If you’ve been managing WordPress sites for long, you know how even small performance issues can slow down your business, user experience, and search rankings. But out of all the optimization plugins out there, how do you pick one that really delivers? Today, we’re sharing a detailed look at Perfmatters, a WordPress performance plugin our team has relied on since 2019.
We’ll break down what sets this tool apart, why support is consistently praised in the community, and how we use Perfmatters in our agency blueprint for every new project. Plus, we’ll walk you through its settings based on hands-on use rather than just a changelog. Before we dive into features, pricing, and what makes this plugin a staple in our stack, here’s the video walkthrough if you’d rather see it all in action.
How to Get the Best Deal on Perfmatters
InfluenceWP has an exclusive Perfmatters deal.
Perfmatters: The Plugin and the Team Behind It
What Makes Perfmatters Unique?
Perfmatters is a WordPress optimization plugin built for users and agencies who want fast, easy ways to clean up WordPress sites and cut bloat. We’ve been paying customers since 2019, relying on this plugin for dozens of installs.
When people praise Perfmatters in places like WordPress Facebook groups or X (formerly Twitter), they’re almost always talking about the quick, personal responses from founders Brian and Brett Jackson.
Quick Facts:
- Helps you disable unnecessary WordPress features (like emojis, embeds, and XML-RPC) sitewide
- Lets you fine-tune JavaScript, CSS, lazy loading, CDN use, and more from a simple dashboard
- Developed and run by Brian and Brett Jackson, which is leading to an unusually high level of support and active listening to user feedback
- Highly praised for fast, friendly help, seen frequently in WordPress circles
Curious about the team, documentation, or resources? The Perfmatters website is packed with detailed docs and a performance checklist that’s genuinely helpful. We also recommend checking out Brian Jackson’s advice on X/Twitter and subscribing to his newsletter if you want ongoing practical tips about web speed and technology updates.
Perfmatters Pricing
One of the most surprising aspects of Perfmatters is its pricing. For the range of performance features you get, it’s an incredible value. Unlike some optimization tools that charge per site or lock essential tools behind high tiers, Perfmatters is priced to be accessible for freelancers, agencies, or anyone running multiple sites.
Why We Add Perfmatters to Every Website Blueprint
When building sites for clients, agencies often use “blueprints” (starter templates with core plugins installed and configured). We always include Perfmatters in our blueprints. We install Perfmatters as a first step, even for one-off sites that don’t follow a blueprint.
Here’s why it’s a must-have for us:
- Quick sitewide performance improvement. Disable WordPress features you don’t need with simple toggles.
- Serious time savings. The combination of optimization features covers what we’d otherwise need three or four different plugins to handle.
- Reliable, knowledgeable support. If something breaks or you have a question, you talk to the founders and not a random support queue.
- Flexibility for any site stack. Whether the site is simple or runs a pile of plugin-heavy add-ons, Perfmatters can adapt.
- Consistent updates and documentation. Every feature comes with detailed explanations and up-to-date best practices, so we’re never left guessing.
With speed and stability top priorities for clients, we trust Perfmatters right from the start.
A Deep Dive into Perfmatters Features and Settings
The core strength of Perfmatters is in how easy it makes performance tasks that usually require custom coding or multiple plugins. Let’s break down each area of the plugin to show how we use it (and what makes it work for so many scenarios):
Installation and Quick Start
Installation is as straightforward as any WordPress plugin:
- Head to Plugins > Add New
- Upload and activate Perfmatters
- Access the settings either from the plugin list or via the dedicated “Perfmatters” link under WordPress Settings
The configuration screens are organized into clear tabs, each with toggle switches and question icons linking to exact documentation pages.
General Tab: Disable What You Don’t Need
Here’s where you can turn off unneeded WordPress features, such as:
- Emojis
- Embeds
- REST API endpoints
- Various feeds
- The WordPress version number
- And Many More!
Each setting comes with a “?” icon. Clicking it opens detailed instructions in the Perfmatters documentation.
Custom Login URL
You can set a custom admin login URL, replacing the default /wp-admin. This isn’t just for looks, as it adds a layer of obscurity against brute-force bots and works great with a free Cloudflare account to further lock things down. This setting only changes the admin login path, so your users won’t see anything different.
Pro Tip: Pair this feature with Cloudflare rules to restrict access and keep automated attacks at bay.
JavaScript Tweaks: Minify and Optimize
Perfmatters gives us control over how JavaScript loads:
- Defer non-essential JS for faster initial render
- Minify scripts on the fly (a handy replacement now that Cloudflare doesn’t always handle this)
- Exclude scripts by URL or selector for maximum flexibility
Most modern themes ship minified code, but when you run into legacy scripts or third-party add-ons, this feature fills the gap.
