I recommend use Nginx + PHPFPM. Then use Redis as socket, optimize Cloudflare cache, speed etc…
Install the plugin warmup cache, install plugin Performance by WP team, Autoptimize plugin
I did a lot of tests of Hestia CP vs OpenLitespeed on the same vps location with the same sites. Hestia is simply faster. I would even like OpenLitespeed because with Hestia I have a problem with AWS Cloud Front (Hestia just doesn’t work in my opinion). But the truth is that Hestia CP is faster. I use WP Rocket with Hestia and Caching proxy template in domain options.
I’m trying different optimizations, caching plugins, optimization plugins… but I can’t find the same results. The litespeed cache plugin, even without having open litespeed installed (the cache doesn’t work by itself), gives better results… it’s a bit absurd and I really don’t understand what’s going on.
Yes, I think that HestiaCp is the best panel (in my opinion), not only because of the speed it provides, but also because of how easy it is to configure and all the options it offers, in a simple and functional way. This is the panel I am using.
But I would like to make my WP have better metrics and I think it’s more a problem of configuration and load of my WP theme than of the server. I finally left Nginx so I forget about Open Litespeed, but I want to improve those results.
In my tests, wp rocket did a little better even on openliteserver than their plugin. Try it if you can, but I’m sure that hestia always wins especially in the initial response. Always 20% faster. I tested on several different sites. Really the biggest problem remains the theme of the site. If it is not well made you will never be able to achieve a perfect result.
im use Hestia Nginx Cache plugin with Caching template in domain option in hestia.
Option in WP Rocket may be different for your site, test it, but it is very simple, activate. Minimum activate Minify CSS files and JavaScript files.
Check for heavy Elementor code.
I get slower results wit cloudflare.
What I noticed is that the theme is the basis for everything. I am about to build about 10 sites and I have selected different themes that are among the most famous, then maybe I will have more clarity. I will also make a site with Avada. I will share my experience with you after I build it. I’m not a professional, keep that in mind.