Cache Using Gzip
by Mark Nokes · Performance
Also makes 1 other plugin · 400+ installs across the portfolio →
Lightweight WordPress caching with gzip compression for faster page loads — no complicated settings.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 85/100
Few reviews
Active installs
400+
≈470 estimated
Momentum
+63%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “cache” and “caching” for “gzip compression” and “static cache”. “cache” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “gzip compression” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “caching” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “static cache” sits at #20 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
85 health vs 69 average across 1,808 Performance plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →4.0%
of downloads still active
At least 400 of 9.9K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Performance plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,103 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Performance plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 8 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Most to gain: Rating quality
Updated 31 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
5.0★ over 3 reviews, smoothed to 4.15★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
To rank higher: Too few reviews to rank on quality — nudge happy users to leave one.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
33
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.5
Velocity
places per keyword, 24d
7%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 24d
-0.6
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| gzip your tag | #1 | #7 | 0 |
| gzip compression | #4 | #16 | down 1 |
| static cache | #20 | #21 | down 2 |
| cache control | #24 | #20 | down 1 |
| cache your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| caching your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| performance your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| speed your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
16 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 4 listed. 12 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 4 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “cache” and “caching” for “gzip compression” and “static cache”. “cache” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “gzip compression” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “caching” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “static cache” sits at #20 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 15 Jul 2026 · 109 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 1K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
8
releases in the last 12 months
1mo ago
latest release · v2.9.7 · 1 Oct 2026
29
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 97% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “400+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Modeled within the band wp.org reports; tightens as we track daily.
Install history since 14 Jul 2026
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Greg Taylor1.1y ago
This plugin does exactly what it’s supposed to do better than any other “hybrid” optimization caching plugin I’ve tried (I’ve often found the comprehensive plugins problematic with some of their changes). The .htaccess file is optimized as well, to take maximum advantage of gzip compression and cache expirations. The annual feel is extremely reasonable for the added options the plugin provides. Very highly recommended.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ skeeterseatery1.6y ago
Thanks for making this plugin. I have added it to my website, and it is working well. I love small, well-built plugins.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Bensh861.6y ago
Very helpful and quick to set up caching plugin. I immediately got a performance of 94. Before, I was at 61!
Read on wp.org ↗
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
4 of 8 pass · checked 26 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ! Says what it does Short description names no action; say what the plugin does for the site.
- ! Has a FAQ No FAQ section.
- ! FAQ asks real questions No FAQ to judge.
- ✓ Names who it is for Names its audience or use cases ("designed for", "who want", "ideal for").
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 6 headings and 5 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,926 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 5 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
No tier crossings observed yet.
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Cache Enabler 100K+ installs · 4.3★ · 4 shared tags A -
Cachify 9K+ installs · 4.5★ · 4 shared tags C -
FastPixel Cache – Optimize Page Speed: Compress Images, Minify, Clean Database & CDN 4K+ installs · 4.7★ · 4 shared tags A -
WP Super Cache 1M+ installs · 4.3★ · 3 shared tags A -
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags A -
Breeze Cache 300K+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Cache Using Gzip into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/cache-using-gzip" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Cache Using Gzip — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Cache Using Gzip: 400+ active installs, 5.0★ (3 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/cache-using-gzip
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