CSS Controls: Slim Down Stylesheets
Much like JavaScript, Perfmatters can:
- Minify CSS
- Delay non-critical CSS
- Unload unused stylesheets
- Target exclusions for stylesheets or specific selectors
The exclusion options mean you can fine-tune what gets stripped or loaded, avoiding “all-or-nothing” scenarios.
Preloading: Make Assets Instant
Faster feel, less delay. Perfmatters offers:
- Preload critical images, like your site logo or above-the-fold hero images
- Preload fonts, scripts, or styles to control what the browser loads first
- Use DNS prefetch, preconnect, or fetch priority to unravel bottlenecks before users notice
Lazy Loading: Only Load Images and Videos When Needed
If you manually optimize your images and want a streamlined lazy-loading solution without another plugin, Perfmatters has you covered:
- Lazy load images, iframes, and videos (including YouTube previews)
- Lazy load CSS backgrounds
- Exclude individual images or sections from lazy loading as needed
- Option to add missing width and height dimensions
If you use an image optimization plugin (like ShortPixel, Imagify, or Optimole), decide if you want to use its lazy loading or stick to Perfmatters to avoid duplicating the same job in multiple plugins.
Google Fonts: Local, Fast, or Disabled
Fonts are a sneaky cause of page speed drops. Perfmatters can:
- Host Google Fonts locally to dodge third-party requests and improve privacy scores
- Set font display to swap for better perceived performance
- Route fonts through a CDN or, if you prefer, just turn Google Fonts off and use system or custom fonts instead
CDN Integration: Flexible, But Unneeded with Cloudflare
Perfmatters has a CDN field for those using providers like KeyCDN, BunnyCDN, or StackPath. If you’re already on Cloudflare, you don’t need to do anything here, as your assets are delivered fast by default.
Analytics: Faster Tracking, Smaller Footprint
Standard Google Analytics scripts slow sites down. Perfmatters lets you:
- Load Google Analytics locally so the browser isn’t fetching scripts from Google’s servers
- Paste your tracking code
- Choose header or footer placement (footer is fine for most use cases and improves speed)
- Select script type (we use “minimal” to avoid loading features we don’t track)
Code Injection: No Extra Plugins Needed
Want to add cookie banners, pixel trackers, or other header/footer snippets? Use Perfmatters’ code injection boxes for:
- Header scripts
- Body scripts
- Footer scripts
This keeps everything in one place and removes the need for another “header/footer” plugin.
Script Manager: Fine-Tune What Loads Where
This is where Perfmatters stands out for power users. The Script Manager lets you:
- View every script and stylesheet loaded by your site
- Disable specific scripts on a per-page, per-post, or category basis
- Target disabled by user status (logged-in or not) or device (desktop, mobile)
- Use regex for advanced targeting
- Toggle a “must-use” mode to unlock hidden script dependencies
If you’ve ever been frustrated by plugins or themes that load files everywhere “just in case,” Script Manager is your fix.
Reset and rollback: Made changes and want to go back? Use the built-in reset to clear out customizations instantly.
Advanced Options
For those who know what they’re doing, Perfmatters can unlock extra settings for granular control. Not for everyone, but powerful when needed.
Clean Uninstall: Leave No Trace
Deleting Perfmatters can remove all traces of its data if you want a truly clean uninstall. There’s also a reset button for restoring all settings to defaults.
Per-Page/Post Overrides for Lazy Loading
You’ll find Perfmatters meta boxes in your WordPress editor, letting you override lazy loading on individual posts and pages. It’s an easy way to handle exceptions without tweaking global settings.
Export and Import Settings
Running similar sites? Use the Export function to copy settings between sites, which is perfect for agencies or anyone who manages multiple installations.
Database Cleanup: Automated, Selective Optimization
Perfmatters can also help clean up your database:
- Remove transients, post revisions, trackbacks, and more
- Set automated cleanup schedules (we recommend weekly for most sites)
- Note: If your hosting uses modern database technology (like Kinsta, for example), skip the table optimization feature to avoid trouble. Always review the docs or check with your host.
License and Support Access
The last tab is where you enter your license key. Direct links to documentation, help, and FAQs make support fast when you need it.
Final Thoughts
For us, Perfmatters is the performance plugin we reach for first, whether we’re launching a brochure site, a large eCommerce build, or anything in between. While we sometimes use a speculative loading plugin for certain workflows, Perfmatters usually covers everything out of the box.
Every WordPress setup is unique, but if you care about speed, simplicity, and support, you’ll find a lot to like here. If you want to speed up your sites without patching together five different plugins, give Perfmatters a shot.
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