Database Cleaner: Cleanup, Optimization & Repair
by Jordy Meow · Performance
Also makes 29 other plugins · 352.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
Clean up and optimize your WordPress database: revisions, transients, autoload, orphaned data. Built for large databases, safe and fast.
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 90/100
no flags
Active installs
10K+
≈19K estimated
Momentum
+129%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “optimize” and “optimization” for “wordpress database” and “orphaned”. “optimize” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “wordpress database” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “optimization” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #13. “orphaned” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
90 health vs 69 average across 1,806 Performance plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.8%
of downloads still active
At least 10K of 561.8K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Performance plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,104 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 20 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
Well tuned across the board
Updated 3 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
5.0★ over 150 reviews, smoothed to 4.78★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
2 of 2 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
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.
29
Momentum
Losing ground
-1.5
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
8%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-1.4
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| database cleaner | #1 | #1 | up 1 |
| database optimization | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| database cleanup | #1 | #1 | up 4 |
| cleaner | #2 | #2 | up 2 |
| cleanup your tag | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| cleanup database | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| database repair | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| safe cleanup | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| database your tag | #3 | #3 | up 4 |
| repair | #3 | #2 | up 10 |
| media cleaner | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| orphaned data | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| wordpress database | #4 | #4 | down 1 |
| clean database | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| transients your tag | #5 | #3 | 0 |
| wordpress cleaner | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| optimize database | #4 | #5 | 0 |
| orphaned | #7 | #6 | down 1 |
| site cleaner | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| autoload | #7 | #4 | down 2 |
| optimize your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
185 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 147 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 1 of its tags isn't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “optimize” and “optimization” for “wordpress database” and “orphaned”. “optimize” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “wordpress database” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “optimization” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #13. “orphaned” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “optimization”. #13 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 30.5K · 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
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
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.
20
releases in the last 12 months
3d ago
latest release · v1.4.8 · 30 Oct 2026
139
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. 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 “10K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 23 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 90% of the way through.
Install history since 17 Apr 2022
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Quang4mo ago
I have been using Database Cleaner for almost a year now and haven’t had any issues with it whatsoever. The database cleaner has been helpful keeping my website optimized and I am able to have a better understanding of my WP_Options and other components related to my database. It’s great to see an app respond really well to the WordPress environment. This topic was modified 6 days, 20 hours ago by Quang. Reason: Please remove the post. I accidentally double-posted
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Isaac Eboji8mo ago
A well-designed WordPress optimisation plugin that stands out for its precision and restraint. Rather than aggressively deleting data, it analyses relationships within the database and clearly flags what appears to be genuinely orphaned — such as unused post meta, expired transients, auto drafts and leftover entries from removed plugins. This relational awareness significantly reduces the risk of false positives, which is especially important on complex sites running multiple plugins, custom tables or LMS and ecommerce systems. The interface is clean, readable and transparent, allowing administrators to see exactly what will be removed before confirming deletion. Another strong advantage is its lightweight footprint and non-intrusive approach. It does not clutter the dashboard or attempt to automate risky background clean-ups without clear visibility. Instead, it encourages deliberate, manual optimisation — which is often the wiser route for production environments. For WordPress users who want database hygiene without compromising stability, Database Cleaner offers a careful balance of power, clarity and safety, making it a reliable tool for maintaining long-term site performance.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ propagatica9mo ago
A very good plugin with features that are usually found in premium plugins, for example, a search function, which in Advanced Database Cleaner, for instance, requires the Pro version.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ currantfarmer9mo ago
No problems at all
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ whuchumeen9mo ago
