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HSTS vs Optimizely

Based on 2556 and 125 real audits

View HSTS details | View Optimizely details
MetricHSTSOptimizelyWinner
Performance4932HSTS
Accessibility8990Optimizely
Best Practices8887HSTS
SEO9191Tie
Security7065HSTS
TTFB364ms186msOptimizely
Composite7572HSTS
Performance
HSTS
49
Optimizely
32
Accessibility
HSTS
89
Optimizely
90
Security
HSTS
70
Optimizely
65
SEO
HSTS
91
Optimizely
91
Composite
HSTS
75
Optimizely
72

HSTS outperforms Optimizely in 4 of 7 categories, with a stronger composite score (75 vs 72). Optimizely leads in accessibility, TTFB.

When to choose HSTS

Choose HSTS when your primary concern is performance and security. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

When to choose Optimizely

Choose Optimizely when your primary concern is server response time and accessibility. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

How this comparison was built

Scores are medians across 2556 audited HSTS sites and 125 audited Optimizely sites in the BeaverCheck database. Every audit runs the same 100+ checks — Lighthouse performance, security headers, accessibility, SEO, server response time — against a real URL. No vendor input, no sponsorship, no affiliate links. Read the full methodology →

FAQ

Which is faster, HSTS or Optimizely?
Based on real BeaverCheck audits, HSTS sites score higher on Lighthouse performance (49 vs 32 on average).
Which has better security, HSTS or Optimizely?
HSTS sites score higher on security analysis (70 vs 65 on average).
Which has better accessibility, HSTS or Optimizely?
Accessibility scores measured by Lighthouse WCAG 2.1 checks favor Optimizely (90 vs 89). Both technologies can be made fully accessible with care — the difference reflects common patterns in the sampled sites, not inherent platform limits.
Which is better for SEO, HSTS or Optimizely?
HSTS sites score higher on Lighthouse SEO signals (91 vs 91 on average), which cover meta tags, crawlability, mobile friendliness, and structured data. Content strategy and backlinks still matter more than platform choice for ranking.
Which has faster server response (TTFB), HSTS or Optimizely?
Optimizely sites show lower Time to First Byte (186 ms vs 364 ms on average). TTFB depends heavily on hosting and CDN setup rather than the technology itself, but the sampled sites suggest a meaningful difference in common deployment patterns.
Should I choose HSTS or Optimizely for my website?
Both platforms have trade-offs. HSTS scores higher on overall composite score while HSTS may excel in metrics you care about most. Run a free BeaverCheck audit on a real site using each to compare the metrics relevant to your use case.
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