Asset CleanUp Plugin Review 2025 (Free & Paid)

Review & Overview

Description

Features

Asset CleanUp (Page Speed Booster) – Overview and Review

Overview

Asset CleanUp is a WordPress performance plugin that scans each page, lists all loaded CSS/JS assets, and lets you selectively disable (“unload”) those not needed on that page. By doing so, it reduces HTTP requests and page size, improving load times. The free version already offers a wealth of tools for both beginners and developers:

you can unload CSS/JS per page or post,
minify and combine files,
inline styles,
defer scripts,
disable emojis/dashicons,
strip out WordPress meta (like RSD/REST links, shortlinks, version tags, oEmbed links) and RSS feeds.
It also optimizes fonts: combining Google Fonts or making them async with font-display:swap, and preloading local fonts, to prevent font loading from blocking rendering.
Finally, it can add Critical CSS snippets (pre-generated) to pages to eliminate render-blocking styles.

Installation is straightforward: search “Asset CleanUp” in Plugins → Add New and activate it. Once active, a new “Asset CleanUp” menu appears in the WP admin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-vth-wZZVk You can tweak global settings first (e.g. enable the meta-box on the post editor or front-end view) and then edit each page/post. For each page, a meta-box lists all enqueued assets; each asset has toggles for “Unload on this page”, “Unload everywhere (site-wide)”, and checkboxes to apply async or defer if loaded. The interface is user-friendly: for example, the screenshot below shows Contact Form 7’s CSS/JS with options to disable them. screenshot asset cleanup unload scripts

In the page editor, Asset CleanUp adds a meta-box listing all loaded CSS/JS. Each asset (e.g. Contact Form 7 styles/scripts above) can be disabled on that page or site-wide, and attributes like async/defer applied. The plugin’s Settings page (in WP-Admin under Asset CleanUp) has tabs for general preferences, CSS/JS Load Manager, Bulk Unloads, Tools, etc. Here you choose whether to “Manage in Dashboard” (show the asset list in the editor) or “Manage in Front-end” (show it on the actual page for logged-in admins). You can also enable Test Mode (so changes only affect admins) and set up file minification/combination rules. The screenshots below illustrate these UI sections. Asset CleanUp’s settings dashboard includes toggles (e.g. to show asset lists in the editor vs front-end) and options like minification/combining of files. The “Plugin Usage Preferences” screen above sets how assets are retrieved and displayed. Installation and basic setup are quick. The plugin is actively maintained (tested up to WP 6.7.2 as of 2025) and works on multisite. It’s suitable for any site owner who needs faster pages: beginners can use the intuitive checkboxes to trim assets, while developers can leverage the advanced rules (regex unloads, screen-size conditions, etc.). The free version alone is powerful; the Pro upgrade is appealing mainly to agencies or power-users managing multiple pages/sites with complex needs.

Review

Asset Unloading and HTTP Requests

At its core, Asset CleanUp dequeues (unloads) CSS and JS files. WordPress often loads scripts globally even if only a few pages need them. By unloading unneeded assets on specific pages, the plugin reduces the number of files the browser fetches. For example, if you have a contact form plugin whose CSS/JS is not needed on the homepage, you can unload those files there. This can cut page size and HTTP requests significantly. In practical terms, sites with many plugins often see 5–20 fewer requests by trimming unused assets. One user reported that after unloading unused scripts, “My GTmetrix scores improved immediately after installing this!”, reflecting faster load and better PageSpeed/YSlow grades. Technically, the plugin hooks into WordPress’s script enqueue system. On each page (or across all pages if using Pro rules), it looks at all enqueued CSS/JS and filters them based on user settings. Since it can operate on the front-end as you browse while logged in, it gives a live view of assets for that page. Removing assets means those files never load, which directly speeds rendering and LCP (Largest Contentful Paint). This is especially effective on asset-heavy sites; the more unused libraries you disable, the more you shave off load time.

Asset Manager / Global Rules (Pro)

In the CSS & JavaScript Load Manager (Pro), you can manage assets globally. For instance, you might unload a plugin’s scripts on all pages except the checkout page. You can target by page type, template, category, or use regex to match many URLs. The Pro version adds a “Bulk Unloads” interface to disable assets in bulk, and a Test Mode so you can preview changes in admin without breaking the live site. Test Mode is very helpful: changes you make (unloads, async settings, etc.) only apply to your admin view. Once satisfied, you disable Test Mode and those rules affect all visitors.This advanced logic is key for developers. Asset CleanUp Pro supports things like screen-size conditional loading: e.g. only load a slider script on large screens. It can also move CSS to the bottom (<body>) to defer render-blocking CSS, which is an uncommon feature in most plugins. Overall, the Asset Manager in Pro is a powerful “script manager” rivaling those in paid plugins. The trade-off is complexity: beginners should use it carefully (perhaps with the built-in guidance and test mode), while developers will appreciate the fine-grained control.

