1
EWWW Image Optimizer
Developers and privacy-focused site owners who want unlimited free on-server optimization, with an optional paid CDN for AVIF and resizing.
95overall scoreDetails
Best WordPress Image Optimization Plugins (2026)
Compression, WebP and AVIF conversion, resizing, lazy loading and image CDNs: how the main WordPress image optimisation plugins compare.
About Image Optimization Plugins
Images are usually the heaviest part of a web page. An image optimisation plugin compresses photos and graphics, converts them to modern formats such as WebP and AVIF, resizes oversized uploads and can serve them from a CDN, which helps page speed, Core Web Vitals and hosting storage without visibly reducing quality.
We compare the most popular image optimisation plugins, including Smush, ShortPixel, Imagify, EWWW Image Optimizer, Optimole, TinyPNG (Compress JPEG & PNG images), Converter for Media and Image Optimizer by Elementor. Some compress on your own server, others send images to a cloud service with a monthly quota. Each one is checked against 25 features covering compression, next-gen formats, delivery, processing and limits, and extras.
Every feature is marked as free, paid, add-on, partial or not offered, with a note and a link to the source. The ranking combines feature coverage with popularity and ratings.
The ranking
Overall score = 55% features, 20% popularity, 25% ratings. Filter by the features you need, or tick two plugins to compare them.
Must have
2
Smush
Site owners who want easy, unlimited free compression for normal-sized images, and WPMU DEV members who get Pro included.
93overall scoreDetails
3
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
Image-heavy sites and agencies that want granular compression and format control and are willing to pay for credits or the Unlimited plan.
92overall scoreDetails
4
Optimole
Low-to-medium traffic sites that want hands-off, CDN-delivered, device-sized images without processing on their own server.
82overall scoreDetails
5
Converter for Media
Sites on Apache or configurable Nginx that want free, unlimited, self-hosted WebP delivery with an easy path to AVIF.
82overall scoreDetails
6
Imagify
Site owners and WP Rocket users who want a hands-off optimizer with free WebP/AVIF and are fine paying for more than 20MB a month.
79overall scoreDetails
7
TinyPNG
Sites that want dependable compression and next-gen conversion billed per image, without a monthly subscription.
70overall scoreDetails
8
Image Optimizer by Elementor
Elementor users who want simple cloud compression and format conversion bundled with their existing Elementor account or Elementor One plan.
66overall scoreDetails
No plugin matches every filter you selected. Try removing one.
Pricing compared
Entry and top plans on the same billing period, plus any lifetime deal. Prices are list prices before discounts or tax.
| Plugin | Free version | Entry plan | Top plan | Lifetime | Paid plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EWWW Image Optimizer |
Yes | $80/yrStandard, Unlimited | $320/yrInfinite, Unlimited | — | 3 |
| Smush |
Yes | $60/yrPro Basic, 1 site | $1,200/yrWPMU DEV Premium, Unlimited | — | 4 |
| ShortPixel Image Optimizer |
Yes | $9.99/moUnlimited (monthly), Multiple | — | $19.99One-time credits, Multiple | 3 |
| Optimole |
Yes | £228.96/yrStarter, Unlimited | £948.96/yrFlexible, Unlimited | — | 3 |
| Converter for Media |
Yes | $5/moPRO 10,000 images/month, Unlimited | $10/moPRO 25,000 images/month, Unlimited | — | 6 |
| Imagify |
Yes | $59.88/yrGrowth, Unlimited | $119.88/yrInfinite, Unlimited | — | 2 |
| TinyPNG |
Yes | $0Pay per compression (10,001+), Unlimited | — | $0Pay per compression (10,001+), Unlimited | 2 |
| Image Optimizer by Elementor |
Yes | £48/yrImage Optimizer 30K, Unlimited | £192/yrElementor One, 1 site | — | 2 |
Spotted an out-of-date price? Suggest an edit.
