WordPress is a powerful platform that can handle a lot of traffic. Despite this, we’ve heard from many readers who’ve seen their website’s performance plummet as their traffic grows.
At WPBeginner, we’ve been running high traffic websites for years so we know that the right tools can make all the difference. To help you out, in this Scalability Pro review we’re looking at a plugin that was specifically designed to help websites scale.
Want to prepare your site for high traffic? Or, perhaps you’re already getting lots of visitors and want to optimize your high-traffic site so it performs better.
In this Scalability Pro review, we’ll see whether it’s the right optimization plugin to solve whatever performance problems you’re currently facing.
Scalability Pro Review: Why Use It in WordPress?
Scalability Pro is a performance and optimization plugin that promises to future proof you website. Instead of simply speeding up your website, it aims to improve performance in a way that won’t degrade as your site grows. This means your WordPress website can handle lots of simultaneous users, visitors, or shoppers without crashing.
To achieve this, Scalability Pro focuses on optimizing the underlying database and speeding up slow queries across your entire WordPress website, including the admin dashboard. For example, Scalability Pro can add indexes to your key WordPress tables to optimize underlying SQL queries.
Are you using WooCommerce? Then Scalability Pro has an entire tab dedicated to optimizing your online store.
In particular, it can streamline specific WooCommerce queries, shortcodes, and operations so your store loads more quickly, while also improving loading times in the admin dashboard. For example, Scalability Pro can remove the Order Summary dashboard script so the admin area loads more quickly, even when you have lots of orders.
Scalability Pro Review: Is It the Right Optimization Plugin for You?
Want to make sure your WordPress site can handle massive growth and increasing traffic without affecting its performance? Unlike some other performance plugins, Scalability Pro focuses on scalability, so it promises to future proof your site while also improving how it runs today.
With that said, is Scalability Pro the right optimization plugin for your WordPress blog or website? Let’s find out, in this detailed Scalability Pro review.
1. Easy to Use
Scalability Pro is designed with ease of use in mind. To start, you can install and activate it just like any other WordPress plugin. After that, you’ll find the plugin’s settings conveniently arranged into tabs.
Even better, most of the Scalability Pro settings have an onscreen explanation to help you understand exactly what they do.
Some of the more advanced options even have links to relevant articles, so you can get even more information.
2. Future Proof Your Website
Scalability Pro is designed to help you maintain a high level of performance no matter how big your website grows. In fact, according to the Scalability Pro website, customers with 100,000+ products, posts, or custom post types have successfully used this plugin to improve their website’s speed and performance.
3. Improve Site Speed Through Indexing
Scalability Pro lets you create indexes that speed up various areas of your WordPress website without changing how it looks or functions.
Just be aware that it may take a few minutes to create these indexes, especially on larger sites. With that said, it’s a good idea to perform this task during low traffic periods.
4. Slow Query Log
If you suspect your website’s poor performance is due to SQL queries, then you’ll be happy to learn that Scalability Pro comes with a built-in Slow Query Log.
Unlike some other query logs, Scalability Pro displays the URL and stack trace for each query, so you can easily act on each entry.
You can also customize the log by changing the time limit or specifying a string that all captured queries must contain.
5. Speed Up Slow Queries
Scalability Pro can optimize underlying SQL queries and speed up slow queries, by adding indexes to your key WordPress tables. Essentially, if a poorly-performing query is using WP_Query, then Scalability Pro can optimize it.
It can also rewrite queries to be faster, which can help you avoid unnecessary table scans. Just be aware that Scalability Pro can’t optimize some filtering and search queries.
6. Fix Slow WordPress Themes
A common problem with WordPress themes is that they store images in the database using GUID’s against the wp_posts table. As the wp_posts table grows, these queries typically become slower and slower.
Scalability Pro can fix this problem by adding the missing indexes.
7. Accelerate Your Imports
Are you imports taking a long time? Scalability Pro can streamline this process by optimizing item-lookup. According to the Scalability Pro website, users can expect around a 10x speed boost, along with reduced CPU usage.
Scalability Pro also gives you the option to disable, alter or microcache slow imports and exports, saving you even more time.
8. Defer Term Counting
Term Counts is where WordPress counts the number of items within a category or taxonomy, such as posts, products, or custom post types. When you’re importing content, it may perform a term count after importing each item.
To avoid this, Scalability Pro can defer term counting until 2AM, so this time-consuming operation is performed once, rather than once per row.
9. Remove Unnecessary Image Sizes
When you upload an image, WordPress creates multiple size variations by default. Some WordPress themes and plugins may even request additional image sizes.
These copies take up disk space on your web hosting server. They also increase the size of your WordPress backups, so it takes longer to back up, transfer, and restore your site. Depending on your hosting plan, you may even have to pay for extra storage.
With that said, Scalability Pro can remove unnecessary image sizes globally across your website.
This can reduce your disk space usage and speed up your imports, since the server no longer has to create so many variations and then write them to disk.
