WordPress Performance Audit

I'll tell you what's slowing your WordPress. In writing.

WordPress Performance Audit Service

Most WordPress performance problems aren't on the frontend. They're in the database - slow queries, bloated autoload, plugins that fire 40 extra DB calls per page. GTmetrix doesn't show you that. I do. You get a prioritized fix list in 48 hours, no server access needed.

Book a Call - $299 How it works

Creator of MakeWPFast.com - 140K visitors/month · Limited spots per week

15+
Years in WordPress
140K
MakeWPFast visitors/month
48h
Turnaround
$299
Flat fee
Sound Familiar?

You've tried the obvious stuff. Still slow.

Caching plugins are the first thing everyone installs. They help with repeat visits. They don't fix a query that takes 3 seconds to run.

Caching plugin installed, still slow

WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache is active, TTFB is still over 800ms. That's almost always a backend problem - slow queries or autoload bloat that fires before any cache can help.

Upgraded hosting, no difference

Moved from shared to managed hosting or bumped your VPS plan. Speed didn't change. The bottleneck followed you because it's in the code, not the hardware.

PageSpeed shows 45/100 but no idea why

The lighthouse score flags frontend stuff - images, JS bundles. But your server response time is 1.5s before a single asset loads. That's not a frontend problem.

High-traffic launch coming up

You're about to run a campaign, go on Product Hunt, or get press coverage. You want to know the site won't fall over - and you want it in writing before it goes live.

93%
In my experience, most WP performance problems trace back to 3 root causes - slow database queries, plugins adding unnecessary overhead on every request, and autoload data that's grown out of control. Frontend optimizations don't touch any of these. That's why the caching plugin didn't fix it.
The Audit

What I look at in every performance audit

I go through your site's data systematically, layer by layer. Each area gets a concrete finding - not generic advice. If your autoload is at 4MB, the report says exactly which option rows are causing it and what to do.

Slow Query Analysis
Every slow query from your log gets a MySQL EXPLAIN walkthrough - why it's slow, whether it's missing an index, and the exact fix.
Plugin Overhead Audit
Which plugins add DB queries on every page load, which ones fire on the frontend when they shouldn't, and which are responsible for the worst overhead.
wp-options Autoload Bloat
WordPress loads all autoloaded options on every single request. If that's grown to 2-10MB, your site pays that cost before rendering a pixel. I find what's in there and what shouldn't be.
Database Table Fragmentation
MySQL tables fragment over time from rows being inserted and deleted. A fragmented table scans slower. The fix is a one-line OPTIMIZE - but you need to know which tables to target.
PHP & Server Configuration
PHP version, OPcache settings, memory limits, max execution time, and whether your PHP-FPM or mod_php setup is configured sensibly for WordPress.
Object Cache Setup
Whether you have a persistent object cache (Redis/Memcached) configured, whether it's actually being used, and whether the cache is sized appropriately.
MySQL Version & Config
Whether your MySQL version supports the optimizations WP needs, and whether key server variables (innodb_buffer_pool_size, query_cache) are set sensibly.
Transient & Post Revisions Bloat
Expired transients sitting in the database, thousands of post revisions, orphaned postmeta rows. All of these slow down queries that touch the posts and options tables.
Process

Three steps. One clear report.

No server access, no plugin installs, no waiting around. You send me read-only data, I analyze it, you get the report.

1
You send me the data
WP Health Check export (Site Health > Export), a slow query log snippet or WP Multitool access if you have it, and basic hosting info. That's all I need. I'll confirm receipt within 2 hours and give you a delivery window.
2
I analyze and write the report
I go through each layer: queries, plugins, autoload, DB health, server config. Each finding gets a root cause explanation and a concrete recommendation. Not generic advice - specific to your data.
3
You get a prioritized fix list in 48h
The report lands in your inbox ordered by impact. Fix #1 is the thing that'll make the biggest difference. You can hand it to a developer or tackle it yourself. Implementation is a separate engagement if you need it.
What you send me

Read-only data, nothing more

WP Health Check Export
Go to WP Admin > Tools > Site Health > Info tab > Export. One JSON file, takes 10 seconds. No credentials in it.
Slow Query Log Snippet
If your host exposes it, a few pages from the slow query log is ideal. If you use WP Multitool, I can work directly from its query analyzer. If neither, I'll work from the Health Check export plus a few questions.
Hosting Panel Info
Server type (Apache/Nginx/LiteSpeed), PHP version, MySQL version, hosting plan type. A screenshot of your cPanel/hosting dashboard is fine.
No SSH. No WP login. No server access.
I analyze the data you send. I don't need to touch your server. Your credentials stay with you.
Pricing

One service, one price

Flat rate. No tiers, no upsells inside the report. Pay upfront, get the audit in writing.

