SpeedForge
Make your WordPress site lightning fast with intelligent page caching, critical CSS, JavaScript optimization, image compression, and WooCommerce speed enhancements. All optimizations run locally on your server - no API keys, no monthly fees.Features
Why SpeedForge?
Page speed directly impacts your search rankings, user experience, and conversion rates. Google uses Core Web Vitals as a ranking factor, and visitors abandon slow sites within seconds. SpeedForge addresses both challenges by combining multiple optimization techniques into one lightweight plugin.
The free version is genuinely free - not a crippled demo pushing you toward a paid upgrade. Every core optimization feature works without limits: page caching, Critical CSS, JavaScript optimization, WebP conversion, WooCommerce speed enhancements, and more. All processing runs locally on your server with no cloud dependencies or API keys required.
SpeedForge Pro exists for users who want cloud-powered features like Remove Unused CSS (RUCSS) and image CDN delivery - optimizations that require external processing to work effectively. But the free version alone can transform your site's performance.
Key Features
Page Caching That Actually Works
SpeedForge creates static HTML versions of your pages and compresses them with GZIP. When visitors arrive, they receive the cached version instantly instead of waiting for PHP execution and database queries. The result? Page load times drop from seconds to milliseconds.
The caching system automatically creates separate cache files for mobile and desktop visitors, ensuring each device type receives optimized content. Cache invalidation happens automatically when you update posts, pages, or products - no manual purging required.
Critical CSS Without the Complexity
Render-blocking CSS is one of the most common causes of poor Core Web Vitals scores. SpeedForge analyzes your pages locally and extracts the CSS needed to render above-the-fold content, then inlines it directly in the page head. The remaining CSS loads asynchronously without blocking the initial render.
No external API calls. No per-page limits. No monthly fees. Just faster paint times and better LCP scores.
JavaScript Optimization
SpeedForge gives you granular control over how JavaScript loads on your site:
Third-party scripts like analytics, chat widgets, and social embeds are common performance bottlenecks. SpeedForge can delay these until visitors actually engage with your page, dramatically improving Total Blocking Time and INP scores.
Image Optimization
Large images slow down every page they appear on. SpeedForge converts your images to modern WebP and AVIF formats using the GD or ImageMagick libraries already installed on your server. These formats deliver 25-50% smaller file sizes with no visible quality loss.
Native browser lazy loading with Low Quality Image Placeholder (LQIP) support ensures images only load when visitors scroll them into view. This reduces initial page weight and speeds up Largest Contentful Paint.
WooCommerce-Specific Optimizations
WooCommerce sites face unique performance challenges. SpeedForge includes optimizations designed specifically for online stores:
Database Cleanup
WordPress databases accumulate clutter over time: post revisions, auto-drafts, trashed content, spam comments, and expired transients. This bloat slows down queries and increases backup sizes. SpeedForge provides one-click cleanup tools and optional scheduled maintenance to keep your database lean.
Bloat Removal
SpeedForge lets you disable WordPress features that many sites don't need:
Each toggle is independent - disable only what you don't need.
Cloudflare Integration
If you use Cloudflare, SpeedForge connects directly to your account to automatically purge cached content when you update your site. You can also toggle Development Mode from the WordPress admin when you need to bypass Cloudflare caching temporarily.
Built-In Speed Testing
Track your performance improvements without leaving WordPress. SpeedForge integrates with Google PageSpeed Insights to test your site and display Core Web Vitals metrics. The dashboard shows score history over time so you can measure the impact of your optimization changes.
The Smart Analyzer feature examines your site configuration and provides personalized recommendations based on your specific setup - whether you're running a simple blog or a complex WooCommerce store.
Free vs Pro
SpeedForge Free includes all core optimization features with no artificial restrictions. Everything runs locally on your server - no API keys, no cloud dependencies, no monthly fees.
| Category | Features Included |
|---|---|
| Caching | Page caching with GZIP, mobile cache, per-role caching, cache preloading, automatic invalidation |
| CSS | Critical CSS generation, minification, async loading, Google Fonts self-hosting, CDN asset self-hosting |
| JavaScript | Defer, delay until interaction, minification, third-party script control |
| Images | WebP & AVIF conversion, lazy loading with LQIP, Gravatar self-hosting, EXIF removal |
| WooCommerce | Cart fragments optimization, variable product preload, checkout deferral, mini-cart lazy loading |
| Database | Revisions cleanup, transients cleanup, scheduled maintenance, table optimization |
| Extras | Cloudflare integration, Speculation Rules API, bloat removal, A/B testing, Smart Analyzer |
Pro Version - Cloud-Powered Advanced Features - Coming soon
SpeedForge Pro adds cloud-based optimizations that go beyond what's possible with local processing alone:
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Page caching with GZIP | ✓ | ✓ |
| Critical CSS (local generation) | ✓ | ✓ |
| CSS & JS minification | ✓ | ✓ |
| JavaScript defer & delay | ✓ | ✓ |
| WebP & AVIF conversion | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-host Google Fonts & CDN assets | ✓ | ✓ |
| WooCommerce optimizations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cloudflare integration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Database cleanup & scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B testing & Smart Analyzer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remove Unused CSS (RUCSS) | — | ✓ |
| Cloud-powered Critical CSS | — | ✓ |
| Image CDN with global edge delivery | — | ✓ |
| Advanced font optimization | — | ✓ |
| Real User Monitoring (RUM) | — | ✓ |
| White-label admin interface | — | ✓ |
| Multisite network license | — | ✓ |
| Priority email support | — | ✓ |
| Price | Free forever | $49/year |
Why Go Pro?