For more on this topic, please see our guide on how to prevent WordPress from generating image sizes.
10. Cache User and Author Count
WordPress has a function that counts your users and performs a table scan. If you have lots of users, then this can slow down the WordPress admin area. With Scalability Pro, you can cache the user count for 12 hours.
Do you run a multi-author WordPress blog? Then Scalability Pro can also cache author post counts for 12 hours, even if your authors create or delete posts within that timeframe.
11. Remove Meta Boxes
The WordPress content editor has a SQL query that populates the ‘custom meta’ select box. Scalability Pro can remove this box, which may help with performance.
With that done, you can simply type in the meta name if you need to edit metadata.
12. Cache Post Counts
By default, WordPress caches post counts per post type. However, it will empty this cache every time an item is modified, created, or deleted. If you’re importing content into WordPress, then this can have a big impact on your import speeds.
To fix this problem, Scalability Pro can cache post counts for all the different post types. Behind the scenes, the plugin creates a table and intercepts the WordPress count terms command. If the item has already been counted, then Scalability Pro will return from the table cache.
13. Remove or Check for Private Items
When you’re logged in as an admin, WP_Query will check both post_status = ‘publish’ and post_status = ‘private’. However, the OR statement means that index on wp_posts isn’t usable after the post_status column.
Here, Scalability Pro can remove unnecessary post status checks by optimizing the WP_Query so it checks for published items only. Just be aware that this feature can affect some full site editors. For example, it may prevent you from editing drafts you’ve created using Elementor.
14. Disable CAST
WordPress has a CAST function that applies to the ‘value’ column on many wp_postmeta queries. This is unnecessary, since MySQL auto-casts where required. In addition, MySQL can’t use any indexes you create on these columns, since a function is applied.
With that said, Scalability Pro can fix this problem by removing CAST on wp_postmeta.
15. Use EXISTS
By removing the need for sorting and grouping, Scalability Pro can help you avoid table scans. In fact, according to the Scalability Pro website, this simple change can turn a 4.6 second query into a 0.05 second query, since it reduces the overhead of JOIN operations.
To achieve this, Scalability Pro alters the main WP_Query SQL call to use WHERE EXISTS instead of a LEFT JOIN. In this way, the SQL Query can avoid using a GROUP BY, which removes SORTING of results.
16. Disable Pagination
If you have lots of content, then your archives may take longer to load. This is often due to the MySQL code that counts the total number of products or pages.
To fix this issue, Scalability Pro lets you disable pagination. Behind the scenes, Scalability Pro pretends there are 10,000 pages instead of calculating how many pages there really are. For that reason, if you disable pagination then you should also disable the page count to avoid confusing your visitors.
Alternatively, you can use an infinite scroll plugin so people can still access all your content.
17. Remove Sort Options
WP_Query provides sorting options, but these require a full sort of the retrieved data. This means a full table or index scan, which may take a few extra seconds, especially on larger websites.
With Scalability Pro, you can reduce the amount of CPU required for sorting by opting to use the natural index and sort order on your posts.
You can also avoid extra sorting operations, which will reduce the time and resources needed to fetch data. Typically, this delivers the biggest performance boost on sites with large databases.
18. Optimize the Action Scheduler
If the _actions table becomes heavily populated, then it may take longer to import your WooCommerce products.
Scalability Pro can fix this problem by clearing completed, failed and cancelled items from the Action Scheduler table each day, rather than once every 30 days. By reducing the size of your Action Scheduler table in this way, Scalability Pro can speed up your imports.
In addition to clearing the table daily, Scalability Pro will track and display the total number of clearable items and logs.
You can even clear all these items manually. Simply click the ‘Empty Action Scheduler Table’ button and Scalability Pro will delete all actions that carry either a ‘cancelled’, ‘completed’, or ‘failed’ status.
19. Enable Object Caching
Scalability Pro lets you enable object-caching per-row for lists in the WordPress admin area. This is particularly useful if you use WooCommerce, as this eCommerce plugin can add lots of custom functions and columns, or individual rows.
20. Optimize WooCommerce Variables
Do you have lots of product variations? This can become a problem, as the code that counts these variations can run slowly.
In that case, you can configure Scalability Pro so it ignores these WooCommerce product variations. This can reduce the overhead associated with WooCommerce’s variation counting queries, which can often speed up the initial page load.
21. Fix the Products Category Bottleneck
If you have lots of products, then the category dropdown can make your WordPress admin area run more slowly.
To solve this problem, Scalability Pro lets you remove the category dropdown from the products list in your WordPress dashboard.
22. Remove WooCommerce Order Summary
If you have lots of WooCommerce orders, then you may notice the admin dashboard slowing down. This is because WooCommerce runs an Order Summary dashboard script in the background, which can increase the dashboard loading times, particularly if you have lots of WooCommerce orders.
