Issue background
A client approached Freshy with concerns that several of their WordPress plugins—some custom-built by a previous agency—might be causing performance and caching issues. The request was to conduct a plugin audit and determine if any were impacting the site’s load speed, front-end performance, or stability.
The plugins in question included:
- A site history logging plugin used for compliance tracking.
- A homepage variation system for displaying different content by region.
- A site alert or banner feature built to manage notifications from the WordPress admin.
The goal was to assess whether these tools were affecting performance and, if so, recommend alternatives that would maintain the same functionality with better optimization.
Diagnosis
Freshy’s development team cloned the live site into a staging environment to ensure the audit wouldn’t disrupt production. The investigation included:
- A full GTmetrix performance test of both live and staging environments.
- A code-level review of each custom plugin.
- A JavaScript and PHP performance profile using browser dev tools and Query Monitor.
Key findings included:
- The Simple History plugin used for change logging was not significantly affecting performance. Its queries were efficient and infrequent, and its reports were required for compliance.
- The Alert Bar and Geo-Targeted Homepage functionality were not separate plugins but instead built with Advanced Custom Fields (ACF), meaning they had minimal overhead.
- The site’s JavaScript load was clean and modular, with no evidence of heavy or unoptimized scripts.
- The caching system in place was functioning properly and contributing positively to performance.
Testing results:
- Performance grade: 98%
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): 575 ms
- Total Blocking Time (TBT): 138 ms
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): 0.0
These metrics indicated a healthy site with no significant speed degradation from the mentioned plugins.
Resolution steps
After reviewing the data, the Freshy team concluded that none of the examined plugins or custom functionality were responsible for performance issues. However, to future-proof the site and ensure ongoing stability, the following steps were taken:
- Validated all custom plugin code
Each plugin’s PHP structure was checked for deprecated functions and unnecessary hooks. All were found to follow modern coding standards. - Confirmed caching and backup configurations
The caching and backup systems were reviewed to ensure they were properly configured and not overlapping in functionality. No conflicts or redundancy were detected. - Eliminated unnecessary overlap
Recommendations were made to remove duplicate or redundant security tools, as other systems already provided firewall and backup protection. - Verified front-end rendering
Performance tests confirmed that the site’s custom ACF-based alert system and homepage controls were not introducing load-time penalties or resource strain. - Reviewed JavaScript structure
A code audit found no large or complex JavaScript processes that could cause delays. Scripts were well-structured and optimized. - Benchmarked final results
Post-audit testing reaffirmed that the site was performing at an A-grade level, with responsive front-end behavior and stable backend speeds.
Final outcome
The audit confirmed that the site was already well-optimized. None of the custom or third-party plugins—such as the history log, alert banners, or homepage customizations—were causing performance issues.
Freshy’s developers provided the client with a detailed audit summary outlining:
- Which plugins were safe and essential.
- Which could be safely removed (e.g., redundant firewall plugins).
- General optimization best practices to maintain peak performance.
The result was a confident “all-clear” assessment: the site is fast, stable, and well-structured for future scalability.
Need help auditing your WordPress site for speed or plugin conflicts?
Freshy’s expert team can assess your site’s performance, diagnose bottlenecks, and recommend solutions tailored to your setup.
Contact Freshy to schedule your site audit today.