Remove Unused CSS (RUCSS) scans your pages and strips out CSS rules that aren't actually used. This can reduce CSS file sizes by 70-90% on sites using large frameworks or page builders. The cloud processing handles the heavy lifting without impacting your server performance.
Cloud-powered Critical CSS generates above-the-fold styles faster and more accurately using browser rendering in the cloud, catching edge cases that local extraction might miss.
Image CDN serves optimized images from edge locations worldwide, reducing latency for international visitors and offloading bandwidth from your server.
How It Works
1. Install & Activate
Install SpeedForge from the WordPress plugin directory or upload the Pro version. Activate it like any other plugin - no complex server configuration required.
2. Run the Smart Analyzer
SpeedForge detects your site type, page builder, WooCommerce installation, and server capabilities. The Smart Analyzer provides personalized recommendations based on your specific setup.
3. Enable Optimizations
Toggle features on and off with simple switches. Each optimization can be enabled independently. Start with caching and gradually enable additional features while monitoring your site.
4. Monitor Performance
Use the built-in speed test to measure improvements. Track your Core Web Vitals history and compare mobile vs desktop scores over time.
Compatibility
Hosting Providers
SpeedForge automatically detects managed hosting environments and adjusts behavior accordingly. On hosts that provide their own caching (WP Engine, Kinsta, SiteGround, Cloudways, Flywheel, WordPress.com, Pressable), SpeedForge disables its page cache to avoid conflicts while continuing to provide CSS, JavaScript, and image optimizations.
Supported managed hosts:
Page Builders
SpeedForge works alongside popular page builders with intelligent defaults and exclusion options:
Plugins
Tested and compatible with:
Requirements
Installation
Free Version
Pro Version
Privacy & GDPR
SpeedForge processes all optimizations locally on your server. CSS generation, image compression, minification, and caching happen entirely within your hosting environment with zero external dependencies.
External connections only occur when:
No visitor data is collected or transmitted. Self-hosting Google Fonts locally eliminates the privacy concerns of loading fonts from Google's servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the free version actually free, or is it limited?
SpeedForge Free is genuinely full-featured. You get page caching, Critical CSS, JavaScript defer/delay, WebP conversion, WooCommerce optimizations, Cloudflare integration, database cleanup, and everything else listed on this page. No artificial limits, no nag screens, no features disabled after a trial period.
What does SpeedForge Pro add?
Pro adds cloud-powered features that require external processing: Remove Unused CSS (RUCSS) for stripping unused styles, cloud-based Critical CSS generation for better accuracy, Image CDN for global edge delivery, and Real User Monitoring. These features aren't possible with local-only processing.
Can I use SpeedForge with another caching plugin?
Yes. Disable SpeedForge's page cache feature if you're already using a caching plugin like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache. CSS, JavaScript, image, and WooCommerce optimizations work independently.
Will SpeedForge break my site?
SpeedForge is designed with safety in mind. Features can be enabled individually, and the Smart Analyzer warns you about potentially problematic configurations (like JavaScript delay with certain page builders). If something doesn't work correctly, simply disable that specific feature.
Does JavaScript delay work with all sites?
JavaScript delay is powerful but requires testing. Some interactive elements (sliders, forms, animations) may need specific scripts excluded from delay. SpeedForge provides exclusion fields for fine-tuning.
How is Critical CSS generated?
The free version extracts Critical CSS locally by analyzing your page templates - no per-page limits or API costs. SpeedForge Pro offers cloud-based generation for improved accuracy on complex layouts.
Is SpeedForge compatible with WooCommerce?
Yes. SpeedForge includes WooCommerce-specific optimizations and is tested with WooCommerce 8.0 through 10.4.3. Cart, checkout, and account pages are automatically excluded from caching.
What's the difference between local and cloud-based RUCSS?
Local CSS optimization (included free) minifies and combines your stylesheets. Cloud-based Remove Unused CSS (Pro) actually scans each page type and removes CSS rules that aren't used anywhere on that page - typically reducing CSS by 70-90% on sites using large frameworks.
What happens to my cache when I update content?
SpeedForge automatically purges relevant cache files when you update posts, pages, or products. You can also clear cache manually from the admin bar or SpeedForge dashboard.