Critical CSS and Fonts

Asset CleanUp can inject Critical CSS (for above-the-fold styles) on pages. You must generate this CSS yourself (with a tool or service) and paste it into the plugin. Once set, the critical CSS is inlined in the header of that page, ensuring fast initial paint and avoiding render-blocking styles. This helps Lighthouse/Speed scores for First Contentful Paint. Font optimization is also built-in: Google Fonts can be combined into one request, made async, and given font-display:swap so text is visible sooner. It can preload fonts.gstatic.com and preconnect to font domains to speed fetching. Local fonts can be added as <link rel=preload> and have font-display toggled. These font options are similar to what WP Rocket and other optimizers do, and they help CLS (layout shifts) as well.

Minification, Combination and HTML Cleanup

Asset CleanUp includes minification and combination of CSS/JS. In the free version, you can minify individual files; Pro can scan and combine remaining styles/scripts into one file (useful to reduce requests)【43†】. Note: combining/ minifying can sometimes break a site, so the plugin recommends testing first (hence Test Mode). In practice, the plugin’s minifier uses PHP’s DOM and regex methods, which are generally safe. Additionally, Asset CleanUp cleans up the HTML head by removing WP default elements. For example, it can strip out the RSD (Really Simple Discovery) link, Windows Live Writer manifest, REST API link tag, shortlink, WP version, emoji scripts/styles, oEmbed links, and HTML comments. Removing these helps a bit with performance audits and reduces page weight. Most of these options are on by default and only need checking if your theme or plugin expects them. Overall, this HTML cleanup is straightforward and unlikely to break anything, and it mildly improves metrics (e.g. it can bump a PageSpeed score for unused CSS/JS or unused metadata).

Performance Improvements (Benchmarks)

Quantifying performance gain depends on the site. In general, reducing assets and requests can cut load time by tens to hundreds of milliseconds for average sites, or even seconds for very heavy sites. For example, on a WooCommerce site with 80+ loaded files, disabling 10–20 unneeded ones can shrink page size by 10–30% and improve Speed Index/LCP. User reports reflect this: one user noted they could “significantly boost page loading performance” on a WooCommerce site using Asset CleanUp alongside WP Rocket. Another simply said GTmetrix scores jumped immediately after use. Independent tests (using tools like GTmetrix or Lighthouse) typically show improvements in the “reduce unused CSS/JS” and “eliminate render-blocking” audits. While exact numbers vary, you can expect better PageSpeed/Lighthouse scores once unused CSS/JS warnings are resolved. In practice, pairing Asset CleanUp with a caching plugin (like WP Rocket) yields dramatic speedups: the plugin eliminates bloat so that the caching plugin has only lean files to minify/cache, resulting in “blazing fast” loads.

Compatibility with Builders and Caching Plugins

Asset CleanUp is designed to be compatible with most themes and plugins. The author adheres to WordPress coding standards, so any properly-built theme or plugin should work. It is often used with page builders: many users trim builder CSS/JS on pages where the builder isn’t used. However, there have been reports of conflicts. For instance, one user found that after an Elementor update, Asset CleanUp “removed all the text and images” of Elementor-built pages for guests, throwing a ReferenceError: ElementorProFrontendConfig is not defined. This suggests that certain dynamic builders (Elementor, possibly others) may break if key scripts are unloaded. In such cases, the fix is to only unload safely (or use Test Mode to catch issues first). Generally, compatibility is good, but always test after major builder or PHP updates. (On that note, the plugin historically tested only up to PHP 7.3/7.4; most users now run PHP 8, so one should verify that any errors are resolved in the latest version.) Regarding caching: Asset CleanUp complements caching plugins. WP Rocket’s docs explicitly note they are compatible – just clear Rocket’s cache after changing Asset CleanUp settings. In fact, the workflow is to use Asset CleanUp to disable assets, then let WP Rocket (or another cache) handle combining/minifying of the remaining files. You should avoid duplicating features (e.g. don’t minify with both Asset CleanUp and WP Rocket simultaneously). Similarly, LiteSpeed Cache users have warned that overlapping optimizations may conflict, so the rule is “don’t enable the same feature in both plugins”. In short, Asset CleanUp works fine with major caches (WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, etc.), as long as you disable redundant settings on one side.

