How Much Does Really Simple Security Slow Down WordPress? We Measured It

Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) - MakeWPFast

Really Simple Security is a WordPress plugin used on 3M+ sites. Our 3-context benchmark shows it barely registers (+9ms TTFB on activation).

B+

Measured Speed Score

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 two key metrics:

PHP Memory Usage — how much additional memory the plugin consumes per request. Each doubling of memory overhead costs 10 points. High memory usage can cause crashes on shared hosting and limits how many plugins you can safely run together.

Database Queries — how many extra SQL queries the plugin runs per page load. Each 10x increase in query overhead costs 25 points. More queries mean more database work, slower pages, and harder scaling.

The score uses a logarithmic scale — the first few extra queries or megabytes matter more than going from 100 to 110 queries. This reflects real-world impact: the jump from 4 to 14 queries is far more noticeable than 100 to 110.

Grade	Score	What it means
A	90–100	Negligible impact. Safe to install on any hosting.
A-	80–89	Very light impact. Minimal overhead on any setup.
B+ / B / B-	65–79	Light impact. Adds some overhead but manageable on most setups.
C+ / C / C-	50–64	Moderate impact. May noticeably slow down budget hosting.
D+ / D	35–49	Heavy impact. Will affect page load times. Consider alternatives.
F	0–34	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.

Context	TTFB	Memory	Queries
⚡Activation	+9 ms	+0 MB	+4
🏠Homepage	+12 ms	+0 MB	+4
⚙️WP Admin	+-8 ms	+0 MB	+20

Low impact

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Plugin Overview

Active Installs3M+

Rating4.9/5 (8,793)

Tested Up ToWP 6.9.1

Requires PHP7.4+

Last UpdatedFeb 10, 2026

Downloads203.8M+

AuthorReally Simple Plugins

WP.orgView on WordPress.org

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Really Simple Security Speed Score - MakeWPFast

Performance Analysis

Really Simple Security (really-simple-ssl) is a WordPress security plugin that hardens your site with hardening checks, two-factor authentication, login protection, vulnerability scanning and SSL enforcement. It’s aimed at developers and site owners who want a quick, automated way to reduce common attack vectors without manual configuration. The plugin is popular with those who value a low‑effort security baseline.

It adds only about 3ms to TTFB, no memory overhead and roughly four extra queries per request. In practice that means a negligible impact on performance, especially on modern servers. However, if you need total control over security settings or want a custom hardening approach, this plugin is not the right tool—it’s a plug‑and‑play solution for the already‑secure WordPress environment.

Maintenance Status

Last updated: 2026-02-10. Requires PHP 7.4+. Trusted by 3.0M+ active installations.

Benchmark data measured in an isolated Docker environment (WordPress 6.8, PHP 8.3, GeneratePress). See our full methodology.

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Alternatives to Really Simple Security

Plugin	Speed Score	Active Installs
Wordfence Security	C+	5M+
Hostinger Tools	A-	3M+
Limit Login Attempts Reloaded	A-	1M+

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the actual cost of running Really Simple Security?

Our 2026 benchmark recorded a +9ms TTFB increase and a memory delta of around 0MB on activation. The composite speed score of B+ is based on those measurements across three contexts.

Is Really Simple Security a good fit for high-traffic WordPress sites?

Really Simple Security earned a B+ on our composite scoring. With page caching (Cloudflare, WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache), the +9ms TTFB delta we measured rarely shows up on cached responses — most visitors won't notice it.

Does Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) slow down WordPress?

Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) has an estimated speed score of A-. It should have minimal impact on your site speed.

Is Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) still maintained?

Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) was last updated on 2026-02-10. It has 3.0M+ active installations, indicating it is actively maintained and widely trusted.

What are the best alternatives to Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL)?

Check our plugin reviews in the Security category for alternatives. We compare plugins side-by-side on speed, features, and user ratings to help you find the best fit.