2025’s WordPress Speed Optimization Checklist

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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

A slow WordPress site can drive users away and hurt your SEO. This checklist focuses on quick, actionable fixes to boost speed, improve user experience, and keep Google happy.

As a dedicated WordPress SEO Consultant, I’ve designed this guide to help you address common speed issues efficiently. For ongoing care, explore my WordPress Maintenance Services.

Optimize Images

  • What to Do: Compress images with tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel. Use WebP formats where possible.
  • Why It Matters: Large image files slow down load times significantly.

What are the most popular WebP plugins in 2024?

  1. Smush w/ 1,000,000+ installs
  2. Imagify w/ 900,000+ installs
  3. Converter for Media w/ 400,000+ installs
  4. ShortPixel w/ 300,000+ installs
  5. TinyPNG w/ 100,000+ installs

 

Use a Caching Plugin

  • What to Do: Install a plugin like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache.
  • Why It Matters: Caching reduces server load by serving static files instead of dynamically loading every page.

The most downloaded caching plugins include:

  1. LiteSpeed Cache has 6+ million installs (dayum!)
  2. W3 Total Cache has 1+ million installs
  3. WP-Optimize has 1″ million installs
  4. WP Fastest Cache has 1+ million installs

One of my favorite caching plugins is WP Fastest Cache because it gets really technical for advanced users. See my list of recommended WP plugins for more.

 

Upgrade Your Hosting

  • What to Do: Move to a reliable, fast hosting provider (e.g., Kinsta, SiteGround).
  • Why It Matters: Cheap shared hosting can bottleneck site speed.

I’ve recommended WP Engine to clients and agencies for years, and I believe they are still the best hosting company in 2025. Take advantage of their deal below:

 

Minify CSS, JS, and HTML

  • What to Do: Use tools like Autoptimize or WP Rocket to minify and combine files.
  • Why It Matters: Minification reduces file sizes, making pages load faster.

Top minify plugins for WordPress are:

  1. Autoptimize is one of my favs with 1+ million active installations
  2. SVG Support also has 1+ million active installations (yup, this is for images)
  3. Hummingbird has 100,000+ active installs
  4. Clearfy Cache has 60,000+ installs
  5. Last but not least is Minify HTML with 10,000+ installations

 

Enable a CDN

  • What to Do: Set up a content delivery network (CDN) like Cloudflare or BunnyCDN.
  • Why It Matters: CDNs distribute content globally, ensuring faster load times for users everywhere.

 

Audit and Remove Unused Plugins

  • What to Do: Deactivate and delete unnecessary plugins.
  • Why It Matters: Fewer plugins mean fewer vulnerabilities and reduced load times.

Oftentimes I work on sites with 40 or more active plugins installed. PLUS a dozen or more inactive plugins (inactive plugins remain a security risk for hackers). PLUS another couple under must-use plugins!

If you’re using more than 10 plugins to run your site, you’re doing it wrong.

 

Lazy Load Images and Videos

  • What to Do: Enable lazy loading via your caching plugin or a dedicated plugin like Lazy Load by WP Rocket.
  • Why It Matters: Only loads images/videos visible on-screen, reducing initial page load time.

Some of the most common WordPress plugins for lazy-loading videos include:

  1. Optimole w/ over 200,000 installs
  2. a3 Lazy Load w/ 100,000+ installs
  3. LazyLoad w/ 100,000+ installs and is made by WP Rocket (Note: I haven’t used this one yet but I am eager to try it out)
  4. Lazy Load for Videos w/ over 10,000 installs

 

Optimize Your Database

  • What to Do: Use WP-Optimize to clean up unnecessary data like revisions and spam comments.
  • Why It Matters: A bloated database slows down queries, impacting load times.

 

Check Your Themes

  • What to Do: Use lightweight themes like GeneratePress or Astra. Avoid heavy, multipurpose themes.
  • Why It Matters: Bulky themes add unnecessary scripts and styles.

And the most popular WordPress themes in 2024 according to Google are…

screenshot of most popular WordPress themes in 2024 according to Google SERPs

screenshot of most popular WordPress themes in 2024 according to Google SERPs

 

  1. Astra
  2. Divi
  3. OceanWP
  4. Neve
  5. Avada
  6. GeneratePress
  7. Hestia
  8. Kadence
  9. Hello Elementor
  10. Storefront
  11. Blocksy
  12. Ultra
  13. Inspiro
  14. SeedProd
  15. Sydney
  16. Flatsome
  17. Newspaper
  18. Theme
  19. Twenty twenty
  20. Authority Pro
  21. Breakthrough Pro
  22. Salient
  23. Soledad
  24. The7

 

Monitor Performance Regularly

  • What to Do: Test your site regularly using tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights.
  • Why It Matters: Catch issues early and ensure optimal performance.

 

Speed optimization doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Follow this checklist to tackle common issues and keep your WordPress site running fast and smooth.

Need expert help?

I’m here as your WordPress SEO Consultant to ensure your site delivers peak performance. For ongoing support, don’t forget to check out my WordPress Maintenance Services.