Heartbeat Controller
Control WordPress Heartbeat API to reduce load. Allow, disable, or set custom frequency for Dashboard, Post Editor, and Frontend.
Consider an alternative
Heartbeat Controller shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 1K+ sites and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & supportDaily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Heartbeat Controller stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| admin-ajax.php | #21 |
| autosave | #26 |
| heartbeat | #9 |
| heartbeat api | #9 |
| performance | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
About Heartbeat Controller
From the official readme · v1.0Description
“Heartbeat Controller” helps you reduce server load by managing WordPress’s built-in Heartbeat API. WordPress uses the Heartbeat API to make frequent background requests to admin-ajax.php, which can overwhelm your server especially on shared or VPS hosting.
This plugin provides a clean, user-friendly interface that lets you:
– ✅ Enable or disable Heartbeat API
– ✅ Adjust Heartbeat frequency (interval in seconds)
– ✅ Control behavior per section: Dashboard, Post Editor, Frontend
– ✅ Instantly apply changes without code
Ideal for performance-conscious site owners and developers.
🛠 No need to write a single line of code. Everything is controllable through the WordPress admin.
Features
- Control WordPress Heartbeat activity from the admin panel
- Apply settings independently for:
- Admin Dashboard
- Post/Page Editor
- Frontend (theme side)
- Choose from:
- Allow (default WordPress behavior)
- Disallow (disable AJAX polling)
- Modify frequency (set custom interval, e.g., 60 seconds)
- Built-in protection to prevent unsafe frequency (minimum 15s)
- Lightweight and developer-friendly
- Clean UI that follows WordPress standards
About the Developer
Created and maintained by “Abdur Rahman”, a WordPress developer passionate about performance, custom plugins, and helping businesses scale through fast and secure websites.
Need a custom plugin? Reach out for collaborations or freelance projects!
Installation
- Upload the plugin folder to the
/wp-content/plugins/directory. - Activate the plugin through the “Plugins” menu in WordPress.
- Go to “Settings > Heartbeat Control” to configure options.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Heartbeat API?
The Heartbeat API is used by WordPress to send periodic requests (every 15–60 seconds) to admin-ajax.php for tasks like auto-saving posts, syncing data, and showing logged-in user activity.
Why should I control it?
Frequent AJAX calls from the Heartbeat API can cause high CPU usage and slow down your site, especially if you or your users keep multiple admin tabs open.
Is it safe to disable the Heartbeat API?
Yes, but some features like autosave or post locking won’t work. For most sites, it’s safe to disable or reduce the frequency in the Dashboard or Frontend.
Will this plugin work with caching plugins?
Yes! This plugin complements performance optimization tools like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache.
Changelog
First release. You can now easily control WordPress Heartbeat behavior to reduce server load.
1.0
- Initial release
- Allows full control over Heartbeat API in Dashboard, Post Editor, and Frontend
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Heartbeat Controller alternatives
All admin-ajax.php plugins →| Rank | Plugin | Active installs |
|---|---|---|
| 2 |
Admin Ajax dot php? No Thank You!
Changes the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php endpoint to /ajax/
|
10+ |
| 3 |
LH Javascript Error log
Log Javascript errors from your browser to your wordpress error log.
|
10+ |
FAQ
Heartbeat Controller: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 2, 2026
Is Heartbeat Controller free?
Yes. Heartbeat Controller is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Heartbeat Controller safe to use in 2026?
Heartbeat Controller shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 1K+ sites and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Heartbeat Controller?
Heartbeat Controller is active on 1K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 4,806 times since it launched in July 2025. It was downloaded 394 times in the last 30 days.
Does Heartbeat Controller work with WordPress 7.1?
Heartbeat Controller is officially tested up to WordPress 6.8.10, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Heartbeat Controller need?
Heartbeat Controller requires PHP 7.2 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Heartbeat Controller last updated?
The latest version, 1.0, was released on July 28, 2025 (1 year ago).
Who makes Heartbeat Controller?
Heartbeat Controller is developed and maintained by Abdur Rahman.
What are the best alternatives to Heartbeat Controller?
The most popular alternatives to Heartbeat Controller are Admin Ajax dot php? No Than… (10+ installs) and LH Javascript Error log (10+ installs).
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