Falcon – Cache, Performance, Security, Cleanup, and Tweaks
by Anh Tran · Admin & Utilities
Also makes 17 other plugins · 93.6K+ installs across the portfolio →
A lightweight WordPress plugin for performance, security, cleanup, and everyday tweaks.
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 86/100
no flags
Active installs
2K+
≈2.5K estimated
Momentum
+38%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “admin”, “optimize” and “performance” for “dashboard cleanup”, “nag” and “nags”. “admin” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “dashboard cleanup” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “optimize” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “nag” sits at #14 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “performance” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “nags” sits at #15 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
86 health vs 56 average across 5,895 Admin & Utilities plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.5%
of downloads still active
At least 2K of 79.6K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Admin & Utilities plugin keeps 0.6%, across 4,187 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Admin & Utilities 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 11 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 11 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
5.0★ over 10 reviews, smoothed to 4.25★ 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.
39
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.1
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
21%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| tweaks your tag | #4 | #11 | up 1 |
| cleanup | #5 | #9 | down 2 |
| dashboard cleanup | #12 | #19 | down 1 |
| nag | #14 | #15 | down 1 |
| nags | #15 | #13 | down 1 |
| website cleanup | #12 | #20 | down 2 |
| admin cleanup | #20 | #17 | down 2 |
| database cleanup | #23 | #18 | down 2 |
| shortlink | #24 | #22 | — |
| plugin cleanup | #22 | #20 | — |
| admin your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| optimize your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| performance your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| speed your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
93 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 10 listed. 83 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 “admin”, “optimize” and “performance” for “dashboard cleanup”, “nag” and “nags”. “admin” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “dashboard cleanup” sits at #12 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “optimize” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “nag” sits at #14 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “performance” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “nags” sits at #15 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 4.5K · 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
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.
11
releases in the last 12 months
11d ago
latest release · v2.12.1 · 20 Oct 2026
46
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 “2K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 6 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 51% of the way through.
Install history since 2 Sep 2018
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ wiegertschouten10mo ago
This plugin is simply great. It’s lightweight, unobtrusive, replaces a bunch of other plugins, and makes a site noticeably faster and cleaner. Definitely deserves more attention and installs!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ David Ha2.2y ago
Plugin hoạt động hiệu quả – nhiều tính năng tối ưu cần thiết cho website mà không bị lỗi. Điểm 10 chất lượng!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ 3xploiton32.3y ago
Removed Unused Asset
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mundeee2.9y ago
Finally, after manually disabling all that stuff I don’t need in my Themes and wondering why it didn’t work half of the time, I can finally rely on a simple but powerful plugin. Thanks!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ jahabar3.0y ago
Firstly I would rate this plugin with 5 stars. However I found an issue in the Assets tab section for : Cleanup nav menu item ID & classes It was enabled by default. So mega menu pages and mega menu drop down was not working. I had to disable manually and my menus are working perfectly. I would advise the developer to disable it by default so that majority customers don’t need to fix their menu not working issues. This topic was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by jahabar.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ gahia5.9y ago
Simple and works! I’m using it in all my sites. Thanks!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Hung PD6.5y ago
I’m using this plugin for my personal blog, it’s simple but amazing.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ nguyensonit8106.5y ago
Mình thấy plugin sài ok đơn giản chỉ những cái cần thiết cho web và dễ cấu hình mong team phát triển mạnh hơn.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- 2026-10-20 Version 2.12.1 Fix password-protected post cache leak and harden cache/login 2.12.1
- 2026-09-29 Version 2.12.0 Add option to disable WordPress AI features and hide the Connectors settings page. 2.12.0
- 2026-08-17 Version 2.11.2 Skip page cache for Markdown requests (Slim SEO Pro’s Markdown for AI ) so AI bots always get Markdown, not cached HTML. 2.11.2
- 2026-08-10 Version 2.11.1 Stop direct access to PHP files. Replace short echo tags with PHP echo. Add option to keep latest N revisions when cleaning database. 2.11.1
- 2026-07-12 Version 2.11.0 Highlight Database cleanup: Clean revisions, drafts, trash, spam, expired transients, orphaned meta, unused terms, and optimize tables. (#26) Limit login attempts: Block an IP after 3 failed logins for 1 hour. (#25) Allo 2.11.0
- 2026-05-12 Version 2.10.1 Fix serving the same cache for URL with and without query string Clear cache only when a comment is approve 2.10.1
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 3 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (2.12.1). Sites still on an older version should update.
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.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 3 languages, 0 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 Short description names no action; say what the plugin does for the site.
- ! Has a FAQ Only 1 question in the FAQ; 3 or more gives an assistant something to match.
- ! FAQ asks real questions 0 of 1 FAQ entries are headings, not questions ("undefined").
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Gutenberg, Block editor, REST API.
- ✓ Headings and lists 8 headings and 14 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 3,365 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
- 2026-05-05 3K+ → 2K+ down after 10 days in tier
- 2026-04-25 2K+ → 3K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2026-04-23 3K+ → 2K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2026-04-22 2K+ → 3K+ up after 20 days in tier
- 2026-04-02 3K+ → 2K+ down after 22 days in tier
- 2026-03-11 2K+ → 3K+ up after 302 days in tier
- 2025-05-13 1K+ → 2K+ up after 8 days in tier
- 2025-05-05 2K+ → 1K+ down after 6 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).
-
10Web Booster – Website speed optimization, Cache & Page Speed optimizer 60K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A - D Debloat – Remove Unused CSS, Optimize JS 30K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A
-
WP Performance Score Booster – Optimize Speed, Enable Cache & Page Preload 10K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A -
Cachify 9K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags C -
BerqWP – All-In-One Optimization for Core Web Vitals, Cache, CDN, Images, CSS & JavaScript 4K+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags B -
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Falcon – Cache, Performance, Security, Cleanup, and Tweaks into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/falcon" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Falcon – Cache, Performance, Security, Cleanup, and Tweaks — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Falcon – Cache, Performance, Security, Cleanup, and Tweaks: 2K+ active installs, 5.0★ (10 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/falcon
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