LiteSpeed Cache vs WP Rocket on Hostinger: we tested both
Same WordPress site, same Hostinger server, one plugin at a time.
Short answer: On Hostinger, the free LiteSpeed Cache was fastest: median server response fell from 321 ms to 49 ms, and Hostinger’s CDN served pages from the edge. WP Rocket reached 107 ms. PageSpeed was 98 to 99 for all three, because the test page was already light.
LiteSpeed Cache and WP Rocket are WordPress caching plugins that store ready-made copies of your pages so the server does not rebuild them on every visit.
Results: server response and PageSpeed
Median of 11 requests after a warm-up, measured from India on 17 Oct 2026. Lower is better.
| Setup | Median response | Slowest | Cached by Hostinger CDN | PageSpeed mobile | LCP mobile | PageSpeed desktop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cache plugin | 321 ms | 1.33 s | No (dynamic) | 98 ↗ | 1.9 s | 98 |
| LiteSpeed Cache (free) | 49 ms | 1.05 s | Yes, served from the edge | 98 ↗ | 1.9 s | 98 |
| WP Rocket ($59.95/yr) | 107 ms | 0.25 s | No (max-age=0) | 99 ↗ | 1.6 s | 99 |
How we tested
Our own lab site on the same Hostinger server as this site.
A clean WordPress site
WordPress 7.1.3, Twenty Twenty-Five, PHP on Hostinger’s LiteSpeed server, no plugins.
Realistic content
A 2,000-word article with 6 headings and 4 images, plus 9 other posts.
One plugin at a time, default settings
LiteSpeed Cache 7.9.1, then WP Rocket 3.23.3.3 on an identical copy of the article (Hostinger’s CDN kept LiteSpeed’s cached copy of the first).
Measured twice
12 timed requests per setup with curl (the first is a warm-up), then one PageSpeed Insights run on mobile and desktop.
Removed everything after
The lab is back to zero plugins; raw numbers are below.
What the numbers mean
What we learned
- LiteSpeed Cache cut server response by about 85% on Hostinger
- Hostinger’s CDN caches LiteSpeed Cache pages at the edge; WP Rocket pages were sent with max-age=0, so the CDN passed them through
- WP Rocket was still about 3x faster than no cache, with steadier timings
Limits of this test
- One light page: PageSpeed was 98 even without caching
- One location (India) and one PageSpeed run per setup
- Default settings only; tuned settings and heavy themes are our next test
Which should you use on Hostinger?
Use LiteSpeed Cache if
- You host on Hostinger or any LiteSpeed server
- You want the fastest server response for free
- You are fine with a busy settings panel
Use WP Rocket if
- You want simple one-click settings
- You need Delay JavaScript and Remove Unused CSS on a heavy, ad-heavy site
- You may move to a host without LiteSpeed
Raw data
Every timed request after the warm-up, in milliseconds (time to first byte).
| Setup | 11 requests (ms) |
|---|---|
| No cache plugin | 279 · 319 · 1325 · 326 · 321 · 297 · 354 · 320 · 1299 · 1335 · 293 |
| LiteSpeed Cache 7.9.1 | 45 · 59 · 1049 · 43 · 45 · 45 · 90 · 52 · 50 · 49 · 45 |
| WP Rocket 3.23.3.3 | 107 · 112 · 148 · 106 · 102 · 107 · 102 · 101 · 237 · 106 · 253 |
The occasional 1 s request appeared in both the no-cache and LiteSpeed runs; it is server-side variation, not the plugin. Free to reuse with a link to this page (CC BY 4.0).
LiteSpeed Cache vs WP Rocket: FAQ
LiteSpeed Cache vs WP Rocket on Hostinger: which is faster?
LiteSpeed Cache, for server response. On our clean test site it answered in a median 49 ms against 107 ms for WP Rocket, because Hostinger’s CDN cached LiteSpeed pages at the edge. PageSpeed scores were 98 and 99: a tie within normal variation.
What is the best cache plugin for Hostinger?
LiteSpeed Cache. It is free, Hostinger’s servers run LiteSpeed, and in our test it was the fastest. Buy WP Rocket only if you want its one-click Delay JavaScript and Remove Unused CSS on a heavy site, or if you may move to a non-LiteSpeed host.
Is WP Rocket worth it on Hostinger?
Usually not for page caching alone. On our real site investmarathi.com, WP Rocket’s Delay JavaScript moved mobile PageSpeed from 56 to 58; see our WP Rocket review. On a light site, free LiteSpeed Cache gave the bigger speed gain.
Can I use LiteSpeed Cache and WP Rocket together?
Not for page caching: two page caches conflict. If you use WP Rocket on a LiteSpeed server, keep LiteSpeed Cache off, or use only its image and CDN features with page cache disabled.
Why did PageSpeed barely change?
Our test page was light: a default theme, 2,000 words and 4 images scored 98 even without a cache plugin. PageSpeed runs from Google’s servers and weighs rendering more than server response. Heavier themes and ads show bigger differences; that is our next Speed Lab test.
How did you test?
A fresh WordPress 7.1.3 site on our Hostinger server with Twenty Twenty-Five and no other plugins. We measured server response 12 times per setup from India (first request as warm-up), then ran PageSpeed Insights once on mobile and desktop. Each plugin ran on default settings, one at a time.
Methodology
How this page was built, so you can check it.
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Date | 17 Oct 2026 |
| Environment | Clean WordPress 7.1.3 with Twenty Twenty-Five on our Hostinger LiteSpeed server (digitalpritam.in/lab/), no other plugins |
| Versions | LiteSpeed Cache 7.9.1, WP Rocket 3.23.3.3 |
| Procedure | One plugin at a time on default settings, a fresh copy of a 2,000-word test article with 4 images for each, 12 timed requests with curl from India (the first is a warm-up and not counted), then PageSpeed Insights once on mobile and desktop. Each plugin and its files were removed afterwards. |
| Measured | Time to first byte (median of 11) and PageSpeed Insights score and LCP |
| Limits | One light page, one location, one PageSpeed run per setup, default settings only |
About this page
Pritam Sonone
Founder of Digital Pritam. WordPress developer and designer, WordCamp Kolhapur 2025 speaker. Builds WordPress sites for clients.
How we checked
- Tested on our own lab site (digitalpritam.in/lab/) on the same Hostinger LiteSpeed server as this site, 17 Oct 2026
- WP Rocket ran on our own paid licence; LiteSpeed Cache is free; both on default settings, one at a time
- 12 timed requests per setup plus PageSpeed Insights; all raw numbers published on this page
Sources: PageSpeed: no cache · PageSpeed: LiteSpeed Cache · PageSpeed: WP Rocket · LiteSpeed Cache on WordPress.org
Related guides
FlyingPress review 2026Tested against 5 cache plugins
Best cache plugin for Hostinger6 plugins tested on a Hostinger server
WP Rocket review 2026Tested on our own site: real scores and settings
WP Rocket best settings 2026Every tab, tested on a live site
Best WordPress Cache Plugin 2026LiteSpeed Cache, WP Rocket and more compared
WP Rocket Black Friday 2026Licence prices and whether you need itAffiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Digital Pritam may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list deals we have checked on the brand’s own website, and commissions never change our picks. Prices can change at any time; always confirm the final price at checkout. Read our full affiliate disclosure.