LiteSpeed Cache is free, has 6 million+ active installations, and consistently outperforms paid caching plugins in benchmarks.
There's a catch: it requires a LiteSpeed web server for full functionality. On Apache or Nginx hosting, you get a fraction of the benefits.
This review explains what LiteSpeed Cache actually provides, when server requirements matter, and whether you should choose hosting specifically for this plugin.
What Makes LiteSpeed Cache Different
Most caching plugins operate entirely within WordPress. They create cached files, serve them through PHP, and manage cache invalidation through WordPress hooks.
LiteSpeed Cache does something different. It integrates directly with the LiteSpeed web server.
When your hosting runs LiteSpeed (instead of Apache or Nginx), the LiteSpeed Cache plugin communicates with server-level caching that operates outside WordPress. The server handles cache storage and delivery. PHP doesn't need to run for cached pages.
This is why LiteSpeed Cache benchmarks so well on compatible hosting. It's not just plugin caching. It's server-level caching with a WordPress interface.
LiteSpeed Cache Features
Server-Level Page Caching (LiteSpeed Only)
On LiteSpeed servers, pages are cached at the server level. Cached pages are served without PHP execution, similar to Varnish.
Plugin-Level Page Caching (All Servers)
On Apache or Nginx, LiteSpeed Cache provides standard plugin caching, which is still faster than no caching, but doesn't have server integration.
Object Caching
Connection to Redis or Memcached for database query caching. Requires server-level support, as with any object caching solution.
Image Optimization
Integration with QUIC.cloud for image compression and WebP conversion.
CSS/JS Optimization
Minification, concatenation, and defer/async loading.
CDN Integration
Works with QUIC.cloud (LiteSpeed's CDN) or third-party CDNs like Cloudflare.
Database Optimization
Cleanup of post revisions, transients, and database overhead.
The Server Requirement Explained
LiteSpeed Cache has two modes:
Full Mode (LiteSpeed Server)
When your hosting uses LiteSpeed Web Server:
- Server-level page caching (fastest possible plugin caching)
- ESI (Edge Side Includes) for partial page caching
- Object caching with LiteSpeed's memcached implementation
- Full integration between plugin and server
Performance: Can handle 5,100+ requests per second. Approximately 2x Nginx, 5x Apache in benchmark tests.
Limited Mode (Apache/Nginx)
When your hosting uses Apache or Nginx:
- Plugin-level page caching only
- No server integration
- Standard object caching (if Redis/Memcached available)
- Optimization features still work
Performance: Similar to other caching plugins. You lose the primary advantage.
The Honest Assessment
What I Like
Free with no limitations. Unlike WP Rocket ($59/year), LiteSpeed Cache is genuinely free. No premium tier required for core functionality.
Exceptional performance on compatible hosting. When server integration is available, LiteSpeed Cache delivers performance that plugin-only solutions can't match.
All-in-one suite. Caching, optimization, images, CDN. It handles everything. No need for multiple plugins.
Active development. Regular updates, responsive to WordPress changes, and a large user community.
What I Don't Like
Confusing interface. LiteSpeed Cache has many options, and the organization isn't always intuitive. New users often feel overwhelmed.
Server dependency for primary benefit. The main selling point, server-level integration, requires specific hosting. Without it, you're using a complex plugin that performs similarly to simpler alternatives.
QUIC.cloud dependency for some features. Image optimization and some CDN features require QUIC.cloud, which has usage limits on free accounts.
Configuration complexity. More options than most users need. Misconfiguration is easy.
Should You Choose Hosting for LiteSpeed Cache?
Here's where I disagree with common advice: choosing your hosting stack to match a free plugin is backwards.
LiteSpeed Cache is free. That's appealing. But the hosting that supports it costs money. You're not actually saving by choosing LiteSpeed hosting for the plugin.
The decision should be:
- Which hosting provider provides the best performance and support for your needs?
- Does that hosting happen to support LiteSpeed Cache?
If you've already chosen LiteSpeed hosting for other reasons (performance, specific features, recommendation from someone you trust), then LiteSpeed Cache makes complete sense.
But switching hosts specifically to use a free caching plugin? That's optimizing the wrong variable.
The Math
LiteSpeed hosting options (Hostinger, A2 Hosting, etc.) vs Nginx-based hosting with similar specs: often comparable prices.
WP Rocket costs $59/year. Over five years, that's $295.
If LiteSpeed hosting costs the same as alternatives, you're saving $295 by using the free plugin. That's meaningful.
If LiteSpeed hosting costs more, do the math. Is the premium more or less than what you'd pay for WP Rocket?
And importantly, does either approach beat hosting that includes Varnish, Redis, and CDN caching at the infrastructure level?
