peterarends

Simple Page Cache is an extremely simple, super-fast page cache for WordPress. The plugin stores full HTML pages on disk for non-logged-in visitors. The cache is automatically cleared when content is updated, ensuring visitors always see fresh content. Ideal for small to medium-sized sites and webshops that want maximum speed without complex settings.
Main features: 
– Caching for non-logged-in users (GET requests only) 
– Path-based cache structure for nginx direct serving (<code>/host/path/index.html</code>) 
– Cache files are stored in <code>/wp-content/uploads/simple-page-cache/</code> 
– Drop-in (<code>advanced-cache.php</code>) for maximum speed before WordPress loads 
– Nginx configuration generation for direct cache serving 
– Automatic cache clearing when posts/pages are updated 
– E-commerce integration with intelligent cache clearing for: 
 – WooCommerce (orders, stock updates, product changes) 
 – Easy Digital Downloads (purchases, download updates) 
 – BigCommerce for WordPress (product updates) 
 – Generic e-commerce plugins (product post types) 
– Automatic detection of dynamic pages (cart, checkout, account, wishlist) for: 
 – WooCommerce 
 – BigCommerce for WordPress 
 – Easy Digital Downloads 
 – iThemes Exchange 
 – Jigoshop 
 – WP-Shop 
– Detected dynamic pages are automatically excluded from caching 
– Manual cache clearing via admin bar button 
– Nginx config regeneration via admin bar button 
– Performance comments in cached HTML files 
– No complex settings, no database writes
<h3>Nginx Configuration</h3>
For maximum performance, you can configure nginx to serve cached files directly without PHP processing:
<ol>
<li>Copy the nginx configuration from <code>/wp-content/uploads/simple-page-cache/nginx.conf</code></li>
<li>Add the configuration to your nginx server block for your domain</li>
<li>Test nginx configuration: <code>sudo nginx -t</code></li>
<li>Reload nginx: <code>sudo systemctl reload nginx</code></li>
</ol>
The nginx configuration includes: 
– Internal location block for serving cached files 
– Automatic cache bypass for logged-in users 
– Automatic cache bypass for requests with query strings 
– Debug headers to identify cache hits
Benefits of nginx direct serving: 
– Faster response times (no PHP processing) 
– Lower server load 
– Better scalability 
– Direct file serving from disk
<h3>How it works</h3>
<ul>
<li>For every non-logged-in visitor and every GET request, a static HTML file is created and served.</li>
<li>Path-based cache structure: Cache files are organized as <code>/host/path/index.html</code> for direct nginx serving.</li>
<li>Pages with characteristics of dynamic e-commerce pages (such as cart, checkout, account, wishlist) are automatically detected and excluded from caching. The plugin recognizes WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, iThemes Exchange, Jigoshop, and WP-Shop.</li>
<li>The list of excluded pages is automatically maintained in a file in the cache directory.</li>
<li>Automatic cache clearing: When posts or pages are updated, the plugin efficiently clears cache using the new path-based structure and scans for related content.</li>
<li>E-commerce integration: For WooCommerce, when orders are placed or product stock is updated, the plugin automatically clears cache for the affected products and related pages (categories, tags, shop pages, homepage).</li>
<li>Performance comments: Each cached HTML file includes a comment with timestamp and host information for debugging and transparency.</li>
<li>Nginx integration: Generated nginx configuration allows direct serving of cached files without PHP processing for maximum performance.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Clearing the cache</h3>
<ul>
<li>Click the “Clear Page Cache” button in the admin bar (visible to administrators only) to remove all cache files.</li>
<li>Click the “Regenerate nginx.conf” button in the admin bar to regenerate the nginx configuration file.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Deactivation</h3>
<ul>
<li>When deactivating the plugin:
<ul>
<li>The drop-in <code>advanced-cache.php</code> is removed.</li>
<li>The <code>define('WP_CACHE', true);</code> line (if placed by this plugin) is removed from <code>wp-config.php</code>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Simple Page Cache

Simple, blazing fast static page cache for WordPress. Caches HTML for non-logged-in users with intelligent cache clearing for e-commerce sites.

Jose Mortellaro

IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO USE <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/article/ftp-clients/" rel="ugc">FTP</a>, DON’T INSTALL THIS PLUGIN, IN ANOTHER CASE YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE BACKEND.
This plugin freezes your installation and tries to protect your abandoned website.
You should always keep all your plugins, the theme, and the core up to date. We strongly recommend to use this plugin only as a last solution if you really have no time to properly maintain your website. 
This plugin would have no sense if you keep the theme, the core, and all the plugins up to date.
We strongly recommend to do all the updates and don’t use this plugin.
However, if you really have no time for the maintenance, and the installation is abandoned, at least install this plugin. It will try to protect your abandoned website.
Freeze will “close the doors” and try to protect your abandoned installation. Your installation will not check any more for updates., and no data exchange will be possible. 
Nothing will work, but the normal page loading on the frontend. 
If you have a contact form, it will not work any more. It will not be possible to leave comments on the blog, and so on. 
Also the backend will be frozen. So, if you need some functionalities, this plugin is not for you. This plugin is for static abandoned websites (that should not exist).
It will be even not possible to log in after the log-in cookies expire. 
The only way to log in again is by renaming the folder of this plugin using <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/article/ftp-clients/" rel="ugc">FTP</a>, or by adding this line of code in wp-config.php before the comment /* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */:
<pre><code>define( 'FREEZE_OFF',true );
</code></pre>
IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO USE FTP, DON’T INSTALL THIS PLUGIN.
To add a further level of security Freeze gives you also the possibility to rename the plugins folder. 
Bad robots that scan the net to find old vulnerable plugins will not see the usual path of the plugins folder, and the probability they attack your installation becomes lower.
Freezing the installation and renaming the plugins folder doesn’t mean that it will not be possible to exploit the vulnerabilities of old plugins. 
The 100% of protection doesn’t exist, but surely the probability will drop dramatically .
<h3>REQUIREMENTS</h3>
You need <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/article/ftp-clients/" rel="ugc">FTP</a> access, because you will not be able to log in any more after the log-in cookies expire. 
The only way to log in again is by renaming the plugin using FTP, or by editing the wp-config.php file like explained in the description. 
IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO USE FTP DON’T INSTALL THIS PLUGIN. 
*THIS PLUGIN IS ONLY FOR STATIC WEBSITES THAT DON’T NEED TO EXCHANGE DATA.
<h3>HELP</h3>
If some functionalities like contact form submissions, comments… don’t work, it’s totally normal. This is the aim of this plugin. Only the normal loading of static pages should work, nothing else. 
If there is something that works after installing this plugin, open a thread on the support forum, because this should not happen.

Simple Page Cache vs Freeze | The protection for abandoned websites