Stuff happens to database tables at times – during updates or a host of other operations. It’s good to have a plugin to keep the db functioning optimally.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Walter Viana9mo ago
Among all the database cleaning and sanitizing plugins, this one stood out because it has a mechanism that handles database tables smoothly, without rushing, and with all the features that a plugin like this should have. Another decisive factor in the purchase was the possibility of a one-time purchase and the most important feature for me, no add-ons and no ads on the dashboard. My database was several gigabytes in size, and I had problems when trying to clean it with other plugins. In the end, I always had to restore my website. With this plugin, the scenario changed completely, and I was finally able to remove orphaned tables and orphaned data without breaking my website! After using the free version and reducing my database to just over 10 MB, without any side effects such as broken functions or website crashes, I had no doubts. I purchased the pro version today, and after installing it, I now know that my database is in the capable hands of this excellent plugin. I confess that I was afraid at first due to previous unpleasant experiences, but fortunately, I finally have my database adjusted and working as it should have been for a long time. Congratulations to the developers who are always updating this powerful tool. 5 stars is not enough, actually. I recommend it to anyone who wants to keep their database, no matter how large, under control. Congratulations!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Laura11mo ago
I’ve been using Database Cleaner for years, and I love how precisely I can see what I’m doing. It’s not only an efficient tool, it’s a great learning viewer for database functionality. It lets me clean up the tables and records left by deleted plugins even if WordPress thinks they’re still necessary (goodbye at last, Jetpack) and check the actual autoloaded options without leaving my dashboard. Recommended!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ toolchecker11mo ago
<font dir=”auto” style=”vertical-align: inherit;”><font dir=”auto” style=”vertical-align: inherit;”>Vom Grundsatz her ein gutes Tool. Leider sind die wichtigen Einstellungen, wie kann es anders sein, nur in der Vollversion zugänglich. Für den normalen Gebrauch reicht dieses Werkzeug vollständig aus.</font></font> This topic was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by toolchecker. Reason: falsche Satzstellung
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.3.9 Fix: Table deletion check no longer incorrectly allows WordPress core tables to be deleted. Add: MCP tools to allow AI assistants to inspect and clean the database through AI Engine. Update: Meow Apps tables are now reco 1.3.9
- — Version 1.3.8 Update: Support more plugins. 1.3.8
- — Version 1.3.7 Update: More plugins. 🎵 Discuss with others about Database Cleaner on the Discord . 🌴 Keep us motivated with a little review here . Thank you! 🥰 If you want to help us, check our Patreon . Thank you! 1.3.7
- — Version 1.3.6 Update: Reworked the custom queries workflow. Update: Better UI/UX. 1.3.6
- — Version 1.3.5 Add: Introduced a script to automatically detect and clean duplicated CSV entries. Add: Added broader plugin support to improve compatibility with other WordPress plugins. Update: Optimized revision-related operations us 1.3.5
- — Version 1.3.4 Add: New module_devtools option to give developers easier access to debugging. Update: Improved sweeper update logic to run more efficiently. Update: Better multi-site support. 🎵 Discuss with others about Database Clean 1.3.4
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 3 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (1.4.8). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2024-06-06 CVE-2024-35712 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory Affects <= 1.0.5 Patched in 1.0.6
- 2023-12-27 CVE-2023-51508 Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File Affects <= 0.9.8 Patched in 0.9.9
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 14 languages, 5 at 90% or more
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 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Clean up and optimize your WordPress database: revisions, transients, autoload, orphaned data. Built for la..."
- ! Has a FAQ No FAQ section.
- ! FAQ asks real questions No FAQ to judge.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("perfect for"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 2 headings and 1 list.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,983 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "cleanup", "optimization" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2024-12-15 9K+ → 10K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2024-12-14 10K+ → 9K+ down after 3 days in tier
- 2024-12-11 9K+ → 10K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2024-12-09 10K+ → 9K+ down after 53 days in tier
- 2024-10-17 9K+ → 10K+ up after 189 days in tier
- 2024-04-11 8K+ → 9K+ up after 66 days in tier
- 2024-02-05 7K+ → 8K+ up after 89 days in tier
- 2023-11-08 6K+ → 7K+ up after 119 days in tier
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).
-
WP-Sweep 100K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A -
SweepPress: Website Cleanup and Optimization 500+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags A - W WP-Cleanup 400+ installs · 3.9★ · 3 shared tags D
-
NHR Database Cleaner & Optimizer – Revisions, Transients, Autoload & Options Manager 100+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags A -
Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ installs · 4.9★ · 2 shared tags A -
WP-DBManager 50K+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Database Cleaner: Cleanup, Optimization & Repair into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/database-cleaner" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Database Cleaner: Cleanup, Optimization & Repair — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Database Cleaner: Cleanup, Optimization & Repair: 10K+ active installs, 5.0★ (150 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-02. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/database-cleaner
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