Who Should Use LiteSpeed Cache
Current LiteSpeed Hosting Users
If you're already on Hostinger, A2 Hosting, NameHero, or another LiteSpeed-based hosting provider, use LiteSpeed Cache. You're leaving performance on the table if you don't.
Users Who've Chosen LiteSpeed Hosting for Other Reasons
If you selected your host for specific reasons and it happens to run LiteSpeed, the cache plugin is a bonus. Use it.
Budget-Conscious Users on Compatible Hosting
If cost is a primary factor and your hosting supports LiteSpeed, the free plugin is a legitimate advantage.
Technical Users Comfortable with Configuration
LiteSpeed Cache has many options. If you're comfortable with complexity, you can tune it to your site's specific needs.
Who Should Not Use LiteSpeed Cache
Users on Apache or Nginx Hosting
Without the LiteSpeed server, you get plugin-level caching. W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache, or WP Rocket provide similar functionality with simpler interfaces.
Users Who Want "Set and Forget."
LiteSpeed Cache works out of the box, but the interface is complex. If you want truly simple caching, WP Rocket's approach is more appropriate.
Users Considering Switching Hosts for the Plugin
As discussed, choosing a hosting provider based on plugin compatibility reverses the decision hierarchy. Choose hosting first, then select compatible plugins.
LiteSpeed Cache on Non-LiteSpeed Hosting
If you're on Apache or Nginx and considering LiteSpeed Cache anyway, here's what you get:
What works:
- Page caching (plugin-level, not server-level)
- Browser caching
- CSS/JS optimization
- Lazy loading
- Database optimization
- CDN integration
What you lose:
- Server-level caching integration
- ESI support
- The performance advantage that makes LiteSpeed Cache special
On non-LiteSpeed hosting, LiteSpeed Cache becomes a complex alternative to simpler plugins. Proportional benefits don't justify the complexity.
LiteSpeed Cache Settings: Configuration Recommendations
If you're using LiteSpeed Cache on compatible hosting (sometimes referred to as LSCache):
Start Conservative
- Enable page caching
- Test your site thoroughly
- Enable object caching (if Redis is available)
- Test again
- Incrementally enable optimization features
Don't Enable Everything
LiteSpeed Cache has many features. Not all of them help every site. Enable what you need, not everything available.
Test Critical Functionality
After changes, verify:
- Forms work
- Checkout works (if e-commerce)
- Login works
- JavaScript-dependent features work
Use QUIC.cloud Thoughtfully
Free QUIC.cloud accounts have limits. If you exceed them, features stop working until the next billing period. Monitor usage.
LiteSpeed Cache vs Alternatives
vs WP Rocket ($59/year)
On LiteSpeed hosting: LiteSpeed Cache wins. Free and faster due to server integration.
On other hosting: WP Rocket wins. Simpler interface, similar performance. See our detailed comparison.
vs W3 Total Cache (Free)
On LiteSpeed hosting: LiteSpeed Cache wins. Server integration provides a significant advantage.
On other hosting: Comparable. Both are complex. Choose based on specific features needed.
vs Cloudflare APO ($5/month)
Different approach. APO provides edge caching; LiteSpeed Cache provides server- and plugin-level caching.
On LiteSpeed hosting with APO: Potentially redundant. Test whether both add value.
vs Server-Level Caching (Varnish)
If hosting includes Varnish, you may not need LiteSpeed Cache for page caching. The server handles it.
LiteSpeed Cache on LiteSpeed hosting is essentially equivalent to Varnish in approach: server-level caching with plugin management.
The FatLab Perspective
At FatLab, we use Varnish for server-level page caching, Redis for object caching, and Cloudflare Enterprise for edge caching. This provides the same architectural benefits as LiteSpeed Cache on LiteSpeed hosting: caching that operates outside WordPress.
We don't use LiteSpeed servers, so LiteSpeed Cache isn't part of our stack. But the principle is the same: caching should happen at the infrastructure level, not inside WordPress. Whether that's LiteSpeed Cache on LiteSpeed hosting or Varnish on other architectures, server-level caching outperforms plugin-only solutions.
The Bottom Line: LiteSpeed Cache WordPress
LiteSpeed Cache WordPress is exceptional on LiteSpeed hosting. The server integration provides performance that plugin-only solutions can't match. And it's free.
On other hosting, LiteSpeed Cache loses its primary advantage. The interface is more complex than alternatives, yet it delivers proportionally worse results.
The key insight: LiteSpeed Cache WordPress value is tied to server architecture, not the plugin itself. On compatible hosting, it's the obvious choice. On incompatible hosting, simpler alternatives make more sense.
Don't choose hosting for a plugin. Choose hosting for hosting. Then use the tools that work best with what you have.