Head-to-head · October 2026
DNS Prefetch vs Simple DNS Prefetch
Simple DNS Prefetch comes out ahead, winning 4 of 6 head-to-head checks against DNS Prefetch.
DNS Prefetch
This plugin implements DNS prefetching per the Mozilla specification for the Firefox browser. Hopefully…
Simple DNS Prefetch
DNS resolution time can lead to a significant amount of user perceived latency. The time that DNS resolution…
| Metric | DNS Prefetch | Simple DNS Prefetch |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 60+ | 200+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 87 | 98 |
| Download trend | +11.5% | +11.4% |
| Rating | 4.7/5 | 3.7/5 |
| Reviews | 3 | 3 |
| Health score | 31/100 | 29/100 |
| Last updated | 12 years ago | 8 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.1.42 | WP 4.9.33 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | Any |
| First released | Apr 2014 | Sep 2017 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
DNS PrefetchSimple DNS Prefetch
Choose DNS Prefetch if…
You care most about download trend and health score.
- Small user base (60+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 11 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.1 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Simple DNS Prefetch if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and last updated.
- Small user base (200+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 8 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.9 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: dns optimization prefetch
FAQ
DNS Prefetch vs Simple DNS Prefetch: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 2, 2026
Which is better, DNS Prefetch or Simple DNS Prefetch?
Simple DNS Prefetch comes out ahead, winning 4 of 6 head-to-head checks against DNS Prefetch. Choose DNS Prefetch if you care most about download trend and health score. Choose Simple DNS Prefetch if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and last updated.
Is DNS Prefetch more popular than Simple DNS Prefetch?
Simple DNS Prefetch is the more popular of the two with 200+ active installs, compared with 60+ for DNS Prefetch.
Can I use DNS Prefetch and Simple DNS Prefetch together?
Both plugins cover dns, optimization and prefetch, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are DNS Prefetch and Simple DNS Prefetch free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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