Best render blocking plugins for WordPress
The most popular render blocking plugins for WordPress in November 2026, in WordPress.org’s own popular order, which follows active installs. Async JavaScript leads with 60K+ active installs, ahead of Speed Up (1K+). All 2 plugins tagged “render blocking” are below, with figures from WordPress.org that update every day.
Installs aren’t everything: a recent release, a “Tested up to” that matches the current WordPress, and support threads that get resolved show a plugin is looked after. Open any plugin for its downloads, rank history and alternatives.
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Top 2 render blocking plugins
- 1.
Async JavaScriptThe most installed render blocking plugin, with 60K+ active installs. Rated 4.7 from 102 reviews, last updated 3 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 6.2.15.
- 2.
Speed Up1K+ active installs. Rated 4.3 from 6 reviews, updated 3 months ago.
All 2 plugins tagged “render blocking”
Async JavaScript
#620by David Clough3 years ago
Async Javascript lets you add 'async' or 'defer' attribute to scripts to exclude to help increase the performance of your WordPress website.
- Installs
- 60K+
- Rating
- 4.7(102)
- Downloads
- 99/day
Speed Up
Down in the last 7 days:26#6,471by Simone Nigro3 months ago
Move all the possible JavaScript files from head to footer and improve page load times.
- Installs
- 1K+
- Rating
- 4.3(6)
- Downloads
- 16/day