This post documents why I use Perfmatters as part of my WordPress setup.
It isn’t a speed optimisation tutorial or a promise of perfect performance. It’s simply the tool I rely on to reduce unnecessary bloat and keep sites responsive without turning performance into an ongoing project.
This post contains affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclosure if you need more detail.
The Problem I Was Trying to Avoid
WordPress performance can become a rabbit hole.
It’s easy to:
- install multiple optimisation plugins
- chase page speed scores
- tweak endlessly
- and still not feel confident about what’s actually helping
What I wanted was not maximum optimisation, it was control.
Specifically:
- the ability to disable things I don’t use
- remove unnecessary scripts
- and stop WordPress doing work my sites don’t need
Perfmatters fits that role.
Why I Settled on Perfmatters
I use Perfmatters because it focuses on removing causes, not masking symptoms.
Rather than adding layers of caching or abstraction, it gives you:
- simple toggles
- clear explanations
- and the ability to turn off features at the source
That aligns with how I prefer to work, fewer moving parts, fewer surprises.
How I Actually Use It
I don’t treat Perfmatters as a tuning playground.
Once configured, it’s mostly left alone.
The areas I rely on most:
- disabling unused WordPress features
- controlling script loading
- reducing front-end bloat
- keeping page behaviour predictable
This makes sites feel faster without requiring constant attention.
Why This Matters in Practice
I’m not chasing perfect Lighthouse scores.
What I care about is:
- pages loading quickly for real users
- consistent performance across devices
- and not having to revisit performance every few months
Perfmatters helps keep sites in a good place by default, which is far more valuable to me than occasional spikes in test scores.
Support and Documentation
One of the reasons I’m comfortable making Perfmatters a permanent part of my stack is the quality of the documentation and support.
When I’ve needed clarification:
- the explanations are clear
- the settings are well described
- and the intent behind each option is obvious
That reduces guesswork and makes the tool easier to trust long-term.
Pricing and Positioning
Perfmatters is a paid plugin.
I’m fine with that, because:
- it replaces multiple smaller tweaks
- it reduces future maintenance
- and it removes the need to constantly reassess performance tools
I treat it as infrastructure, not an optimisation hack.
👉 My Affiliate link to Perfmatters
What This Isn’t
This isn’t:
- a guarantee of faster rankings
- a promise of perfect scores
- or a claim that everyone needs this plugin
It’s simply the tool that fits how I run my sites.
If that changes, I’ll document the change.
Closing
I use Perfmatters because it keeps performance predictable without becoming work.
Once it’s set up, it stays in the background, which is exactly where infrastructure belongs.
This post documents a tool decision based on ongoing use. Affiliate links are included, but the choice to use this tool was made independently of any affiliate relationship.
