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How to reduce CPU usage on Namecheap shared hosting ?

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To reduce CPU usage on Namecheap shared hosting, consider implementing the following optimizations to help your website run more efficiently and within your hosting limits:

1. Use Caching Plugins (For WordPress Sites)

  • Install a caching plugin like WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache (if supported). These plugins generate static HTML pages that load faster and reduce CPU usage by avoiding repeated processing of PHP and database requests.
  • Configure the cache expiration based on your content update frequency (e.g., 1 day or more if content changes infrequently).

2. Optimize Images and Other Media

  • Compress images: Use an image optimization plugin like Smush or ShortPixel to compress images without losing quality, reducing load time and server processing.
  • Lazy load images and videos: Load media only when they’re about to appear in the user’s viewport to reduce initial CPU load.

3. Limit High-CPU Plugins

  • Review your plugins: Some plugins consume more resources, especially security, backup, and analytics plugins that run frequent scans or database queries. Deactivate or replace them with lightweight alternatives where possible.
  • Combine functions in fewer plugins: Instead of multiple plugins for related tasks, use one plugin that does everything you need. For example, Jetpack includes several features (security, backups, performance) in one plugin.

4. Optimize Database

  • Clean up your database regularly to remove unnecessary data like post revisions, spam comments, and expired transients. You can use plugins like WP-Optimize or Advanced Database Cleaner.
  • Disable post revisions or limit the number of revisions per post to keep your database lean.

5. Implement Content Delivery Network (CDN)

  • Use a CDN like Cloudflare or BunnyCDN to offload static content (CSS, JavaScript, images) from your server. This reduces the load on your Namecheap server and lowers CPU usage by distributing content globally.

6. Reduce External Requests

  • Minimize calls to third-party services and assets (e.g., fonts, APIs, analytics) as each request increases CPU usage.
  • Self-host fonts and scripts: If possible, download and serve them directly from your server or CDN to reduce the number of external requests.

7. Optimize PHP and Cron Jobs

  • Upgrade PHP: Use the latest version of PHP supported by Namecheap, as newer versions are more efficient.
  • Limit cron jobs: WordPress cron jobs can cause high CPU usage, especially if running frequently. Use a plugin like WP Control to manage and reduce cron frequency, or consider offloading to a real cron job using the cPanel cron settings.

8. Reduce Bots and Spam

  • Block unwanted bots: Use a plugin like Wordfence or Cloudflare’s firewall to restrict bad bots, which can increase CPU usage by making frequent requests.
  • Enable CAPTCHA for forms: This reduces spam and prevents high server usage from bot submissions.

9. Monitor CPU Usage with Plugins

  • Install a monitoring plugin like Query Monitor or New Relic (if supported on Namecheap) to see which scripts or plugins are causing spikes in CPU usage, allowing you to pinpoint and address specific issues.

10. Optimize Themes and Code

  • Use a lightweight theme: Avoid heavy themes with complex layouts and excessive animations, as they increase CPU usage. Consider using performance-optimized themes like GeneratePress or Astra.
  • Minimize custom scripts: Reduce or optimize custom JavaScript or CSS to avoid unnecessary CPU load.

Additional Tips:

  • Check Namecheap’s resource limits for your shared hosting plan. If you frequently reach these limits, you may need to consider upgrading to a higher shared plan or a VPS for more resources.

By implementing these steps, you should notice a reduction in CPU usage, which will help maintain optimal performance on Namecheap’s shared hosting environment.

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