WP Super Cache vs Varnish/Nginx Proxy Caching (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Varnish/Nginx Proxy Caching
800 active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Varnish/Nginx Proxy Caching has a higher user rating (5/5 from 10 reviews) while WP Super Cache leads in active installations (1.0M+ vs 800). Both are free WordPress plugins. WP Super Cache has accumulated 62M+ total downloads while Varnish/Nginx Proxy Caching has 59K+. WP Super Cache has a higher support resolution rate (67% vs 0%).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | WP Super Cache | Varnish/Nginx Proxy Caching | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 1,341 | ◄ | 10 |
| Active Installs | 1.0M+ | ◄ | 800 |
| Total Downloads | 62M+ | ◄ | 59K+ |
| Support Resolution | 67% | ◄ | 0% |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ◄ | 6 years ago |
| First Released | 2007 | 2015 | |
| Age | 19 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.7+ | 4.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.2+ | 5.2.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 3.0.3 | 1.8.3 |
Rating Breakdown
WP Super Cache
Varnish/Nginx Proxy Caching
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
WP Super Cache Reviews
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ok This topic was modified 3 weeks, 4 days ago by Winston. This topic was modified 3 weeks, 4 days ago by Winston.
Nice Speed Boost
Tried this to improve my site speed and it actually helped. Pages load faster now and setup wasn’t too hard. Settings need a bit understanding at first, but once done it works nicely. pretty useful pl
Does not work with Astra Pro’s Color Switcher
Everything seems to work well until I started using Astra Pro’s “Color Switcher” to implement “dark mode.” With “WP Super Cache” activated, my Color Switcher site appears unable to correctly “remember
Varnish/Nginx Proxy Caching Reviews
No reviews yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.