Building a WordPress site involves managing a myriad of tasks, one crucial aspect being the effective management of WordPress memory limit. As your website grows, so does its memory consumption, which can lead to slower load times or even crashes.
Fortunately, you have the option to increase WordPress memory limit using plugins. Without any coding, you can have more WordPress memory and ensure seamless operation of a site.
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When You Should Consider Increasing WordPress Memory Limit?
You should consider increasing your WordPress memory limit when you encounter the “Allowed memory size exhausted” error. This error typically occurs when your site requires more memory than the default limit allows. Here are some common scenarios where you might need to increase WordPress memory limit:
- Large Media Files: If your site has a lot of high-resolution images, videos, or other media files, it can quickly consume memory.
- Multiple Plugins: Running many plugins, especially resource-intensive ones, can increase memory usage.
- Complex Themes: Some themes, particularly those with advanced features or custom scripts, can also use more memory.
- Heavy Traffic: High traffic volumes can put additional strain on your server’s memory resources.
- Outgrown Hosting Plan: If your site has grown significantly, your current hosting plan might not provide enough memory.
Which are the Best Plugins to Increase WordPress Memory Limit?
Using a plugin to increase WordPress memory limit is one of the easiest ways to maintain optimal website performance. However, with countless options available, how do you pick the best one? Well, let’s dive into the world of WordPress memory limit plugins and find the perfect fit for your website.
1. WPMemory
Developed By: Bill Minozzi
Active Installations: 10,000+
Tested Up To: WordPress 5.8
Pricing: Free; Platinum: $24; Standard – $17.99
The WPMemory is a comprehensive toolset to help WordPress developers manage website memory efficiently. This plugin is instrumental in increasing the WordPress memory limit, ensuring smooth website operations.
It not only provides information about the available WordPress memory but also details about hardware memory and PHP memory limits. This detailed insight helps confirm if the hosting service is delivering the promised hardware memory size.
The plugin further alerts developers when the WordPress memory limit is dangerously low or depleted, ensuring prompt corrective actions. This WordPress memory limit plugin also logs memory occupied by each page and server errors, providing a comprehensive overview of the website’s memory health. Thus, it is an essential tool for WordPress developers aiming for optimal website performance.
Best Features
1. Comprehensive memory management toolset including hardware memory, PHP memory, and WordPress memory limits.
2. Alerts for dangerously low memory or depleted memory, ensuring preventive action.
3. Logs memory occupied by each page, providing detailed insights.
4. Error logging from the server, helping in identifying and rectifying issues.
5. Easy to fix PHP and WordPress Memory Limit without any intricate coding.
Why We Recommend it
The WPMemory plugin is an indispensable tool for WordPress developers to increase WordPress memory limit, offering detailed insights and control over the website’s memory management. The comprehensive features and alerts system ensure optimal website performance, making it a highly recommended plugin.
Why to avoid
While it serves a great purpose, it might be unnecessary for small websites or blogs with minimal traffic. It might also complicate the dashboard for non-tech-savvy users.
Did You Know
The WordPress Memory Limit plugin can log how much memory each page has occupied, which is a unique feature not commonly found in other plugins.
Tip for User
Regularly check the memory logs provided by this plugin to identify any potential issues and take necessary preventive measures. It will help you maintain optimal website performance.
2. Server IP & Memory Usage Display
Developed By: Apasionados Active Installations: 20,000+ Tested Up To: WordPress 5.7.2 Pricing: Free
Server IP & Memory Usage Display is an efficient WordPress Memory limit plugin that helps to increase the WordPress memory limit with ease. This plugin is particularly useful as it provides essential details like the memory limit, current memory usage, WordPress Memory Limit, IP address, and PHP version in the admin footer.
The plugin is a beneficial tool for WordPress developers, as it helps in maintaining optimal WordPress memory usage, ensuring the smooth running of the website. The plugin also aids in identifying the IP where the WordPress installation is running, which is invaluable for developers managing multiple WordPress installations across various servers and IP addresses.
Best Features
1. Displays memory limit, current memory usage, WordPress Memory Limit, IP, and PHP version in the admin footer.
2. Highlights memory usage percentage in color codes based on the usage level making it easy to monitor.
3. Shows the PHP version and the type of Operating System where it’s running.
4. Offers the ability to translate the plugin into your own language.
5. Does not include a dashboard widget, keeping the dashboard clutter-free.
Why We Recommend it
Using this memory limit plugin allows developers to constantly monitor the memory usage of their WordPress installation. This helps in maintaining the performance and speed of the website by ensuring that it doesn’t exceed its memory limit.