Full feature matrix
Every plugin against every feature. Scroll sideways on small screens.
| Feature | EWWW Image Optimizer | Smush | ShortPixel Image Optimizer | Optimole | Converter for Media | Imagify | TinyPNG | Image Optimizer by Elementor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | ||||||||
| Lossy & lossless compression | ||||||||
| Bulk optimisation | ||||||||
| Optimise on upload | ||||||||
| Keep & restore originals | ||||||||
| Resize large images | ||||||||
| Strip EXIF metadata | ||||||||
| PDF compression | ||||||||
| Next-gen formats | ||||||||
| WebP conversion | ||||||||
| AVIF conversion | ||||||||
| Automatic next-gen delivery | ||||||||
| PNG to JPG conversion | ||||||||
| Delivery | ||||||||
| Image CDN | ||||||||
| Adaptive image sizes | ||||||||
| Lazy loading | ||||||||
| CSS background images | ||||||||
| Processing & limits | ||||||||
| Local processing | ||||||||
| Cloud processing | ||||||||
| Generous free tier | ||||||||
| No small file-size cap | ||||||||
| Thumbnail control | ||||||||
| Extras & compatibility | ||||||||
| Optimise other folders | ||||||||
| WooCommerce & gallery plugins | ||||||||
| Multisite support | ||||||||
| WP-CLI | ||||||||
| Savings reports | ||||||||
Statuses: Yes Pro Add-on Partial 3rd-party No ?
Head-to-head comparisons
EWWW Image Optimizer/SmushEWWW Image Optimizer/ShortPixel Image OptimizerEWWW Image Optimizer/ImagifyEWWW Image Optimizer/OptimoleEWWW Image Optimizer/TinyPNGConverter for Media/EWWW Image OptimizerEWWW Image Optimizer/Image Optimizer by ElementorImagify/OptimoleSmush/TinyPNGImagify/TinyPNGConverter for Media/SmushConverter for Media/ImagifyImage Optimizer by Elementor/SmushImage Optimizer by Elementor/ImagifyShortPixel Image Optimizer/SmushOptimole/ShortPixel Image OptimizerShortPixel Image Optimizer/TinyPNGConverter for Media/ShortPixel Image OptimizerImage Optimizer by Elementor/ShortPixel Image OptimizerImagify/SmushImagify/ShortPixel Image OptimizerOptimole/SmushOptimole/TinyPNGConverter for Media/OptimoleConverter for Media/TinyPNGImage Optimizer by Elementor/OptimoleImage Optimizer by Elementor/TinyPNGConverter for Media/Image Optimizer by Elementor Buyer's guide
Quotas and pricing
Most image optimisers are freemium with a catch: a monthly limit on images or data, a file-size cap or slower processing in the free version. Count how many images (including thumbnails) your site has and adds each month, then compare plans on that basis. Credit-based plans can be cheaper for small sites, while unlimited plans suit busy stores and media sites.
WebP and AVIF
Modern formats cut file sizes significantly. Check that the plugin both creates WebP or AVIF files and serves them automatically, using picture tags, server rewrites or a CDN, and that it works with your caching plugin and host.
Local, cloud or CDN
Local optimisation needs no account but uses your server's CPU. Cloud optimisation offloads the work. Image CDNs such as Optimole's resize and convert images on the fly, which saves storage but ties delivery to the service.
Safety
Keep original backups at least until you are happy with the results, and choose lossless or a gentle lossy level for photography portfolios. Strip EXIF data if you do not want camera or location details published.
Avoid overlap
Many caching plugins already lazy load images or include a CDN. Turn off duplicate features so two plugins are not fighting over the same images.
Browse by feature
Lossy & lossless compression (7)
Bulk optimisation (8)
Optimise on upload (8)
Keep & restore originals (8)
Resize large images (8)
Strip EXIF metadata (7)
PDF compression (3)
WebP conversion (8)
AVIF conversion (8)
Automatic next-gen delivery (8)
PNG to JPG conversion (3)
Image CDN (4)
Adaptive image sizes (4)
Lazy loading (4)
CSS background images (6)
Local processing (2)
Cloud processing (8)
Generous free tier (4)
No small file-size cap (4)
Thumbnail control (6)
Optimise other folders (6)
WooCommerce & gallery plugins (8)
Multisite support (7)
WP-CLI (7)
Savings reports (8)