EWWW Image Optimizer vs ShortPixel Image Optimizer
Updated 6 Oct 2026. 25 features compared side by side.
Image optimizer that compresses images on your own server for free with unlimited WebP, plus paid cloud compression and the Easy IO CDN.
Credit-based cloud image optimizer with lossy, glossy and lossless modes, free WebP/AVIF, PDF compression and an optional CDN.
Choose EWWW Image Optimizer if…
- You need generous free tier and local processing
- You want the more complete feature set (94/100 vs 90/100)
- You prefer the more widely used option
- You weigh user ratings (4.8 vs 4.5 on WordPress.org)
Choose ShortPixel Image Optimizer if…
- Image-heavy sites and agencies that want granular compression and format control and are willing to pay for credits or the Unlimited plan
EWWW Image Optimizer includes 2 features that ShortPixel Image Optimizer lacks, including Local processing and Generous free tier. Both include 23 of the 25 features we track.
At a glance
Feature comparison
Click a screenshot to see both plugins side by side.
EWWW Image Optimizer ShortPixel Image OptimizerCompression7/77/7
Free is lossless with adjustable JPG/WebP quality; premium levels need a paid plan.
Choose lossy, glossy or lossless compression.
Bulk optimizer for the media library, folders and NextGEN.
One-click bulk optimization with background mode; uses credits.
Images are optimized automatically on upload.
New uploads and their thumbnails are optimized automatically.
Local backups free with bulk restore; 30-day cloud backups on paid plans.
Local backups with one-click restore; optional smart backups of main image only.
Resize images at upload or in bulk to set maximum dimensions.
Scales down large images to set maximum dimensions.
Removes metadata by default; can be turned off to keep EXIF/IPTC.
EXIF can be kept or removed.
PDF optimization is a premium feature.
Compresses PDF documents as well as images.
Next-gen formats4/44/4
Unlimited WebP conversion in the free version.
Creates WebP versions; available to all accounts.
AVIF conversion is built into the Easy IO CDN.
Creates AVIF versions; available to all accounts.
Free delivery via rewrite rules, JS WebP rewriting or picture tags; Easy IO automates it.
Delivers WebP/AVIF via picture tags, .htaccess rules or the CDN.
Converts to the best format, e.g. PNG to JPG or GIF to PNG.
Optional automatic PNG-to-JPG conversion when the result is smaller.
Delivery4/44/4
Easy IO CDN from 50GB bandwidth on Standard; custom domains on Growth.
Built-in CDN delivery; traffic uses credits unless on Unlimited (500GB/month).
Free lazy load auto-scales placeholders; full on-the-fly scaling needs Easy IO.
Free ShortPixel Adaptive Images plugin serves viewport-sized images via CDN (uses credits).
Free lazy load with auto-scaling and support for CSS background images.
Provided by the free ShortPixel Adaptive Images companion plugin.
Easy IO scales and converts images, including those in external CSS.
CSS background images can be served from the CDN option, which consumes credits.
Processing & limits5/53/5
Free mode compresses on your server with jpegtran, optipng, pngquant and similar.
All optimization runs in ShortPixel's cloud.
Free lossless cloud fallback via Compress API; premium cloud compression on paid plans.
Optimization runs on ShortPixel's servers, sparing hosting resources.
Unlimited image optimization in the free local mode.
Only 100 credits per month, and each thumbnail counts as a credit.
Free version compresses images of any size.
Per-image limit is 100MB, which is not restrictive for normal use.
Control creation and optimization of individual WordPress thumbnails.
Exclude individual thumbnail sizes from optimization.
Extras & compatibility5/55/5
Configure any folder in the WordPress install to optimize.
Other Media lets you add custom folders to optimize.
Optimizes images from any plugin, with dedicated NextGEN bulk pages.
Compatible with WooCommerce, NextGEN, Modula, FooGallery and others.
Supports multisite, including network-level settings.
Works on multisite networks with a single API key.
Run all batch processes from the command line with wp ewwwio optimize.
WP-CLI commands for background and scheduled processing.
Reports savings per image and totals on the bulk optimizer.
Shows savings and a 30-day optimization report.
Statuses: Yes Pro Add-on Partial 3rd-party No ?
Pricing compared
EWWW Image Optimizer Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Standard | $80 per year, Unlimited |
| Growth | $160 per year, Unlimited |
| Infinite | $320 per year, Unlimited |
ShortPixel Image Optimizer Freemium
| Free | $0 |
|---|---|
| Free | Free per month, Multiple |
| Unlimited (monthly) | $9.99 per month, Multiple |
| Unlimited (annual) | $99.90 per year, Multiple |
| One-time credits | $19.99 one-off, Multiple |
Downloads trend
EWWW Image Optimizer
365,716 downloads last week
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
31,950 downloads last week
Verdict
EWWW Image Optimizer scores higher on our feature checklist (94/100 against 90/100) and includes generous free tier and local processing that ShortPixel Image Optimizer does not. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Biggest differences
EWWW Image Optimizer: included. ShortPixel Image Optimizer: not included. Unlimited image optimization in the free local mode.
EWWW Image Optimizer: included. ShortPixel Image Optimizer: not included. Free mode compresses on your server with jpegtran, optipng, pngquant and similar.
Written from the feature, pricing and install data on this page, not from hands-on testing. How we compare.
Which would you choose?
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FAQ
Which is better, EWWW Image Optimizer or ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
EWWW Image Optimizer scores higher on our feature checklist (94/100 against 90/100) and includes generous free tier and local processing that ShortPixel Image Optimizer does not. Check the features you rely on in the table below before deciding.
Which has more features?
EWWW Image Optimizer includes 25 of the 25 features we track, against 23 for ShortPixel Image Optimizer. Feature count is only part of the picture; check which of the differences matter to you.
Is EWWW Image Optimizer free?
EWWW Image Optimizer has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $80/yr.
Is ShortPixel Image Optimizer free?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $9.99/mo.
Feature data last changed 6 Oct 2026. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit to EWWW Image Optimizer or ShortPixel Image Optimizer. Some links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you; it never affects our data or rankings.