Why to avoid
If you are looking for a plugin that provides more than just memory monitoring features, then this plugin might not be the best choice for you.
Did You Know
You can translate this plugin into your own language to make it more user-friendly. Currently, it comes with English and Spanish translations.
Tip for User
Regularly monitor the memory usage displayed in the admin footer. If the memory usage exceeds 75%, it’s advised to take action to prevent website slowdowns.
3. MyServerInfo
Developed By: Anton Active Installations: 50+ Tested Up To: WordPress 6.7.1 Pricing: Free
The MyServerInfo WordPress Memory Limit plugin is a resourceful tool that helps display crucial server and site information on your WordPress admin panel. This plugin is particularly useful in increasing the WordPress memory limit, thereby enhancing the overall performance of your website.
It provides key details such as the PHP version, MySQL version, PHP execution time, PHP max input vars, and much more. The information provided by this plugin is critical in ensuring better compatibility with themes and plugins, efficient data management, and smooth performance. By allowing an increase in WordPress memory limit, it facilitates the running of resource-intensive plugins and large websites seamlessly.
Best Features
1. Displays key server and site information in the WordPress admin panel.
2. Provides PHP version details which are essential for better performance and compatibility.
3. Shows MySQL version for efficient data management and faster queries.
4. Enables the increase of WordPress memory limit for smoother performance.
5. Provides details on PHP execution time, helping in the prevention of timeout errors.
Why We Recommend It
This WordPress memory limit plugin is highly recommended to increase WordPress memory limit due to its comprehensive display of server and site information. Its ability to increase the WordPress memory limit ensures smooth website operation, particularly with resource-intensive plugins and large websites.
Why To Avoid
While the plugin is very useful, it may be unnecessary for smaller websites or those that don’t require high memory usage. It may also be a bit complex for beginners to understand all the server and site information.
Did You Know
This WordPress memory limit plugin not only increases the WordPress memory limit but also displays your website’s CPU usage and disk usage, assisting in effective resource management.
Tip for User
Keep a regular check on the key details provided by this plugin to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of your website.
4. WP-Memory-Usage
Developed By: Alex Rabe, Bernhard Kux Active Installations: 10,000+ Tested Up To: 6.7.1 Pricing: Free
The WP-Memory-Usage is a highly beneficial WordPress Memory limit plugin that enhances the overall performance of your WordPress site. It provides an effective way to increase the WordPress memory limit and keep a close check on the memory consumption.
This memory limit WordPress plugin is a great tool for site administrators and developers as it offers a real-time memory usage display right from the dashboard. The user-friendly interface and the ability to conduct multiple memory measurements make it a go-to choice for many.
The WP-Memory-Usage plugin can help identify potential issues and optimize performance, thereby ensuring a smooth-running WordPress site.
Best Features
1. Real-time memory usage display for instant tracking of memory consumption.
2. Multiple memory measurements to examine memory usage over time and during various operations.
3. User-friendly interface that seamlessly integrates with the WordPress dashboard.
4. Provides critical information like PHP version, operating system, and current memory usage.
5. Ability to switch plugins on and off during measurements to identify high memory consumption plugins.
Why We Recommend it
The WP-Memory-Usage plugin is an excellent tool for monitoring memory usage and optimizing the performance of a WordPress site, making it an essential plugin for developers and administrators.
Why to avoid
While WP-Memory-Usage is a powerful tool, it may be a bit technical for beginners who are not familiar with memory usage and its impact on website performance.
Did You Know
The WP-Memory-Usage plugin was first introduced in the WordPress repository in 2009, making it one of the oldest memory monitoring tools for WordPress.
Tip for User
Make the most out of the multiple memory measurements feature to track memory usage over time and identify potential issues before they become significant problems.
5. Memory Meter
Developed By: Memory Meter Team Active Installations: 5,000+ Tested Up To: WordPress 5.7.2 Pricing: Free 
Memory Meter is a robust WordPress Memory Limit plugin, specifically designed to increase WordPress memory limit. It efficiently logs the memory usage as users navigate through your website, offering you the latest and flagged logs when the memory usage exceeds specific percentages.
Additionally, for users with specific capabilities like administrators, a memory meter is shown in the admin bar displaying memory usage. The plugin comes with multiple configuration options, enhancing its versatility. The key benefits of using this plugin include efficient memory management, comprehensive logs, and easy monitoring of memory usage, making it a must-have tool for WordPress developers.
