s Image Fade In feature speeds up page loading by applying a fade effect to images as users scroll down the page.
Database Optimization
Perfmatters enables you to optimize your site database either manually or automatically. You can schedule automatic optimization daily, weekly, or monthly, eliminating the need for additional plugins.
CDN Integration
Understanding the benefits of a Content Delivery Network (CDN) is crucial for achieving the best results for your site. A CDN enhances user experience by providing faster loading times, ensuring optimal performance from any region and on any device.
Cloudflare is a popular, free CDN that can be easily used with Perfmatters. However, the plugin supports other CDNs as well.
Features of CDN section
- Enable CDN Rewrite
- CDN URL
- Included Directories
- CDN Exclusions
One of the coolest CDN is Cloudflare, and you don’t need to spend any money on it. It is totally free.
Google Analytics Optimization
The Google Analytics optimization feature reduces unnecessary DNS lookups and assesses your website’s bounce rate. With Perfmatters, you can enable Google Analytics for website optimization. Simply navigate to the plugin settings, select Google Analytics, enable local analytics, and provide your tracking number.
The Google Analytics optimization tool allows you to enable or disable specific features and identify issues on your website.
Features of Google Analytics section
- Enable Local Analytics
- Disable Display Features
- Anonymize IP
- Track Logged In Admins
- Adjusted Bounce Rate
- Use MonsterInsights
Login URL & Behavior
Perfmatters recently introduced custom login screen URL and behavior control options. To access your blog or website directly, bypassing the default admin or user login URLs, enable the custom login URL.
This feature allows you to change the default WordPress login URL (wp-admin or wp-login) without needing additional plugins.
Header, Body & Footer Hooks:
If your theme lacks header, body, or footer sections for globally adding custom scripts, don’t worry. Perfmatters enables you to add code, scripts like Google Analytics, or any other content to your site.
The plugin lets you control what loads in your website’s header, body, and footer, offering many more customization features to improve performance.
Perfmatters Preloading
Preloading is a powerful feature for boosting website loading speed, and Perfmatters supports it. Google PageSpeed Test, for instance, recommends using a preloader to evaluate webpage speed. This feature allows you to preview how the webpage will load before visiting it.
Perfmatters can function as a preloader, loading configured elements in the background without affecting your website’s loading speed.
Note: If you want to use a preloader on your WordPress site, you don’t need a third-party plugin. Perfmatters allows you to add a preloader to your website within the same interface.
Perfmatters Script Manager
Perfmatters includes a script manager that enables you to activate or deactivate items according to your needs. To access your site’s script manager, click on Perfmatters settings and select the Extras option. Then, enable the script manager icon.
Disabling unnecessary scripts can help improve your website’s speed, especially on the homepage.
Perfmatters License Verification
The Perfmatters team consistently updates its systems and features. You can access the latest version anytime through your WordPress dashboard.
To do this, navigate to Perfmatters settings, click the license option, enter your license key, and click Save.
Updating your license key ensures you receive every updated plugin version, enabling easy updates with a single click.
Perfmatters Pricing
Perfmatters can significantly enhance your website’s speed at an affordable price. There are three pricing tiers available to meet your needs.
For a single website, the cost is less than $30/year, including one year of premium support and updates.
For businesses or multiple sites, there are two more options: around $54.95/year for three websites and approximately $124.95/year for unlimited websites with customer support.
The customer service team is friendly, providing unlimited support, updates, and email assistance within 24 hours.
Apply the “WPBASICPRO” discount code for up to 20% off—a fantastic deal.
Money-Back Guarantee🙂
Perfmatters prioritizes customer satisfaction, offering a 30-day money-back guarantee.
If you’re unhappy with their service, they’ll process a refund within 3-5 business days.
Best Perfmatters Alternatives for Website Optimization
While Perfmatters is a popular WordPress performance plugin, there are numerous other options available.
If you’re seeking an alternative to Perfmatters or prefer a free plugin, consider these highly-rated, free, and premium plugins:
- Query Monitor – An excellent, free WordPress site development plugin
- Lazyload by WP Rocket(outdated) – A simple yet effective WordPress performance plugin
- Autoptimize – A versatile, free plugin
Final Thoughts on Perfmatters
Your website is an asset, so ensuring it’s well-optimized for users is crucial. Research shows that users dislike websites with page load times exceeding four seconds.
A highly-rated WordPress performance plugin can boost your webpage’s performance. Therefore, investing in Perfmatters is a smart choice.
Optimizing other elements is also essential for speeding up a WordPress site. This in-depth review aims to provide insight into Perfmatters’ most notable features for a better understanding of its capabilities.