WordPress Performance Audit
One-time
$299 flat
48-hour turnaround from data receipt. No server access needed.
  • Slow query analysis with MySQL EXPLAIN
  • Plugin overhead audit (DB queries per plugin)
  • wp-options autoload bloat breakdown
  • Database table fragmentation analysis
  • PHP & server configuration review
  • Object cache and transient health check
  • Prioritized "fix this first" list with estimated impact per item
  • Written report (PDF or Notion, your choice)
Get the Audit - $299

Book a call first if you want to talk through scope

Not included

Implementation of fixes - that's a separate quote if you need it
Frontend optimization (image compression, JS minification) - that's GTmetrix territory
Server admin work or cPanel access - read-only data is enough for the audit

Most clients fix everything themselves

The report is written for developers but readable by site owners. Every recommendation is concrete - not "consider optimizing your database" but "run OPTIMIZE TABLE on wp_postmeta and wp_posts, they're both over 40% fragmented."

Why Me

I built the site people read when their WordPress is slow.

MakeWPFast.com gets 140,000 visitors a month from developers and site owners looking for WordPress performance answers. I built it because I was sick of generic caching advice that didn't address the real problems. This audit is the "hire Marcin directly" version of that.

140K

MakeWPFast.com Monthly Visitors

The WordPress performance authority I built from scratch. People trust it for the same reason you'd trust this audit - no generic advice, just the stuff that actually works.

15+

Years in WordPress

Former CTO at CreativeMinds (2010-2024), where we built 50+ WordPress plugins used on thousands of sites. I've seen every kind of database problem at scale.

Top 3%

Toptal Screened Developer

Toptal screens roughly 3% of applicants into their expert network. Combined with Upwork Top Rated Plus (95% JSS) and Fiverr 4.9 stars - these are platforms I can't edit.

50+

WordPress Plugins Built

13 modules in WP Multitool, dozens more at CreativeMinds. Writing plugins at scale means learning exactly which WP patterns cause performance problems - firsthand.

FAQ

Common questions

Do you need server or SSH access?
No. The whole audit works on read-only data you send me. WP Health Check export, a slow query log snippet (or WP Multitool data if you have it), and basic hosting info. I don't need your WP login, cPanel access, or SSH. Your credentials stay with you.
What data do I need to send for the WordPress performance audit?
Three things: a WP Health Check export (WP Admin > Tools > Site Health > Info tab > Export), a slow query log snippet from your host if they expose it, and basic hosting info - server type, PHP version, MySQL version. A screenshot of your hosting control panel is fine for the last one. If you use WP Multitool, I can work directly from its query analyzer output. If you're not sure what to gather, we'll figure it out on the call.
Do you fix the issues found in the audit?
The audit is a written report only. That keeps the scope and price predictable - you know what you're buying. If you want help implementing specific fixes after reading the report, that's a separate engagement we can quote. Most clients handle the fixes themselves using the prioritized list as a guide.
My site is on managed hosting (WP Engine, Kinsta, Flywheel). Will this still work?
Yes. Managed hosting locks down some server config options, but there's still plenty to audit. Slow queries, plugin overhead, autoload bloat, object cache setup, and table fragmentation are all fair game. The report will flag which fixes you can do yourself and which require a conversation with your host's support team.
How is this different from just running GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights?
GTmetrix and PageSpeed measure frontend symptoms - image sizes, render-blocking scripts, Core Web Vitals scores. They see what a browser sees. They don't touch your database. WordPress slowness usually starts before a single asset loads - in the time it takes PHP and MySQL to build the page. That's what this audit covers. If your server response time (TTFB) is over 500ms, no frontend tool will explain why.
What format is the audit report?
A written document - PDF or Notion page, your preference. It's organized as a prioritized fix list. Each item includes: what the issue is, why it matters for performance, estimated impact (high/medium/low), and a concrete fix. Ordered by impact, so you know exactly where to start.

Know what's wrong before you try to fix it.

Send me your data. I'll tell you exactly what's slowing your site and what to do first. $299, delivered in 48 hours.

Book a Call

Not sure if the audit is right for your situation? The call is free - we'll figure it out.