# Checklist — TOP 12 WordPress performance plugins 2026

**Site:** _________________________  
**Host:** _________________________  
**LiteSpeed / Apache / Nginx:** _________________________  
**Audit date:** _________________________

**TTFB before:** _______ ms · **Mobile LCP before:** _______ s · **PageSpeed score:** _______

> One perf layer = one active plugin. Not two page caches. Not Heartbeat + WP Rocket Heartbeat.

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## Phase 0 — Measure before installing

- [ ] PageSpeed Insights mobile + desktop (note TTFB, LCP, INP)
- [ ] Slow **front** or slow **wp-admin**? (check main focus)
- [ ] DevTools → Network: filter `admin-ajax.php` if wp-admin feels sticky
- [ ] Tested full backup (files + DB)
- [ ] Staging available

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## Phase 1 — Foundations (recommended order)

- [ ] **1. Plugin Usage Detector** — Full audit scan, remove dead / duplicate plugins
- [ ] **2. Page cache** — LiteSpeed Cache *or* WP Super Cache (**one only**)
- [ ] **3. Autoptimize** — CSS/JS minify (test after cache)
- [ ] **4. ShortPixel** *or* WebP Express — optimized images / WebP
- [ ] **5. WP-Optimize** — DB cleanup (revisions, transients) off-peak hours

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## Phase 2 — Advanced layers

- [ ] **6. Heartbeat Control Manager** — Showcase / WooCommerce / Agency preset imported
- [ ] **7. Redis Object Cache** — if Redis/Memcached available at host
- [ ] **8. Cloudflare** — DNS + edge cache + Page Rules / Cache Rules
- [ ] **9. Asset CleanUp** — useless scripts disabled on key pages (home, checkout)
- [ ] **10. Flying Scripts** — delay third-party JS (Analytics, chat, pixels)

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## Phase 3 — Diagnostics & PHP

- [ ] **11. Query Monitor** — **staging only** (never client production)
- [ ] **12. PHP 8.3+** verified — PHP Compatibility Checker before host upgrade

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## Phase 4 — WooCommerce (if store)

- [ ] Cache exclusions: cart, checkout, my-account, `?add-to-cart=`
- [ ] Full test order after each layer added
- [ ] Mini-cart / cart fragments OK after cache
- [ ] WooCommerce Heartbeat preset + product autosave test

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## Phase 5 — Final verification

- [ ] One page cache active only
- [ ] Query Monitor disabled in production
- [ ] TTFB after: _______ ms · LCP after: _______ s
- [ ] Perf presets JSON export archived in client folder

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*Volade · volade.com/en/blog/top-12-plugins-performance-wordpress-2026*