Which WordPress Hosts Stay Fast When Caching Is Off
Web hosts use caching to mask their slow servers. We stripped it away on 16 popular hosts to find out who *truly* delivers top performance.

WPShout – Trusted by 10,000,000+ people who used our resources to build their websites.
16 Popular WordPress Hosts Tested
















Why Should You Care?
Many hosting providers claim lightning-fast speeds, but often rely on aggressive caching strategies to cover up slow server performance. When the cache is disabled – or simply can’t be used for dynamic pages, ecommerce checkouts, or membership sections – you’re left vulnerable to long load times that drive away customers and hurt conversions. This gap between “optimized” marketing headlines and “true server capacity” can have a real impact on your bottom line.
We decided to strip away those caching tricks and test 16 popular WordPress hosts under real-world conditions. Our goal was simple: find out which companies offer actual performance you can count on, not just the illusion of speed.
This report unveils who invests in robust servers and who’s hiding behind cached page results, ultimately saving you time, money, and headaches by guiding you to a host that delivers consistent speeds.
Who Is This For?
This is for anyone running an ecommerce store, membership site, or any WordPress setup with real-time user interactions – especially if you’ve suspected your site might be slowing down in ways you can’t quite pinpoint. If you’ve ever worried about performance dips when caching isn’t available, or simply want to ensure your host can handle real-world workloads, this report is for you.

WordPress sites with real-time user interactions

Membership sites and non-public membership areas

Ecommerce/WooCommerce stores
Example Report Findings
Just a couple of quick samples of what you can expect to find in the report:
1
TTFB UP BY 347% WITCH CACHE OFF
Without caching, the average TTFB rose by 347%, with a median increase of 280% across all hosts.
2
WORDPRESS DARLINGS DIDN’T WIN
This one’s a spoiler. The hosts you’d expect to be at the top, aren’t.
3
HOSTS TO AVOID
The worst-performing host had a TTFB that was 2037% higher than the cached baseline.
4
MORE PLUGINS MEAN SLOWER SPEEDS
Each additional plugin installed slows down load times, especially when caching is disabled.

Pay What You Want to Get the Report
This report is the result of extensive research and countless hours of effort. Your support ensures we can continue creating valuable resources like this. You can start with as little as $10 or pay what you feel it’s worth.
Considering the depth of insights and analysis, we suggest a fair price of $49. But the choice is yours. Every contribution helps sustain our work.
What these tests taught me about hosting performance
This has been a wild ride for me! It all started as a curiosity, really. Here at WPShout, we’ve spent years working with different hosting setups, regularly measuring and comparing speeds to build a detailed database of host performance. But there was one critical aspect we’d intentionally avoided exploring – caching.
Our approach has always been about keeping things practical and realistic. Most users stick to the default settings their host provides, which usually means caching on. So, our tests have focused on replicating what the average user would experience.
Over time, though, it became impossible to ignore the growing realization that caching isn’t a universal fix. It falls apart in many real-world scenarios – like the aforementioned ecommerce sites, memberships, and WordPress setups with heavy user interaction. Every month, the temptation to tackle this topic grew stronger, until I couldn’t ignore it any longer.
After pulling the trigger and running these tests, I can’t help but feel like I’ve uncovered at least a moderate secret in hosting: caching is a crutch for a lot of providers. 🩼
Don’t get me wrong, caching is amazing – it’s a game-changer for speed. But what happens when it’s not there? That’s the real test of a host, and honestly, the results were a bit eye-opening.
In the end, some hosts impressed me with their stability. Even when I disabled caching and threw more plugins at them, they held their ground. Others showed why they’re premium choices. Sure, they rely on caching to shine, but they’re so well-built that even without it, they perform better than most.
And then there were hosts that struggled and really showed their weaknesses. It’s a reminder that even popular (officially endorsed 🙉) names can fall apart if you push them too hard. It also seems that “semi-official” (quotation marks not accidental) hosts don’t offer as much upside as I had hoped.
So, what’s the lesson here? If you’re choosing a host, don’t just look at the glossy marketing claims about speed. Think about how your site works in real life.
Are you running an online store, a membership site, or anything with personalized content? If so, caching can only help so much – you need a host that can handle the raw, unfiltered workload.
At the end of the day, hosting isn’t just about numbers. It’s about trust. And I hope this report helps you figure out which hosts you can truly count on.
FAQs
1. What is this report about?
This report reveals which WordPress hosts truly deliver speedy performance when caching is disabled. It covers 16 popular hosts, digging into real-world scenarios where caching won’t save a slow server.
2. Why does testing without caching matter?
Many hosting providers rely on caching to mask deeper performance issues. By testing without it, you see how a server really performs – especially during ecommerce checkouts or membership logins when pages can’t be fully cached.
3. Who is this report for?
It’s for anyone running a WordPress site that relies on real-time user interactions – ecommerce, membership sites, or anyone who suspects their host may be slower than advertised.
4. How do you conduct these tests?
We use a combination of real-world interactions (like adding items to a cart) and professional tools like WebPageTest’s scripting feature. Each host is tested under identical configurations for consistency.
5. Why did you disable optimizations and caching for this test?
We wanted to remove any “speed boosts” that could hide a host’s true performance. Disabling caching and optimizations ensures we measure raw server power.
6. How accurate and unbiased is this report?
We purchase hosting plans independently, set up identical WordPress sites, and run standardized tests. No host is given special treatment, so the data is as fair and unbiased as possible.
7. What’s included in the report?
You’ll find in-depth performance comparisons, explanations of the testing process, tables of results, and commentary on each host’s strengths and weaknesses.
8. Will I still benefit from this report if I use caching?
Absolutely. While caching can help speed up your site, this report shows how well your host can handle moments when caching isn’t an option – critical data for overall reliability.
9. How can this report help me pick the right host?
By revealing each host’s true capabilities, you can make a more informed decision. You’ll know which providers are robust enough to handle your site’s real-world demands.
10. How much does the report cost?
The report is available for a one-time purchase, giving you instant access to all the data and analysis. It’s a “pay what you want” model. You can start with as little as $10 or contribute what you feel it’s worth.
We suggest a fair price of $49 based on the depth of insights and value provided, but ultimately, the choice is yours.
11. Why should I buy this report when there are free articles on fast hosting?
Free articles often rely on hosted or sponsored reviews that focus on setups crafted by the host. Our research is completely independent and digs deeper to show what happens when the host doesn’t know you’re testing it and when caching is off. At the same time, by purchasing this report you are supporting independent researchers like us so we can continue creating valuable resources like this.