Head-to-head · October 2026
Smart Varnish vs Proxy Cache Purge
Proxy Cache Purge comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Smart Varnish.
Smart Varnish
Smart Varnish A simple plugin to bypass varnish caching for logged in users and serve uncached content.
Proxy Cache Purge
This plugin does not install nor configure a cache proxy. It acts as an interface with such services.
| Metric | Smart Varnish | Proxy Cache Purge |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10+ | 50K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 31 | 9.9K |
| Download trend | -11.4% | -32.5% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Reviews | 2 | 26 |
| Health score | 30/100 | 83/100 |
| Last updated | 10 years ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.6.0 | WP 7.0.7 |
| Support resolved | — | 100% |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.4+ |
| First released | Oct 2014 | Jul 2011 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Smart VarnishProxy Cache Purge
Choose Smart Varnish if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 10 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.6 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Proxy Cache Purge if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 50K+ active sites
Both compete in: varnish
FAQ
Smart Varnish vs Proxy Cache Purge: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 18, 2026
Which is better, Smart Varnish or Proxy Cache Purge?
Proxy Cache Purge comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Smart Varnish. Choose Smart Varnish if you care most about download trend. Choose Proxy Cache Purge if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Smart Varnish more popular than Proxy Cache Purge?
Proxy Cache Purge is the more popular of the two with 50K+ active installs, compared with 10+ for Smart Varnish.
Can I use Smart Varnish and Proxy Cache Purge together?
Both plugins cover varnish, 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 Smart Varnish and Proxy Cache Purge 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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