Front-End Performance Guides
Definitions, comparisons, and how-tos for making a site faster. PicPerf Turbulence is the no-code, DNS-level layer in that stack.
By Alex MacArthur, builder of PicPerf · Published
Start with the stack if you want the short version of what to use. Then pick the comparison or how-to that matches the tool or problem you already have.
The stack
- Best frontend performance tools — The stack that makes a site faster, finds why it is slow, and measures real users.
- Best image CDN — How to pick an image CDN: drop-in prefix, full media suite, Cloudflare add-on, or cheap Optimizer.
Research
- PicPerf Turbulence performance research — Lab before-and-after results from about 500 public sites run through Turbulence.
How-to
- What is PicPerf Turbulence? — A definition of PicPerf Turbulence as an edge HTML optimizer, not just an image CDN.
- Improve Core Web Vitals without changing code — How to raise LCP, INP, and CLS with a DNS change instead of a refactor.
- How to fix Largest Contentful Paint — What usually delays LCP and how PicPerf Turbulence addresses image and font weight.
- How to fix render-blocking JavaScript — Why third-party scripts inflate TBT, and how to load them without blocking render.
Comparisons
- PicPerf images vs. PicPerf Turbulence — When to optimize individual image URLs, when to put the whole site behind the edge, and when to use both.
- PicPerf Turbulence vs. NitroPack — Two full-site optimizers compared on setup, platform coverage, and scope.
- PicPerf Turbulence vs. Cloudflare — How an HTML-rewriting edge layer differs from Cloudflare’s CDN and Speed products.
- PicPerf Turbulence vs. WP Rocket — A platform-agnostic DNS proxy versus a WordPress caching plugin.
- PicPerf Turbulence vs. Optimole — Full-site DNS proxy versus a WordPress image optimization plugin and CDN.
- PicPerf Turbulence vs. Bunny Optimizer — HTML rewrite at the edge versus Bunny CDN’s image and minify add-on.
- Imgix vs. PicPerf — Deep media transformation API versus a simpler image CDN with flat pricing.
- Cloudinary vs. PicPerf — Full media platform versus focused image optimization without credit math.
- Cloudflare Images vs. PicPerf — Cloudflare stored/delivered/transformed meters versus prefix-based unique-image pricing.
- Image CDN alternatives — Hub for Imgix and Cloudinary alternatives, plus every PicPerf comparison page.
- Imgix alternative — Leave Imgix for drop-in URL prefixing and pricing that does not meter bandwidth.
- Cloudinary alternative — Leave Cloudinary’s media suite for an image-only CDN with predictable monthly cost.
Platforms
- PicPerf for WordPress — Image plugin for WordPress, or full-site PicPerf Turbulence with a DNS change.
- PicPerf Turbulence for Squarespace — Speed up a Squarespace site without theme edits or code injection.
- PicPerf Turbulence for Shopify — What Turbulence can and cannot optimize on a Shopify storefront.
Related Guides
- Best frontend performance tools The stack that makes a site faster, finds why it is slow, and measures real users.
- Best image CDN How to pick an image CDN: drop-in prefix, full media suite, Cloudflare add-on, or cheap Optimizer.
- PicPerf Turbulence performance research Lab before-and-after results from about 500 public sites run through Turbulence.
- What is PicPerf Turbulence? A definition of PicPerf Turbulence as an edge HTML optimizer, not just an image CDN.
Turbulence rewrites every HTML page at the edge. No code changes.
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