W3 Total Cache vs Fastly (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Fastly has a higher user rating (5/5 from 1 reviews) while W3 Total Cache leads in active installations (900K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. W3 Total Cache has accumulated 63M+ total downloads while Fastly has 107K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | W3 Total Cache | Fastly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 5,416 | ◄ | 1 |
| Active Installs | 900K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 63M+ | ◄ | 107K+ |
| Support Resolution | 65% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 days ago | ◄ | 5 months ago |
| First Released | 2009 | 2012 | |
| Age | 17 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.3+ | 4.6.2+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.2.5+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.9.4 | 1.2.29 |
Rating Breakdown
W3 Total Cache
Fastly
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, W3 Total Cache averaged approximately 39,671 daily downloads while Fastly averaged 22.
Recent Reviews
W3 Total Cache Reviews
Reliability Concerns After Plugin Update
I’ve been a long-time user of W3 Total Cache and have generally appreciated its performance benefits over the years. However, my recent experience with version 2.9.3 was quite concerning. After upd
They delete comments
A serious security issue was discovered in the plugin two weeks ago, leaving it vulnerable. No updated version has been released yet. Worst of all, they’re deleting comments requesting updates on this
Excellent!
It’s powerful on it’s own, and almost mandatory. This topic was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Lenni. This topic was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Lenni.
Fastly Reviews
Works very well
Fastly has one of the very best CDN’s on market it has helped my campaign which has to be almost absurdly fast all over the world be exactly that.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is W3 Total Cache or Fastly more popular?
Which has better ratings — W3 Total Cache or Fastly?
Are W3 Total Cache and Fastly free?
Which plugin has better support — W3 Total Cache or Fastly?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.