With Scalability Pro, you can disable the WooCommerce dashboard widget, which removes this order script.
You can still see your order summaries at any time by heading to WooCommerce » Reports.
23. Cache WooCommerce Shortcodes
Do you use the [sale_products] or [best_selling_products] shortcodes? In that case, Scalability Pro can enable caching for these shortcodes, which will give you a speed boost.
Even better, this caching is WPML compatible so it’ll cache different results per language.
24. Disable WooCommerce Onboarding Code
Even if you’ve already set up your online store, WooCommerce’s onboarding wizard uses a hasProducts function that triggers a table scan. These results are cached, but if you’re importing or editing products then the cache gets wiped frequently.
With Scalability Pro, you can fix this problem by enabling a 24 hour cache.
25. Enable Ajax Editing
Do you use a ton of attribute terms on your online marketplace?
If that’s the case, then WooCommerce will load all these terms in the product editor, which can make this page slow to load.
To solve this problem, Scalability Pro can enable Ajax attribute editing.
26. Optimize Product Attributes Lookup
WooCommerce made a product attributes lookup table to help with performance, but this may negatively affect how your tables are maintained. In particular, WooCommerce will check two columns for product_id and product_or_parent_id, when it really only needs to check the product_or_parent_id.
In that case, Scalability Pro can optimize the WooCommerce product attributes lookup table by removing the product_id column check.
27. Optimize WooCommerce GROUP BY
For many queries against wp_posts, WP_Query will append GROUP BY, in an attempt to avoid duplicates. However, this typically causes either an index scan or a table scan, followed by an expensive SORT.
Behind the scenes, Scalability Pro optimizes some WooCommerce queries by removing unnecessary GROUP BY and DISTINCT clauses.
When only columns from wp_posts are fetched and no joins are present, Scalability Pro will remove GROUP BY completely as it’s not required. By contrast, if only data from wp_posts is being fetched, then Scalability Pro will replace GROUP BY with DISTINCT since it doesn’t require an expensive SORT.
28. Fixes Order Delivery Date
Are you using the Order Delivery Date plugin? This plugin performs a table scan every time you visit the Order screen. This is an expensive query that can cause performance problems as you get more and more orders.
If that happens, then Scalability Pro can override this query and instead simply fetch and display orders from the last 15 months.
29. Compatible with Page Builders
Are you using a page builder on your WordPress website?
Then you’ll be happy to learn that Scalability Pro is compatible with all the best page builders, plus full site editors.
30. Community and Professional Support
Your website’s speed and performance can affect everything from your conversion rates, to your email list signups, sales, and much more. With that said, you’ll want to ensure you’re getting the most from Scalability Pro.
To start, there’s online documentation that you can access 24/7. Here, you’ll find detailed guides on how to set up Scalability Pro, and use all its major features.
There’s also an error troubleshooting section so you can diagnose and fix any common WordPress errors you may encounter when using Scalability Pro.
Prefer one-on-one help? Then the Scalability Pro plans include access to a Discord server where you can chat directly to the development team. This gives you instant access to people who can answer any questions you may have about Scalability Pro.
There’s even a dedicated Scalability Pro development channel where customers can discuss potential new features and upgrades directly with the development team.
Scalability Pro Review: Pricing and Plans
Unlike some other performance plugins, you’ll get the exact same features no matter what plan you buy. However, the plan that’s right for you will vary depending on the number of sites where you want to use Scalability Pro.
There are several plans to choose from:
- 1 year, 1 site. For €59 per year, you can use Scalability Pro on a single blog, website, or digital marketplace.
- Lifetime, 1 site. For €179, you can install Scalability Pro on a single site, for an unlimited amount of time.
- 1 year, unlimited sites. Priced at €199 annually, this plan lets you use Scalability Pro on as many sites as you want. That said, this is a good plan for WordPress development agencies, or anyone else who manages multiple sites.
- Lifetime, 5 sites. For €299, you can install Scalability Pro on 5 websites.
- Lifetime, 100 sites. Priced at €499, this plan lets you use Scalability Pro for as long as you want. That said, this is a good option for larger development agencies, or freelance designers and developers.
Scalability Pro Review: Is It the Right Optimization Plugin for You?
To sum up this Scalability Pro review, we’re confident that it’s a great optimization plugin for WordPress. It has a ton of features specifically designed to supercharge large websites, and prepare smaller websites for future growth.
In particular, Scalability Pro comes with a built-in Slow Query Log and a ton of features that can help speed up these queries. You can also streamline your imports, including when importing WooCommerce products into your online store.
Unlike some other performance plugins, Scalability Pro also aims to speed up the WordPress admin dashboard. In this way, you can improve the experience for all your visitors, members, and users across your website.
We hoped this Scalability Pro review helped you decide whether it’s the right optimization plugin for your WordPress website. You may also want to learn how to set up Google Analytics goals for your WordPress site, or see our expert pick of the best web push notification software.
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