Do caching and optimization plugins make a difference

Hi,

So I have a "sandbox" website, where I try out various things. And I have recently started looking into different caching and optimization plugins.

I found it to be quite strange, that while plugins like litespeed cache and wp rocket improve some metrics - they significantly increase Total Blocking Time. Overall, according to pagespeed insight, scores with those plugins are slightly better. However, from a user experience perspective - it isn't better as increased blocking time forces me to stare (tried myself on different devices) at a white screen.

Should one make a compromise towards better speed test results or better UX?

P.S. In some cases total blocking time is increased 5x - 8x

Overall caching plugins can make a difference depending on whether the host also does server side caching.

As for litespeed specifically, it works best on a litespeed server, although provides benefit on other servers as your testing likely has shown.

I have always thought that spending extra time trying to make the template/theme etc faster by optimizing them directly can increase speed more efficiently.

Study the php error logs to see if there is anything related to the site in there. Optimize the images everywhere you can. If you have theme artwork or logos etc that are hundreds of k in size and you can reduce them without losing quality, such as converting them to webp then caching or not you should see a speed increase.

Rick
Universal4

I recommend that you use fewer images on the site, optimize them first of all to a minimum, then I recommend that if you are a supporter of plugins, use the nitropack plugin, with its help you will achieve 100% site speed.

Always be sure to check incompatibility lists for any plugins you plan on testing.

As an example as gamblingkitty mentioned, nitroack, they have a list of plugins they have trouble with at https://wordpress.org/plugins/nitropack/

But this will not be only nitro, as many caching plugins may have similar lists, and almost always using multiple caching plugins at the same time will mostly have adverse effects..

The fewer the plugins, the better, so also look at what each plugin you use does, and see if any overlap functions.

Rick
Universal4

It makes a big difference! On my website i have Autooptimize and WP Rocket to help me with cache and pagespeed optimization! It's a big part when making a new website!

You can test your own website using Google PageSpeed here pagespeed.web.dev! Ideally you should be above 90 and in the green zone!

To add to my previous message - the strangest thing just happened. I removed LS cache plugin and installed it again, applied all the same settings and now Google's Page speed insights score 95 - 99 consistently.
Nothing else has changed. Furthermore, the website was built using elementor, so it's even more surprizing to see this.

P.s. the website is on a litespeed server