The Cache Purger
by Kevin Pirnie · Performance
Also makes 2 other plugins · 1.5K+ installs across the portfolio →
Automatically purge every server-side cache on your WordPress site — plugins, hosting environments, PHP, memory stores, and CDNs — all from one place.
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 87/100
Few reviews
Active installs
1K+
≈1.9K estimated
Momentum
+10%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “caching”, “performance” and “cache” for “cache purge”, “purge” and “fastcgi”. “caching” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “cache purge” sits at #7 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. “purge” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “cache” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #24. “fastcgi” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
87 health vs 69 average across 1,808 Performance plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →4.0%
of downloads still active
At least 1K of 25.3K 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 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 59 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.5★ over 6 reviews, smoothed to 4.14★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
1 of 1 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
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.
34
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.4
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
9%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.4
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| memcache | #2 | #5 | 0 |
| fastly | #2 | #3 | 0 |
| cache purging your tag | #7 | #18 | down 1 |
| apc | #4 | #8 | down 1 |
| purge | #7 | #18 | 0 |
| cache purge | #7 | #15 | down 1 |
| purge cache your tag | #13 | #19 | 0 |
| fastcgi | #8 | #6 | down 1 |
| w3 total cache | #9 | #17 | up 1 |
| super cache | #10 | #19 | 0 |
| apcu | #10 | #8 | up 1 |
| opcache | #11 | #15 | 0 |
| cache control | #13 | #19 | down 1 |
| static cache | #13 | #19 | down 1 |
| varnish cache | #13 | #18 | down 1 |
| memcached | #14 | #20 | up 1 |
| cache your tag | #24 | #22 | 0 |
| waf | #16 | #22 | down 2 |
| varnish | #16 | #19 | down 1 |
| cache id | #10 | #19 | 0 |
| caching your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| performance your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
95 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 64 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “caching”, “performance” and “cache” for “cache purge”, “purge” and “fastcgi”. “caching” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “cache purge” sits at #7 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. “purge” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “cache” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #24. “fastcgi” sits at #8 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 “purge cache”. #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 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 2.9K · 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.
11
releases in the last 12 months
2mo ago
latest release · v2.3.59 · 2 Sep 2026
14
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 30% 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 “1K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 14 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 4 Oct 2022
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Han Leentvaar5mo ago
Most of my customer sites use multiple caching plugins. Customers get confused about different buttons like “Clear cache”, “Flush cache”, “Empty cache” etc.This plugin solves that!Besides, you can set automatic clearing on a lot of different hooks, even for CPT’s and Forms. The support is at lightning speed, a request for support of another caching plugin was developed within a week! Thank for this brilliant plugin Kevin.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mquiggeorgia7mo ago
We use this plugin on over 150 sites to keep caches cleared, including Cloudflare. Been working great, had an issue briefly, associated with a particular “unusual” hosting platform. Asked developer about it and he fixed it within a week! Plugin clears all kinds of caches: OP cache, object cache, server caches. If you’ve been using the Cloudflare plugin to keep that cache cleared, particularly when developing, you won’t need it anymore as this plugin communicates directly with Cloudflare via API. Highly recommended plugin; invaluable in this day where we have multiple caches that can cause issues with maintaining fresh data for clients.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ therber210mo ago
Massively buggy. A bunch of cdn image try to load at the admin settings page and it loads and crashes right away. i finally got that to stop by just removing the cdn stuff from the plugin file and then found there isn’t actually a setting for bluehost :/big waste of time. but a good idea in theory.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Skrlance2.3y ago
Now, we got the option to purge selected type of cache only. The plugin developer swiftly updated the plugin with required features.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Lawrence Ip2.3y ago
This plugin, in tandem with WP Rocket on WordPress.com hosting (Business Plan), does a deeper and more effective purge of my site’s cache. Sure, WP Rocket has its own purge, but it does not go as deep. This plugin really does assist in making things right. Thank you 🙏
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ korkylime3.8y ago
I have been using this plugin for over 18 months and it does eactly what it says on the tin! About 4 weeks ago It stopped working due to server upgrades on my web hosting platform. The developer was very quick to respond to my issue and helped me through a minefield to the point where it is once again working. If you need your Cache purged on a regular basis…look no further
Read on wp.org ↗
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceThe 1 disclosed vulnerability is patched in the current version (2.3.59). 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
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.
Share of voice
How often each assistant names The Cache Purger when asked about this topic, where it comes in the answer, and how that compares with its wp.org search position. Latest run 25 Oct 2026.
- Assistants
- ChatGPT, Claude
- Topics tracked
- Caching
Readme readiness
7 of 8 pass · checked 27 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Automatically purge every server-side cache on your WordPress site — plugins, hosting environments, PHP, me..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 8 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 8 of 8 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WooCommerce, Elementor, Divi, Advanced Custom Fields and 6 more.
- ✓ Headings and lists 3 headings and 2 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 3,236 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "cache purging", "purge cache" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-08-27 900+ → 1K+ up after 6 days in tier
- 2025-08-21 1K+ → 900+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2025-08-20 900+ → 1K+ up after 87 days in tier
- 2025-05-25 800+ → 900+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2025-05-23 700+ → 800+ up after 70 days in tier
- 2025-03-14 600+ → 700+ up after 70 days in tier
- 2025-01-03 500+ → 600+ up after 13 days in tier
- 2024-12-21 400+ → 500+ up after 102 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 Super Cache 1M+ installs · 4.3★ · 3 shared tags A -
Breeze Cache 300K+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags B -
Cache Enabler 100K+ installs · 4.3★ · 3 shared tags A -
Hummingbird Performance – Cache & Page Speed Optimization for Core Web Vitals | Critical CSS | Minify CSS | Defer CSS Javascript | CDN 70K+ installs · 4.7★ · 3 shared tags A -
SpinupWP 30K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags A -
Cachify 9K+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags C
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for The Cache Purger into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/the-cache-purger" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="The Cache Purger — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> The Cache Purger: 1K+ active installs, 4.5★ (6 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/the-cache-purger
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