Speed up WordPress: 8 changes that make a real difference
Slow WordPress website? These 8 measures noticeably improve loading time and Core Web Vitals – from caching and images to the PHP version you are running.
Every second of loading time costs visitors, enquiries and revenue. At the same time, Google uses the Core Web Vitals to assess how quickly and stably a page loads. The good news: most WordPress websites can be made significantly faster with a few targeted measures.
Measure first
Before you change anything, measure the current state – for example with Google’s PageSpeed Insights. Pay particular attention to these three values:
| Metric | Meaning | Good if |
|---|---|---|
| LCP | Time until the largest content element is visible | under 2.5 s |
| INP | Response to clicks and input | under 200 ms |
| CLS | Elements shifting while the page loads | under 0.1 |
1. Enable page caching
Without a cache, WordPress rebuilds every page from the database on every request. A page cache stores the finished result. If your website runs on a LiteSpeed server, the LiteSpeed Cache plugin is the first choice, because the cache works directly in the web server.
2. Use a current PHP version
Newer PHP versions are noticeably faster and receive security updates. Check in your hosting control panel which version is active and switch to a current one – after a short test on a staging copy.
3. Resize images and deliver them in modern formats
- Resize images to the width actually needed before uploading them.
- Use WebP or AVIF instead of JPEG and PNG.
- Use lazy loading – WordPress already defers loading images outside the visible area by default.
4. Clear out plugins
Every plugin can bring additional scripts, stylesheets and database queries. Deactivate and delete everything you do not really need. Several plugins for the same task are a common cause of slowdowns.
5. Choose a lightweight theme
Heavy themes and page builders often load a lot of code that the individual page does not need at all. A lightweight theme with the block editor is the faster solution in many cases.
6. Clean up the database
Revisions, trash entries, spam comments and expired transients accumulate over the years. Many cache plugins offer a database optimisation function – always create a backup first.
7. Reduce external scripts
Tracking codes, chat widgets, embedded videos and third-party fonts increase loading time. Only include what has a clear benefit, and host fonts yourself where possible.
8. The right hosting
Even the best optimisation reaches its limits if the server is overloaded. Look for fixed resources per account, a fast web server with server-side caching and current PHP versions.
Tip: Change only one thing at a time and measure again afterwards. That way you can see which measure really made a difference.
Frequently asked questions on this topic
That depends on the web server. On LiteSpeed servers, LiteSpeed Cache is the most effective because the cache works directly in the server. On other servers, plugins such as WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache are widely used.
As a guideline, the largest visible content element (LCP) should appear in less than 2.5 seconds. Many well-optimised websites are well below that.
It is not the number but the quality that matters. A poorly coded plugin can slow things down more than ten lightweight ones. If in doubt, test the loading time with and without the plugin.
If your visitors come mainly from Switzerland, the effect is smaller than with an international audience. Caching, lean images and a fast server usually achieve more.