Support and Documentation

Asset CleanUp has an official knowledge base (on the developer’s site) and an FAQ. The plugin’s WordPress.org page also provides documentation hints. Support is community-driven: on the WordPress forums the developer occasionally replies, but recent stats show only a fraction of issues are marked resolved. Free users get forum support, while Pro users get one-on-one email support and feature priority. In my experience, answers are usually helpful but sometimes delayed. The documentation (when accessible) is fairly thorough about how each option works, and tooltips in the UI explain many settings. Given the plugin’s complexity, the availability of a Test Mode and explanatory text is a plus. Still, some users (especially beginners) may feel overwhelmed by the options and would benefit from more in-dashboard guidance or tooltips.

Free vs Pro – Features and Value

The free version of Asset CleanUp is quite robust: you get most of the CSS/JS disabling tools, basic minification/combining, and HTML cleanup. Developers can already do a lot without paying. Pro, at around $49/year for one site (with higher tiers for more sites), adds advanced controls. For example, only Pro can unload across site archives, use conditional regex patterns, lazy-load by screen size, inline JS, or defer CSS in the body. If you manage a single site and don’t need these, the free version may suffice, but heavy sites or agencies will find Pro worth it. Compared to alternatives, Pro is moderately priced: for context, Perfmatters (a main competitor) costs about $25/year for one site, but has a simpler feature set. Asset CleanUp Pro’s $49 entry price is higher, but offers many features out-of-the-box that Perfmatters doesn’t (like the CSS manager, fonts options, HTML cleanup). There are cheaper deals occasionally (the author has offered the Pro plugin in bundles or lifetime offers), but generally the annual fee is the norm. Keep in mind renewal is optional (you keep using the version you have even if you stop renewing; you only lose updates/support).

Pros and Cons:

Pros:
- Granular control over asset loading can drastically improve page speed.
- The free version covers most common needs, and Pro adds powerful rules (site-wide unloads, screen conditions, etc.).
- Test Mode allows safe trial-and-error.
- Integrates with caching plugins (complementary workflow) and supports many cleanup tasks (fonts, meta tags, etc.).
- Highly rated by users (4.9/5 on WP.org) with many success stories.
- Regular updates and WP coding standards compliance.
- Affordable pro pricing for advanced features.
Cons:
- Steep learning curve – disabling the wrong asset can break layouts, so beginners must be cautious (hence the backup/test mode recommendations).
- Some users have reported conflicts (e.g. with certain builder updates or custom WP-content paths).
- Not a complete “one-click” solution – it focuses on assets and must be used alongside a cache plugin for full speed benefits.
- The UI, while powerful, can feel overwhelming with many settings.
- Lacks built-in image or database optimizations (stick to CSS/JS only), unlike some all-in-one optimizers.
- Premium support is only for paying customers. And because it modifies front-end loading, each change should be tested (though Test Mode helps).

Alternatives: The main alternative is Perfmatters (by Kinsta): it also manages scripts but has a cleaner, simpler interface and lower entry price. However, Perfmatters doesn’t handle Google Font optimization or the degree of CSS management that Asset CleanUp offers. For free solutions, Autoptimize can minify/combine CSS/JS but doesn’t selectively unload assets. Some smaller plugins (e.g. Clearfy) disable WordPress bloat, but none match Asset CleanUp’s depth. In practice, many site owners use Asset CleanUp alongside a cache plugin (WP Rocket, LiteSpeed, etc.) rather than replacing them. If you need full control over every script on a per-page basis, Asset CleanUp (Pro) is hard to beat; if you only want simpler toggles (like disabling WooCommerce scripts on non-store pages), Perfmatters or even simple code snippets might suffice. Conclusion: Asset CleanUp is a powerful and effective asset manager. For technically-minded users, it offers huge performance wins by trimming unused CSS/JS on each page. The free version is already very capable, and Pro fills in advanced needs. The main caveat is its complexity: novices should proceed carefully (using Test Mode and backups) to avoid site breakage. Given its track record and feature set, I’d rate Asset CleanUp 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s best suited for site owners and developers who want granular speed optimization and are comfortable tweaking scripts. Beginners with simpler sites may get by with the free version or a lighter alternative, but those seeking serious page speed improvements will find this plugin invaluable.

Key features include:

Free version:
- Unload unused CSS/JS on individual pages;
- minify/combine CSS & JS;
- defer combined scripts;
- inline CSS;
- disable WP emojis/dashicons;
- remove unused WP meta (RSD, REST links, version, shortlinks, oEmbed tags, etc.);
- disable XML-RPC;
- optimize Google and local fonts;
- add Critical CSS.
Pro version (paid): Everything in free, plus
- site-wide asset management (unload on all pages, regex rules, unload by post type),
- unload entire plugins,
- split assets by screen size,
- move CSS to <body> (asynchronously),
- move JS from header to footer,
- apply async/defer attributes to individual scripts,
- inline JS files,
- Test Mode (changes only visible to logged-in admin for safe testing),
- and premium support/upgrades.

Asset CleanUp