LiteSpeed vs Apache
Alex B.Real-World Benchmarks for WordPress Sites
Choosing the right web server is critical for your website’s performance, especially when running WordPress. While Apache has long been the industry standard, LiteSpeed Web Server has emerged as a powerful alternative that outperforms Apache in speed, efficiency, and scalability.
At SkyHost.ro, we ran real-world tests comparing LiteSpeed and Apache on identical WordPress setups. Here’s what we discovered.
Why This Comparison Matters
WordPress is flexible but resource-hungry. The performance of your web server directly affects:
Page loading speed
Google PageSpeed/Core Web Vitals scores
Resource consumption on shared hosting
User experience and bounce rates
Test Setup
To ensure a fair comparison, we used identical WordPress installations with:
Theme: Astra
Plugins: Elementor, WooCommerce, Yoast SEO, WPForms
Hosting: 2 vCPU, 2GB RAM
Cache plugins: LiteSpeed Cache (for LSWS) and W3 Total Cache (for Apache)
Testing tools: GTmetrix, Pingdom, Loader.io
Page Load Speed (GTmetrix)
Apache: 2.9 seconds average
LiteSpeed: 1.4 seconds average
LiteSpeed loaded pages over 2x faster under the same conditions.
Concurrency Test (Loader.io – 100 users in 60 seconds)
Apache: 73 requests/second, 3.2% error rate
LiteSpeed: 161 requests/second, 0% error rate
LiteSpeed handled concurrent users more efficiently, maintaining speed and stability under load.
Server Resource Usage
Apache: CPU 87%, RAM 1.6 GB
LiteSpeed: CPU 51%, RAM 1.1 GB
LiteSpeed used fewer system resources, offering better performance headroom for additional tasks or visitors.
Caching & Compatibility
LiteSpeed offers native server-level caching through its LiteSpeed Cache plugin.
It supports advanced features like Edge Side Includes (ESI), QUIC.cloud CDN, and image/WebP optimization.
Apache relies on third-party caching plugins with limited server integration.
LiteSpeed also supports modern technologies like HTTP/3, QUIC, and Brotli compression out of the box.
Developer Considerations
LiteSpeed is fully compatible with Apache configurations, including .htaccess, mod_rewrite, and PHP settings. No code changes are required to migrate from Apache to LiteSpeed — just switch the caching plugin and adjust settings.
Real Use Case: WooCommerce Site Migration
A SkyHost client with a WooCommerce store (500+ products) migrated from Apache to LiteSpeed Business Hosting. The results after 24 hours:
Google PageSpeed (mobile) score improved from 56 to 92
Checkout performance increased by 47%
Bounce rate decreased thanks to faster filtering and product loading
Conclusion
LiteSpeed outperforms Apache in nearly every performance category for WordPress hosting:
Faster load times
Better handling of concurrent users
Lower resource usage
Advanced built-in caching and optimization features
If you’re running a WordPress blog, portfolio, or online store, LiteSpeed Hosting is the best choice for performance and scalability.
At SkyHost.ro, all WordPress and Business Hosting plans come with LiteSpeed, cPanel, LiteSpeed Cache, daily backups, and Imunify360 security — making your website faster, safer, and easier to manage.
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Written by
Alex B.
Alex B.
SkyHost.ro is a web hosting provider based in Romania, focused on delivering fast, secure, and scalable cloud infrastructure for websites of all sizes. Through this publication, we share insights, tutorials, and industry news to help developers, startups, and businesses grow their online presence.