SOS for a large multi-domain CMS website – Craft Unit saves a corporate site in “the nick of time”
Craft CMS performance optimization – sustainable acceleration of complex web projects
Poor loading times despite technically clean implementation are a common issue in large-scale Craft CMS projects. Gradual performance degradation can have many causes – such as oversized datasets, untested system updates, inefficient queries, or unnecessary plugins. This best-practice report demonstrates how a complex Craft CMS installation with over 100,000 entries, 400 GB of files, and a 7.5 GB database was transformed from an unstable setup into a performant and reliable platform.
When a website becomes a test of patience: common bottlenecks and effective solutions
In this case, an untested upgrade to Craft CMS 5 led to significant performance drops. The previously used Blitz Cache no longer met the site’s requirements, additional plugins caused unnecessary load, and a poorly optimized deployment process made every change difficult. Hosting costs were in the four-digit range — driven by technical complexity and constant site growth.
Strategy: reduction, focus, and targeted adjustments
The optimization strategy by Craft Unit focused on clear actions to streamline the system and improve performance:
- Removal of unused plugins to reduce system load and maintenance effort
- Replacement of Blitz Cache with the native Craft CMS caching system featuring dynamic logic
- Optimization of templates and queries, cutting database queries by up to 50%
- Acceleration of uncached pages by nearly 70%, resulting in a 20% database size reduction
- Increased server efficiency and faster load times, cutting monthly hosting costs by half
Results and benefits of an optimized Craft CMS instance
A technically optimized Craft CMS website delivers measurable advantages:
- Significantly faster loading times
- Reduced server load and lower operating costs
- Improved stability during traffic spikes
- Better SEO ranking through faster content delivery
- Enhanced user experience across all devices
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