WordPress plugin comparison
W3 Total Cache vs Widget Output Cache
At a glance
- W3 Total Cache has more active installs: 900K+, against 200+ for Widget Output Cache.
- On a typical day, W3 Total Cache is downloaded about 10,014 times, Widget Output Cache about 6.
- Widget Output Cache is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 7 reviews, against 4.4 from 5,420 reviews.
- Widget Output Cache was updated more recently: Oct 29, 2026, against Oct 20, 2026 for W3 Total Cache.
- Both are tested up to WordPress 7.1.4.
- W3 Total Cache has been around longer: since 2009, against 2013 for Widget Output Cache.
Line by line
W3 Total Cache leads on 4 of 6 comparable lines.
| Metric |  W3 Total Cache |  Widget Output Cache |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank | #73 | #11,440 |
| Active installs | 900K+ | 200+ |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 598.6K | 243 |
| Rating | 4.4(5.4K) | 4.9(7) |
| Support threads resolved | 50% | – |
| Tested up to | 7.1.4 | 7.1.4 |
| Search multiplier | ×3.22 | ×0.46 |
| Last release | 20 days ago | 11 days ago |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | – |
From WordPress.org's public data, refreshed every night. Downloads are WordPress.org's official daily figures for the last 30 days.
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