In this article · 13 sections
- 1. Use the latest supported PHP version
- 2. Turn on OPcache
- 3. Enable compression
- 4. Browser caching
- 5. Compress and resize images
- 6. Reduce third-party scripts
- 7. Avoid heavy sliders and autoplay videos on the homepage
- 8. Page caching
- 9. Clean up the database
- 10. Use a CDN if visitors are spread out
- When it really is the hosting
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How fast should my website load?
- Which fix gives the biggest improvement?
- Will changing PHP version break my site?
- Make your site faster
Business owners often assume their site is slow because shared hosting is "cheap". Sometimes that's true, but more often the problem is the website itself: huge images, outdated PHP, no caching, too many scripts. These ten fixes work on most shared hosting plans, including Hostinger and cPanel hosts.
1. Use the latest supported PHP version
Newer PHP versions run significantly faster than old ones and get security updates. Change it in hPanel (Advanced → PHP Configuration) or cPanel (Select PHP Version), then test your site.
2. Turn on OPcache
OPcache keeps compiled PHP code in memory so it doesn't recompile on every request. Many hosts enable it by default; check your PHP settings.
3. Enable compression
Gzip or Brotli compression shrinks HTML, CSS and JS before sending. Add mod_deflate rules in .htaccess or enable it in your host's panel.
4. Browser caching
Tell browsers to keep images, CSS and JS for weeks with Expires/Cache-Control headers so repeat visitors load pages faster.
5. Compress and resize images
Usually the biggest win. Convert to WebP, resize to display size, and lazy-load images below the fold. See our image optimisation guide.
6. Reduce third-party scripts
Chat widgets, multiple analytics tags, social feeds and font libraries add up. Remove what you don't use and load the rest after the page is interactive.
7. Avoid heavy sliders and autoplay videos on the homepage
A single strong hero image loads faster and often converts better than a five-slide carousel.
8. Page caching
For WordPress, use a caching plugin compatible with your server (LiteSpeed Cache on LiteSpeed servers). For custom PHP, cache pages or database query results that rarely change.
9. Clean up the database
Remove old revisions, spam comments and expired data; add indexes for columns used in frequent queries (slug, status, created_at).
10. Use a CDN if visitors are spread out
If you serve visitors in India and abroad (Canada, UK), a CDN can deliver static files from servers closer to them.
When it really is the hosting
If server response time (TTFB) stays slow after these fixes, or you hit resource limits regularly, consider a better plan or a VPS. See shared vs VPS vs cloud hosting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast should my website load?
Aim for main content visible within about 2.5 seconds on mobile.
Which fix gives the biggest improvement?
Usually image optimisation, followed by removing unnecessary scripts.
Will changing PHP version break my site?
Very old code might need small fixes. Test on a staging copy or check for errors immediately after switching.
Make your site faster
Joboo Web speeds up PHP and WordPress websites on shared hosting. See Core Web Vitals explained or contact us.