Best Features
1. Logs memory usage as users navigate the website/dashboard.
2. Displays current memory usage by file size and percentage.
3. Shows PHP and WP memory limit and max execution time display.
4. Provides latest and flagged memory usage logs.
5. Displays memory usage page request logs and memory usage in JS console.
Why We Recommend it
Memory Meter is a powerful tool for tracking and managing your WordPress memory usage. Its comprehensive logging and easy-to-read memory meters make it simple to monitor and control your site’s memory usage, ensuring optimal performance.
Why to avoid
While Memory Meter is a fantastic tool, it might be a bit complex for beginners due to its extensive features. Users with minimal technical know-how might find it challenging to navigate and utilize all its features effectively.
Did You Know
Did you know that Memory Meter logs memory usage for any user browsing the website and dashboard, regardless of whether the memory meter is being displayed or not? This ensures comprehensive tracking of your site’s memory usage.
Tip for User
Regularly check the logs provided by Memory Meter and keep an eye on the flagged logs. These will alert you when memory usage is over specific percentages, helping you to manage and optimize your site’s memory usage more effectively.
6. WP Upload Size
Developed By: Husain Ahmed Active Installations: 3,000+ Tested Up To: WordPress 6.6.2 Pricing: Free
The WP Upload Size plugin is a simple, yet powerful tool that allows WordPress developers to increase the WordPress memory limit without any coding. This plugin is specifically designed for managing and increasing the upload size limit, giving you the flexibility to handle larger files such as images and videos.
The WordPress Memory Limit plugin is a crucial part of the WordPress ecosystem. It helps in running scripts and plugins smoothly, thereby enhancing overall site performance. This plugin is incredibly beneficial for developers as it eliminates the need for complex code changes, offering a simple and effective solution to increase WordPress memory limit.
Best Features
1. Easy to use, with no coding required.
2. Allows for the uploading of larger files.
3. Improves site performance by increasing PHP memory limit.
4. Helps in running scripts and plugins smoothly.
5. It is a completely free plugin.
Why We Recommend it
WP Upload Size is highly recommended because of its straightforwardness and efficiency. It provides a quick solution to increase WordPress memory limit, thus improving overall site performance.
Why to avoid
While this memory limit plugin is generally great, it may not be necessary for smaller sites that don’t require the uploading of large files. It might be overkill for such requirements.
Did You Know
The WP Upload Size plugin allows you to increase the WordPress memory limit without having to touch a single line of code.
Tip for User
Always make sure to back up your site before installing and running this plugin to prevent any potential data loss.
How to Increase WordPress Memory Limit Using a Plugin?
Increasing the WordPress memory limit through a plugin isn’t hard work for any developer. Once you have selected the best WordPress memory plugin, you need to install it on the client’s site by following these steps.
- Log into your WordPress admin area.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- In the search bar, type the name of the selected WordPress memory plugin. For this guide, we’re using WP-Memory-Usage.
- Click on Install Now>Activate. After successful installation, the plugin will display the WordPress memory limit usage for the site.
After activation, go to the plugin’s settings page. This is typically found under Settings in the left-hand menu or directly under the Plugins section.
Adjust the memory limit settings as required. You can usually specify the new memory limit in megabytes (e.g., 256M or 512M).
After configuring the memory limit, make sure to save the changes.
And that’s it! Your WordPress memory limit should now be increased.
Now, this manual WordPress memory limit plugin installation process works best for a maximum of up to 5 sites. agencies handling more sites need a solution that automates everything related to WordPress memory limit increase.
One effective way is to use a site management service that allows you to manage WordPress memory limits without using a plugin for both staging and managed sites. For instance, InstaWP enables you to increase the WordPress memory limit by simply entering the desired number. No coding or any installation hassle.
Just simply log in to the dashboard, navigate to the site that needs a memory limit boost, access the PHP Config section, and enter the desired WordPress memory limit. That’s it.
And, if you still prefer using the memory limit plugin, you can perform bulk installation and plugin updates through the same platform.
You can run WP-CLI commands to install a memory-limit plugin on multiple staging sites.
For connected sites, you can install the plugin directly using the plugin slug/ ZIP URL without visiting the site.
This saves a great deal of time and effort for agencies handling multiple client sites and they don’t have to log in to each client site, which is indeed a monotonous and boring task.
Final Word
The right WordPress memory limit plugin can significantly enhance your WordPress site’s performance. These plugins offer an array of features, from memory usage tracking to increasing WordPress memory limits, ensuring smooth operation and optimal performance. Choose a plugin that best suits your website’s needs and keep your WordPress running smoothly and efficiently.
Don’t forget to regularly check the logs and monitor your site’s performance. Keeping an eye on your memory usage will help identify potential issues before they escalate, ensuring your WordPress site remains fast and efficient. And, if you want to make the process of increasing WordPress memory limit, InstaWP is the best bet to make.