When I first heard about Brotli compression, it honestly sounded like another tech jargon, just like Gzip did years ago. But once I saw the performance difference on real WordPress sites, I realised Brotli is not just hype. In fact, it has become a go-to choice for developers and hosting providers who care about speed, user experience, and of course, Google’s Core Web Vitals.
So, let me share my point of view on this topic with some practical points that any WordPress user in India (or anywhere) can follow.
What is Brotli Compression?
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Brotli is a modern compression algorithm developed by Google.
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It compresses files like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript before they are sent from the server to the browser.
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Compared to Gzip (the older standard), Brotli usually achieves 15–25% smaller file sizes. That means lighter pages and faster delivery to your visitors.
For example, if a 200 KB CSS file is compressed to 150 KB using Gzip, Brotli might bring it down to around 120 KB. Over multiple requests, that saving is huge.
Why Does Brotli Matter for WordPress?
In India, where internet speeds vary a lot (from high-speed 5G in metros to slower connections in tier-2 and tier-3 cities), even a small saving in file size makes a big difference. A lighter page means:
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Faster load time on mobile data.
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Lower bounce rates (users don’t get frustrated waiting).
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Better SEO performance since Google rewards faster sites.
From my own experiments, sites with Brotli enabled often load 0.3–0.8 seconds faster compared to those using only Gzip.
How to Implement Brotli in WordPress?
Now let’s talk about the practical side. Implementing Brotli depends on your hosting environment:
1. On Cloudflare or CDN
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If your WordPress site is behind Cloudflare, enabling Brotli is as simple as one click in the dashboard.
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Most global CDNs like Cloudflare, Fastly, and Akamai already support Brotli out of the box.
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This is the easiest method because you don’t need server access or coding.
2. On Apache Server
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Apache supports Brotli via the
mod_brotlimodule. -
You (or your hosting provider) need to enable it and add rules like:
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Once active, all eligible files are compressed automatically.
3. On Nginx Server
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If your WordPress runs on Nginx, Brotli needs to be compiled or installed as a module.
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Configuration looks like this:
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It requires server-level access, so this option is best for VPS or cloud hosting users.
4. WordPress Plugins
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While Brotli is usually enabled at the server/CDN level, some optimisation plugins like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache support Brotli if the server has it enabled.
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But remember, plugins alone cannot create Brotli compression. The server must support it.
How to Check if Brotli is Working?
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Open Chrome DevTools → Network tab → check the response headers.
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If you see
content-encoding: br, congratulations, Brotli is active. -
Alternatively, tools like GTMetrix, WebPageTest, or
curlcommands can also confirm.
Experience and Takeaway
In my opinion, Brotli is one of those “silent upgrades” that doesn’t require too much effort but gives visible results. It won’t fix a poorly coded theme or heavy plugins, but when combined with good optimisation practices (like caching, image optimisation, and a CDN), it gives WordPress a real speed advantage.
And honestly, in today’s competitive digital space, where users expect websites to load in under 2 seconds, small tweaks like Brotli make a big difference. Think of it like switching from regular petrol to high-octane fuel — the car is the same, but performance is noticeably smoother.
Key Points to Remember
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Brotli is better than Gzip in most cases.
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Easy to enable if you use Cloudflare or a good CDN.
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Needs server-level support on Apache or Nginx.
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Always test after enabling to make sure it works.
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Combine Brotli with other optimisations for best results.
Take: If you are running WordPress in 2025 and still relying only on Gzip, you are leaving performance on the table. With more hosting companies in India rolling out Brotli support, it’s the right time to adopt it and give your visitors a faster, smoother browsing experience.
Product Schema
{% if template.name == 'product' %}
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org/",
"@type": "Product",
"name": "{{ product.title }}",
{%- if product.featured_media -%}
{%- assign media_size = product.featured_media.preview_image.width | append: 'x' -%}
"image": [
{{ product.featured_media | img_url: media_size | prepend: "https:" | json }}
],
{%- endif -%}
"description": {{ product.description | strip_html | json }},
"sku": "{{ current_variant.sku }}",
"mpn": "{{ current_variant.barcode }}",
"brand": {
"@type": "Brand",
"name": "District A Design"
},
"review": {
"@type": "Review",
"reviewRating": {
"@type": "Rating",
"ratingValue": "5",
"bestRating": "5"
},
"author": {
"@type": "Person",
"name": "Example site"
}
},
"aggregateRating": {
"@type": "AggregateRating",
"ratingValue": "5",
"reviewCount": "5"
},
"offers": {
"@type": "Offer",
"url" : {{ shop.url | append: variant.url | json }},
"priceCurrency" : {{ cart.currency.iso_code | json }},
"price" : {{ current_variant.price | divided_by: 100.00 | json }},
"priceValidUntil": "{{ 'now' | date: '%s' | plus: 31536000 | date: '%Y-%m-%d' | uri_encode | replace:'+','%20' }}",
"itemCondition": "https://schema.org/NewCondition",
"availability" : "http://schema.org/{% if product.available %}InStock{% else %}OutOfStock{% endif %}"
}
}
</script>
{% endif %}
BreadcrumbList Schema
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "BreadcrumbList",
"itemListElement": [{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"name": "Home",
"item": "https://Examplesite.com/"
},{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 2,
"name": "{{ product.title }}",
"item": "{{ shop.url }}{{ product.url }}"
}]
}
</script>
