Head-to-head · October 2026
Output Optimizer vs W3 Total Cache
W3 Total Cache comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Output Optimizer.
Output Optimizer
Removes line-breaks, tabs, double space, html comments and wordpress head-data from html output.
W3 Total Cache
W3 Total Cache (W3TC) improves the SEO, Core Web Vitals and overall user experience of your site by…
| Metric | Output Optimizer | W3 Total Cache |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 900K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 46 | 595.9K |
| Download trend | +64.3% | -31.5% |
| Rating | — | 4.4/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 5,420 |
| Health score | 23/100 | 82/100 |
| Last updated | 14 years ago | 1 week ago |
| Tested up to | WP 3.4.2 | WP 7.1.3 |
| Support resolved | — | 11% |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.4+ |
| First released | Feb 2012 | Jul 2009 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Output OptimizerW3 Total Cache
Choose Output Optimizer if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 13 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.4 (latest is 7.1)
Choose W3 Total Cache if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 900K+ active sites
- Actively developed — last update 1 week ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Slow support — only 11% of recent threads resolved
Both compete in: Optimize
FAQ
Output Optimizer vs W3 Total Cache: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 10, 2026
Which is better, Output Optimizer or W3 Total Cache?
W3 Total Cache comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Output Optimizer. Choose Output Optimizer if you care most about download trend. Choose W3 Total Cache if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Output Optimizer more popular than W3 Total Cache?
W3 Total Cache is the more popular of the two with 900K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Output Optimizer.
Can I use Output Optimizer and W3 Total Cache together?
Both plugins cover Optimize, 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 Output Optimizer and W3 Total Cache 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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