Autoptimize

noun · performance plugin · element 51 of 117

A free WordPress plugin that aggregates, minifies and defers CSS and JavaScript to make pages load faster.

My levelExpertYears of daily use. I build tools on it, teach it or lead teams with it.

In my work since: 2021
Family: Search and visibility

What is Autoptimize?

Autoptimize, by Frank Goossens, combines and minifies CSS and JavaScript, inlines critical CSS, defers scripts and can optimise images, all from a free plugin.

It pairs with a page cache, since it optimises the files and leaves caching to something else.

How I use Autoptimize

Autoptimize was part of my speed work for TeamQ clients, with WP Rocket and Cloudflare.

Where I have used itAutoptimize by company and year, from the projects on this site and the rest of my career.

TeamQ DevelopersSpeed work · 2021 to 2025

What Autoptimize connects to

WP RocketA WordPress caching and performance plugin: page cache, file optimisation, lazy loading and delayed JavaScript.
Core Web VitalsGoogle's three page experience metrics: how fast the main content loads (LCP), how quickly the page responds (INP) and how stable it stays (CLS).
CSSThe language that controls how web pages look: layout, colour, type, spacing and motion.
JavaScriptThe programming language of the browser. It makes pages interactive, and through Node.js it runs on servers too.

Type	Performance plugin
Made by	Frank Goossens
Price	Free