See Your Performance Clearly.
Mustang WPO (Web Performance Optimization) helps you audit, view, and manage your site’s performance without leaving WordPress.
IMPORTANT: This plugin requires a valid Google Cloud API Key with the PageSpeed Insights API enabled to function. The plugin will not work without this API key.
Key Features
- Dashboard Widget – At-a-glance performance overview on your WordPress dashboard showing Mobile and Desktop scores
- PageSpeed Performance Scores in List Tables – View mobile and desktop PageSpeed Performance scores directly in your post/page list tables
- Block Editor Integration – Run PageSpeed audits and view results in the Gutenberg editor sidebar
- Performance Budgets – Set performance budgets per post type
- Global Audit – Audit all your content at once with batched processing
How It Works
- Install and Activate – Install the plugin and activate it
- Configure API Key – Add your valid Google Cloud API Key with the PageSpeed Insights API enabled in Mustang WPO > Integrations
- Set Budgets – Configure performance budgets for different content types
- Run Audits – Use the editor sidebar or global audit to measure performance
- Monitor Results – View scores in list tables
Performance Budgets
Set performance budgets for each content type:
* Max Load Time (LCP) – Largest Contentful Paint in seconds
* Max CLS – Cumulative Layout Shift (unitless)
* Max INP – Interaction to Next Paint in milliseconds
* Max Page Weight – Total page size in MB
API Integration
Mustang WPO integrates with Google PageSpeed Insights API v5:
* Required API Key – A valid Google PageSpeed Insights API key is mandatory
* Supports both mobile and desktop strategies
* Handles API quotas and rate limiting (240 requests/minute)
* Graceful error handling for network issues
* Secure API key storage with encryption
Support
For support, feature requests, or bug reports, please visit the WordPress.org support forums.
Privacy Policy
Data Collection and Usage:
Mustang WPO requires a Google API key to function. Here’s what data is collected and how it’s used:
Data Sent to Google:
* URLs of your website pages (for performance analysis)
* No personal data, user information, or content is transmitted
* API requests include your website URL and strategy (mobile/desktop)
Data Stored Locally:
* PageSpeed audit results are stored in your WordPress database
* Your API key is encrypted and stored securely in your database
* No data is sent to third parties other than Google PageSpeed Insights API
Google’s Privacy Policy:
This plugin uses Google PageSpeed Insights API. Google’s collection and use of information is governed by Google’s Privacy Policy.
API Key Security:
* Your API key is encrypted using WordPress security salts
* The full API key is never displayed in plain text
* API key is stored in your WordPress database, not transmitted to external servers
Rate Limiting:
The plugin enforces a rate limit of 240 requests per minute to prevent abuse and comply with Google’s API terms.
Screenshots
Dashboard widget showing performance overview across mobile and desktop devices.
Settings page to define your audit post types.
Integrations page to add your Google PageSpeed Insights API Key (A valid key is required).
Budgets page to set your performance budgets for each post type.
Audit page before running an audit.
Audit page running a global audit.
Audit page after running an audit.
Performance column with scores and tooltip for Pages post type after running an audit.
Performance column tooltip for Pages that are not published yet.
Document settings for a draft page.
Document settings during a single audit.
Document settings after running a single audit.
Do I need a Google PageSpeed Insights API key?
Yes, a valid Google PageSpeed Insights API key is required for the plugin to function. The plugin will not work without this API key. You can get a free API key from Google Cloud Console.
How do I get a Google PageSpeed Insights API key?
- Visit Google Cloud Console
- Create a new project or select an existing one
- Enable the PageSpeed Insights API
- Create credentials (API key)
- Restrict the API key to your domain for security (recommended)
Is my API key secure?
Yes, your API key is encrypted using WordPress security salts and stored securely in your database.
What happens if I don’t have an API key?
The plugin will not function without a valid API key. You’ll see warning notices on all pages directing you to configure the API key in Mustang WPO > Integrations.
How often should I run audits?
For most sites, running audits weekly or after major content changes is sufficient. The plugin includes rate limiting to prevent overwhelming the API.
What if I hit API quotas?
The plugin handles quota exceeded errors gracefully and will show clear messages. Consider adding an API key or reducing audit frequency.
Can I audit custom content types?
No, the free version of the plugin only supports Pages and Posts.
ChangeLog
1.0.2
Release date: 2025-12-22
Enhancements
* NEW: Dashboard widget – “Mustang WPO Overview” provides at-a-glance performance scores on your WordPress dashboard
* Dashboard widget shows separate Mobile and Desktop performance breakdowns
* Intelligent verdict system with clear recommendations (e.g., “Mobile performance is holding back overall site performance”)
* Directional hints when one device needs attention
* Tooltips on performance bars showing score ranges and counts
* Empty state messages with helpful CTAs for fresh installs
Other
* Updated terminology from “Content Types” to “Post Types” per WordPress standards
* Added device status classification system (Strong/Mixed/Weak)
* Improved overall verdict logic covering all Mobile vs Desktop combinations
1.0.1
Release date: 2025-12-12
Enhancements
* Added WordPress admin notices after audit completion (success/warning/error)
* Improved progress tracking accuracy during global audits
* Enhanced error messages for timeout and Cloudflare errors
* Better retry logic with exponential backoff for gateway errors
* Added PHP execution time limit warning on audit page
Bugfixes
* Fixed 504/524 Cloudflare timeout errors by reducing batch size
* Fixed progress indicators not updating during audit processing
* Fixed incomplete batch processing when timeouts occurred
* Fixed “Non-JSON response” errors when Cloudflare timeout pages were returned
Other
* Reduced batch size from 10 to 1 post per batch for better reliability
* Removed configurable batch size setting (now hardcoded to 1 post)
* Removed “Processing batch X of Y” progress text from top of page
1.0.0
Release date: 2025-12-09
Features
* Initial release
* PageSpeed Performance scores in post/page list tables
* Block editor sidebar integration
* Performance budgets per content type
* Global audit functionality
* Rate limiting and error handling
* Secure API key encryption and storage
