If your WordPress site is slow—don’t panic. This is one of the most common problems, but it’s usually fixable! Even if you have no technical experience, in this article, I’ll guide you step-by step on how you can make some quick improvements to your WordPress website speed.
Install a Caching Plugin
If your web host does not include advanced caching, then it’s important to install a caching plugin yourself. There are a number of good caching plugins available in the WordPress.org repository.
Compress Images
Images are one of the biggest culprits of a slow loading website. Some managed WordPress hosting providers include automatic image compression with their plans. If your host does not include it, install and activate an image optimization plugin from the WordPress repository.
Delete Unused Plugins
While plugins can be very useful, and sometimes necessary, don’t overdo it. Go through your plugins and delete any that you aren’t using.
Use a Lightweight Theme
Your WordPress theme can also make a huge difference in your site speed. Use a lightweight and efficiently built one.
Enable a CDN
Using a CDN (Content Delivery Network) is particularly important if your site has a lot of images and static content. It’s also vital if your audience is located around the world. If your web hosting doesn’t include a CDN, sign up for a free account with Cloudflare.
Because WordPress loads dynamically, your server has to do more work for every visit. So, if your site has a lot of plugins and large images, your page loading times are going to be slower. And, if your web hosting is slow, then you’ll likely run into a lot of speed issues—especially if there is no caching.
So, let’s go ahead and speed up your WordPress site. Here’s how:
The first step is to find out exactly where your website is regarding speed and performance. I like to use GTmetrix and Google PageSpeed Insights.
When assessing your speed test results, don’t obsess over letter grades or percentage scores. Focus mainly on your page loading times. Ideally, you want your full page loads to be under 2 seconds.
As I mentioned earlier, installing a caching plugin can make a big difference in your site loading times. While you can install one of the free plugins from the WordPress repository, I personally like WP Rocket. It’s produced the best results of any caching plugin I’ve used. If the free caching plugins aren’t doing enough for you, I’d recommend trying out WP Rocket.
If your web hosting doesn’t include automatic image compression, then definitely install an image optimization plugin. I like the EWWW Image Optimization plugin or ShortPixel. Another key is to size your images properly yourself and not let the system adjust them you—which can slow things down more.
Each plugin you install adds to the weight of your site. And, unfortunately some plugins may be poorly coded which can add to speed issues. Be sure to keep only those plugins that you absolutely need.
Because a CDN (Content Delivery Network) helps your site load faster worldwide, it’s especially important if you have website visitors around the globe. And, a CDN is a must if your website has a lot of large static images. There are some managed WordPress hosting providers that include their own CDN with your hosting plan. But, if your host does not include a CDN, you can easily sign up for a free account with Cloudflare.
While there are a ton of themes available for free in the WordPress.org repository, if you’re looking for a faster WordPress site, you should use a lightweight or efficiently built theme. I personally like and use the Astra Pro theme. It’s definitely one of the faster ones out there.
Don’t neglect having the latest supported versions of your software. When updates are available, make sure you update the WordPress core as well as your plugins and themes. And, be sure to use the latest supported version of PHP.
If you’ve done all of the above and your site is still slow, your hosting is probably the issue—especially if you’re currently using cheap hosting. Often, with cheaper shared hosting, you have slower overcrowded servers with less resources. By contrast, with higher quality managed WordPress hosting you’ll get faster responsive servers that are optimized for the WordPress platform.
Unlike with cheaper shared hosting, performance-focused hosting providers like Kinsta handle many speed optimizations automatically, so there’s less work on your end.
Why is my WordPress site so slow?
Usually, it’s due to your plugins, website images, or your hosting.
Can I speed up WordPress without coding?
Yes. Most fixes can be done with plugins.
How fast should my site be?
Your site should load in under 2 to 3 seconds.
Do plugins slow down WordPress?
Yes, especially if you have too many installed.
Does hosting affect speed?
Yes, because it’s your website’s foundation.
Is WordPress slow by default?
No, but it depends on your setup.
What’s the easiest way to speed up WordPress?
Implement caching and optimize your images.
Here are some of the mistakes WordPress beginners often make.
Avoid:
If your WordPress site is still slow after performing these steps, it’s usually not something you’re doing wrong but rather your setup. With shared hosting, you often have crowded servers with many customers competing for resources. In this case, you’re bound to hit performance ceilings. You should consider premium managed WordPress hosting—preferably using VPS servers.
Here’s a simple fast WordPress setup to use for faster websites:
Use a quality managed WordPress host that includes built-in caching and a CDN. For example, Kinsta includes fast website propagation with an easy to use dashboard. Most importantly, it’s fast out of the box and requires less technical work on your part.
Also, remember to optimize your images. Use an image optimization plugin or choose a managed WordPress host that includes automatic image compression such as Liquid Web.
Remember, WordPress speed is fixable. Just start with the simple steps we’ve gone over here. Most speed and performance gains will come from just a few changes. And, above all, keep in mind that hosting plays a major role in your site speed.
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