Performance is not a nice-to-have. In live shops, it directly impacts conversion, SEO, and revenue.
Yet in real projects, I repeatedly see:
- enabled caches that don’t actually help
- databases becoming the main bottleneck
- plugins slowing the entire shop down
- unrealistic performance expectations
This checklist shows where performance issues really come from and what can realistically be optimized in live Shopware shops.
1. Caching – the Most Important Lever
Use the HTTP Cache Correctly
Shopware includes a powerful HTTP cache— but only if it is configured and used properly.
- enable and test the cache
- identify cookies that invalidate caching
- avoid unnecessary personalization in listings
Reverse Proxy & CDN
For larger shops, an upstream cache (for example Varnish or a CDN) is essential.
- offload static assets
- reduce time to first byte
- improve international load times
2. Database – the Often Overlooked Bottleneck
Indexes & Queries
Many performance issues don’t originate in the frontend, but in inefficient database queries.
- missing or incorrect indexes
- complex filters in listings
- plugins with poorly optimized queries
Clean Up Data Regularly
Test data, old variants, and unused entities slow shops down:
- remove obsolete product and variant data
- delete unused sales channels
- clean up orphaned media files
3. Plugins as Performance Killers
Less Is More
Every plugin hooks into the request lifecycle. In many shops, plugins are the primary cause of poor performance.
- disable unused plugins
- consolidate overlapping functionality
- consider custom solutions instead of plugin stacks
Code Quality Matters
Typical plugin-related issues:
- database queries inside templates
- event subscribers without conditions
- missing caching strategies
4. Frontend & Assets
- use WebP or AVIF for images
- apply lazy loading consistently
- bundle and minimize CSS and JavaScript
- avoid unnecessary third-party scripts
5. Realistic Performance Benchmarks
What Is Realistic?
- Time to First Byte: < 500 ms
- Largest Contentful Paint: < 2.5 s
- Product detail page load time: < 1.5–2 s
Keep in mind: performance is always a combination of hosting, configuration, plugins, and data volume.
What Is Not a Realistic Goal
- perfect Lighthouse scores with heavy personalization
- maximum scores with 30+ plugins enabled
- treating Shopware like a static website
Checklist for Live Shops
- HTTP cache enabled and tested
- database analyzed regularly
- plugins reviewed critically
- frontend assets optimized
- measurable performance goals defined
Conclusion
Performance optimization in Shopware is not a one-time task, but a continuous process.
A structured approach often delivers major improvements without the need for a relaunch or platform change.
My Approach
I work Shopware-only and support live shops with:
- performance audits
- plugin and code analysis
- realistic optimization strategies
If your shop feels slow, let’s measure first—and then optimize where it really matters.