About this plugin
Cyclone Static generates fully-rendered static HTML files for every page on your WordPress site and instructs Apache to serve them directly — bypassing PHP, WordPress, and the database for anonymous visitors.
When a static file exists for a requested URL, Apache reads it from disk and sends it without starting PHP or querying the database. The visitor receives a complete HTML page. Their browser runs your JavaScript, plays your audio, renders your animations — everything works as it did before, because the static file contains the same HTML WordPress would have generated.
Logged-in users, POST requests, query strings, and administrative paths bypass the static cache and receive live WordPress as normal.
Key features
- Static file serving — Apache serves files directly from disk. PHP and the database are not involved in serving anonymous page requests.
- Automatic regeneration — When you publish or update a post or page, it is automatically queued for regeneration. You do not need to do anything.
- Reduced attack surface — Static HTML files do not execute PHP or query a database. Common WordPress-targeted attack vectors that require a live PHP process — such as SQL injection via PHP, PHP code execution, and xmlrpc.php abuse — do not apply to anonymous page requests served as static files.
- CDN integration — Works alongside W3 Total Cache. Direct integration with Bunny.net, Cloudflare, KeyCDN, and Amazon CloudFront is available in Cyclone Static Pro.
- W3 Total Cache compatible — Installs its.htaccess rules before W3TC rules. Works alongside or without W3TC.
- Non-destructive — Deactivating the plugin removes the.htaccess rules and WordPress resumes normal operation. Your cached files are not deleted without your explicit consent — a prompt appears when you deactivate, asking whether to keep or delete them.
- Free and open — No license required. Support via the WordPress.org community forums.
System requirements
- WordPress 6.0 or later
- PHP 8.0 or later
- Apache web server with mod_rewrite enabled
htaccess support enabled (AllowOverride All or equivalent)
- WordPress Multisite is not supported in this version — Multisite support is available in Cyclone Static Pro
htaccess automatically on Apache. If your server runs Nginx, the Settings page includes a ready-to-paste Nginx server block under Settings → Nginx Configuration.
CDN support
The free version works automatically alongside W3 Total Cache — CDN purges are routed through W3TC when it is active.
net, Cloudflare, KeyCDN, and Amazon CloudFront is available in Cyclone Static Pro.
Privacy
Cyclone Static does not collect, transmit, or store any personal data. The queue table stores only URLs. No external service is contacted except the CDN purge APIs you explicitly configure.
Support
org community forums. Post your question there — answers are public, so search first as your question may already be answered. com.
Confirmed bugs are addressed through plugin updates. Private one-on-one support is not offered via the forums.
External Services
Cyclone Static can optionally connect to the following third-party services to purge cached content from your CDN. These connections are only made when you configure a CDN provider under Settings → CDN Integration and a purge is triggered. No data is sent to these services unless you explicitly configure them.
Bunny.net
Used for CDN cache purging. net API.
net/
net/reference/purgepublicpullzone
net/privacy/
Cloudflare
Used for CDN cache purging. Your Cloudflare API token and Zone ID are sent to the Cloudflare API.
com/
com/api/resources/cache/methods/purge/
com/privacypolicy/
KeyCDN
Used for CDN cache purging. Your KeyCDN API key and Zone ID are sent to the KeyCDN API.
com/
com/api
com/privacy
Amazon CloudFront
Used for CDN cache invalidation. Your AWS Access Key, Secret Key, and CloudFront Distribution ID are sent to the Amazon CloudFront API.
com/cloudfront/
html
com/privacy/