At a glance
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin
The simplest and fastest WP Cache system
Featherweight
Speed up WordPress by disabling unused features — emojis, embeds, query strings, XML-RPC, RSS and more — for fewer requests and faster pages.
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | WP Fastest Cache | Featherweight |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 5.7+ | 6.4+ |
| Tested up to WP | 7.0 | 7.0.1 |
| Plugin age | 13 yrs | 9 yrs |
Quick Verdict
Choose WP Fastest Cache. It holds a 95% five-star rating from over 4220 reviews, while Featherweight's 1-star rate sits at 20%. WP Fastest Cache has 100x more installs than Featherweight, which reflects broader real-world testing. For most WordPress sites, the caching engine delivers faster load times with less configuration risk.
Feature Comparison: WP Fastest Cache vs Featherweight
| Feature | WP Fastest Cache | Featherweight |
|---|---|---|
| Page caching | Built-in static HTML cache | Not included |
| Minify CSS and JavaScript WordPress | Combines and minifies CSS/JS files | Not included |
| Cache plugin for WooCommerce store | Excludes cart/checkout pages from cache automatically | Not applicable |
| Enable Gzip compression WordPress | Built-in toggle | Not included |
| How to clear cache in WordPress | One-click cache delete from admin bar | No cache clearing needed (no caching feature) |
| Disable emojis | Not included | Removes emoji JavaScript and styles |
| Disable embeds WordPress | Not included | Disables oEmbed and embed scripts |
| Remove query strings WordPress | Not included | Strips query strings from static assets |
| Disable XML-RPC | Not included | Disables XML-RPC endpoint |
| Disable RSS feeds | Not included | Disables all RSS feeds |
Who Should Use WP Fastest Cache
- Sites that need a complete page caching system with 95% of reviewers giving it five stars, making it a trusted choice for speed optimization.
- Store owners running WooCommerce who want a cache plugin for WooCommerce store that automatically excludes cart, checkout, and account pages from cached output.
- Developers who need to minify CSS and JavaScript WordPress assets without installing a separate plugin, saving plugin overhead and potential conflicts.
Who Should Use Featherweight
- Users who want to disable embeds WordPress functionality entirely, removing the heavy JavaScript that WordPress loads for every embedded URL.
- Site owners focused on removing query strings WordPress appends to CSS and JS files, helping achieve higher caching scores on CDN services.
- Anyone who needs to disable emoji in WordPress to eliminate the extra HTTP request and render-blocking script that ships with every WordPress installation.
Community & Support
WP Fastest Cache handled 15 support threads in the last two months, resolving 7 of them for a 47% resolution rate. The plugin's 95% five-star rating against just 2% one-star ratings suggests most users find the plugin works without needing help. Featherweight's support sample is too small to draw conclusions, though its 76% five-star rate and 20% one-star rate indicate a polarized user experience.
Verdict: WP Fastest Cache or Featherweight for WordPress sites?
Pick WP Fastest Cache if you need a real caching engine. It handles page caching, Gzip compression, and file minification in one plugin. The 95% five-star rating from 4220 reviews confirms its reliability across millions of sites.
Pick Featherweight only if you already have a dedicated caching plugin and simply want to strip out WordPress bloat like embeds, emojis, and query strings. Its 20% one-star rate suggests it can cause breakage on some setups, so test it on a staging site first.
The winner is WP Fastest Cache. For anyone asking how to speed up WordPress site performance, a proper cache plugin is non-negotiable. Featherweight removes features but provides no caching layer. WP Fastest Cache delivers both speed gains and a proven track record.
This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Q How many people use WP Fastest Cache compared to Featherweight?
WP Fastest Cache has 1.0M+ active installs while Featherweight has 10K+, meaning WP Fastest Cache is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — WP Fastest Cache or Featherweight?
WP Fastest Cache averages 4.9/5 from 4,220 reviews, while Featherweight averages 4.1/5 from 45 reviews — WP Fastest Cache has the higher average rating.
Q Which is more actively maintained — WP Fastest Cache or Featherweight?
Featherweight was last updated on Jun 13, 2026 and WP Fastest Cache on May 20, 2026, so Featherweight received the more recent update.
Q Are WP Fastest Cache and Featherweight both free?
Yes — both WP Fastest Cache and Featherweight are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.
Q Is WP Fastest Cache or Featherweight better for WordPress sites?
For most sites, WP Fastest Cache is better because it focuses on core web vitals and page speed with caching and optimization features. Featherweight is a lightweight option that removes bloat like embeds and emojis, but it does not include a caching engine. If you need actual cache control, go with WP Fastest Cache.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — WP Fastest Cache or Featherweight?
Featherweight is easier for a beginner because it works instantly after activation with no settings required. WP Fastest Cache requires you to enable caching and minification options, but its interface is straightforward. Most beginners will find Featherweight simpler to start with, but WP Fastest Cache is still very manageable.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between WP Fastest Cache and Featherweight?
The biggest difference is that WP Fastest Cache includes a full caching system to serve static HTML files, while Featherweight only removes unnecessary WordPress features like embeds and emoji scripts. WP Fastest Cache also tags core-web-vitals and page speed optimization, which Featherweight does not address. If you need actual caching, WP Fastest Cache is the clear choice.
Q Can you switch from WP Fastest Cache to Featherweight (or the other way) without losing data?
Yes, you can switch between them without losing your WordPress content because neither plugin stores data in your database. WP Fastest Cache will clear its cache files when deactivated, and Featherweight simply re-enables the features it disabled. Just deactivate one plugin before activating the other to avoid conflicts.
Q Which type of site should choose WP Fastest Cache, and which should choose Featherweight?
Choose WP Fastest Cache for any site that needs speed improvements from caching, minification, and core web vitals optimization. Choose Featherweight only if you want a minimal plugin that removes WordPress bloat without adding caching features. For a WooCommerce store or any content-heavy site, WP Fastest Cache is the better fit.
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