Redis Object 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: Redis Object Cache at #5 and W3 Total Cache at #3. W3 Total Cache leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Redis Object Cache
A persistent object cache backend powered by Redis®¹. Supports Predis, PhpRedis, Relay, replication, sentinels, clustering and WP-CLI.
W3 Total Cache
Search Engine (SEO) & Performance Optimization (WPO) via caching. Integrated caching: CDN, Page, Minify, Object, Fragment, Database support.
Who leads on what
W3 Total Cache leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
W3 Total Cache ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Caching Plugins.
W3 Total Cache has more users: 900,000+ active installs against 500,000+.
Redis Object Cache is rated higher: 4.5 out of 5 from 176 reviews, against 4.4 from 5,420 reviews.
W3 Total Cache has more reviews behind its score: 5,420 against 176.
W3 Total Cache was updated more recently, on September 4, 2026; Redis Object Cache on May 4, 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.
Redis Object Cache
Pick Redis Object Cache if the review score matters most to you.
W3 Total Cache
Pick W3 Total Cache if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Redis Object Cache vs W3 Total Cache side by side
| Redis Object Cache | W3 Total Cache | |
|---|---|---|
| Caching Plugins ranking | #5 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 176 | 5,420 |
| Active installs | 500,000+ | 900,000+ |
| Total downloads | 17,777,439 | 66,409,335 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | May 4, 2026 | Sep 4, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 14, 2014 | Jul 29, 2009 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Redis Object 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 Redis Object 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.
Redis Object Cache vs W3 Total Cache: common questions
Is Redis Object Cache better than W3 Total Cache?
W3 Total Cache leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. W3 Total Cache ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Caching Plugins.
Which has more users, Redis Object Cache or W3 Total Cache?
W3 Total Cache ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #5 in Caching Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Redis Object Cache or W3 Total Cache?
W3 Total Cache has more users: 900,000+ active installs against 500,000+.
Are Redis Object Cache and W3 Total Cache free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Redis Object Cache is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. W3 Total Cache may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Redis Object Cache and W3 Total Cache
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.