What Hummingbird Pro adds

Hummingbird Pro is the paid edition of Hummingbird Performance, a WordPress add-on for caching, asset optimization and performance guidance. The free add-on includes scans and one-click fixes; Pro adds automated scanning and further controls. Pro features are available through a WPMU DEV Membership. Enhanced minify compression is described as providing twice the regular optimization of the free version, and CDN-hosted minification delivers optimized assets through a content delivery network. Performance reports offer guidance for reviewing site speed.

Hummingbird also provides uptime monitoring and alerts, which are available to WPMU DEV Free Plan members.

Optimize scripts, styles and fonts

Delay JavaScript Execution postpones non-critical JavaScript documents and third-party scripts until a visitor interacts with the page, such as by scrolling or clicking. Its controls include an interaction timeout and exclusions for critical files. Critical CSS Generation makes and embeds styles for above-the-fold content in each page head, with updates automated after website styling changes.

Asset Optimization can combine, compress, reorder, defer and exclude CSS, JavaScript and Google Font files. Other controls include minification, preloading key requests, preconnecting to required origins, deferring unused CSS, and moving critical CSS and JavaScript inline while deferring non-critical resources. Font optimization can preload essential fonts and show a fallback while a webfont loads.

Caching and delivery settings

The caching suite includes full-page, browser and Gravatar cache tools. Hummingbird Pro includes Brotli file compression through the CDN; the supplied product information describes its global asset CDN as a 119-point network with unlimited bandwidth. Hummingbird can also control Cloudflare browser cache and Automatic Platform Optimization options. Lazy Load can defer offscreen images through integration with the free Smush plugin.

Hummingbird works with WooCommerce. Follow WooCommerce recommendations when configuring full-page cache; cart, account and checkout pages are excluded so their content stays dynamic.

Test settings before applying them sitewide

Safe Mode lets logged-in administrators test Hummingbird settings without changing the optimized experience visitors see. Asset changes such as moving, combining, minifying or deferring files can affect styling and functionality, so apply adjustments incrementally and test key pages as you go.

Setup and saved configurations

Install Hummingbird in WordPress and connect the site through a WPMU DEV Membership to access the Pro functions. Run a scan, review its recommendations and apply changes as needed. Configs let you save preferred performance settings and apply them to other websites.