LiteSpeed Cache vs W3 Total Cache (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Caching Plugins top 10: LiteSpeed Cache at #1 and W3 Total Cache at #3. LiteSpeed Cache leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
LiteSpeed Cache
All-in-one unbeatable acceleration & PageSpeed improvement: caching, image/CSS/JS optimization...
W3 Total Cache
Search Engine (SEO) & Performance Optimization (WPO) via caching. Integrated caching: CDN, Page, Minify, Object, Fragment, Database support.
Who leads on what
LiteSpeed Cache leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
LiteSpeed Cache ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Caching Plugins.
LiteSpeed Cache has more users: 7 million+ active installs against 900,000+.
LiteSpeed Cache is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 2,770 reviews, against 4.4 from 5,420 reviews.
W3 Total Cache has more reviews behind its score: 5,420 against 2,770.
W3 Total Cache was updated more recently, on September 4, 2026; LiteSpeed Cache on September 1, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
LiteSpeed Cache
Pick LiteSpeed Cache if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or the review score matters most to you.
W3 Total Cache
Pick W3 Total Cache if you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
LiteSpeed Cache vs W3 Total Cache side by side
| LiteSpeed Cache | W3 Total Cache | |
|---|---|---|
| Caching Plugins ranking | #1 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 2,770 | 5,420 |
| Active installs | 7 million+ | 900,000+ |
| Total downloads | 137,398,682 | 66,409,335 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 29, 2016 | Jul 29, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
LiteSpeed Cache ratings
W3 Total Cache ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither LiteSpeed Cache nor W3 Total Cache can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Caching Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
LiteSpeed Cache vs W3 Total Cache: common questions
Is LiteSpeed Cache better than W3 Total Cache?
LiteSpeed Cache leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. LiteSpeed Cache ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Caching Plugins.
Which has more users, LiteSpeed Cache or W3 Total Cache?
LiteSpeed Cache ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Caching Plugins.
Which is rated higher, LiteSpeed Cache or W3 Total Cache?
LiteSpeed Cache has more users: 7 million+ active installs against 900,000+.
Are LiteSpeed Cache and W3 Total Cache free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. LiteSpeed Cache may also sell a paid version or add-ons. W3 Total Cache may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to LiteSpeed Cache and W3 Total Cache
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Caching Plugins comparisons
- Aruba HiSpeed Cache vs LiteSpeed Cache
- Aruba HiSpeed Cache vs W3 Total Cache
- Breeze Cache vs LiteSpeed Cache
- Breeze Cache vs W3 Total Cache
- LiteSpeed Cache vs Redis Object Cache
- LiteSpeed Cache vs SpeedyCache
- LiteSpeed Cache vs Super Page Cache
- LiteSpeed Cache vs WP Fastest Cache
- LiteSpeed Cache vs WP-Optimize
- LiteSpeed Cache vs WP Super Cache
- Redis Object Cache vs W3 Total Cache
- SpeedyCache vs W3 Total Cache
Weekly · free
What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.