How Expanding Archives Affects Your WordPress Speed

How is this scored?
Our Benchmark Methodology
Every speed score on MakeWPFast is based on real performance measurements, not estimates. We install each plugin on a clean WordPress 6.9 setup (PHP 8.3, MariaDB, GeneratePress theme) and measure the difference in three metrics:
TTFB (Time To First Byte) — how many milliseconds the plugin adds to server response time. This is the most important factor (50% of the score) because it directly affects every page load.
Memory usage — how much additional PHP memory the plugin consumes per request (30% of score). High memory usage can cause crashes on shared hosting.
Database queries — how many extra SQL queries the plugin runs per page load (20% of score). More queries mean more database work on every request.
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| A / A- | Negligible impact. Safe to install on any hosting. |
| B+ / B / B- | Light impact. Adds some overhead but manageable on most setups. |
| C+ / C / C- | Moderate impact. May noticeably slow down budget hosting. |
| D+ / D | Heavy impact. Will affect page load times. Consider alternatives. |
| F | Severe impact. Significant resource usage that hurts performance. |
Plugins marked "Not Yet Tested" have not been benchmarked yet. We do not estimate or guess scores — if there is no measured data, there is no grade.
Note: Benchmarks measure a plugin in isolation on a clean install. Real-world impact varies based on your hosting, other plugins, and how the plugin is configured.
Performance Analysis
Performance Impact
Expanding Archives receives an estimated speed score of C-. Our real benchmark tests measured the following impact when activating this plugin:
- TTFB impact: +1 ms
- Memory impact: +0.0 MB
- Additional DB queries: +0
Overall activation impact: low. This plugin adds minimal overhead to your WordPress site.
Maintenance Status
Last updated: 2024-03-23. Requires PHP 7.4+. Trusted by 2K+ active installations.
Benchmark data measured in an isolated Docker environment (WordPress 6.8, PHP 8.3, GeneratePress). See our full methodology.
Find slow plugins on your own site
WP Multitool scans your WordPress site for slow queries, memory hogs, and performance bottlenecks - in one click.
Alternatives to Expanding Archives
| Plugin | Speed Score | Active Installs |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Widgets | A | 2M+ |
| ElementsKit Elementor Addons and Templates | A | 1M+ |
| Custom Post Type UI | A | 1M+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Expanding Archives slow down WordPress?
Is Expanding Archives still maintained?
What are the best alternatives to Expanding Archives?
Plugin reviews, speed optimization guides, and error debugging — straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We respect your privacy.