11 February 2022
10 Best WordPress Image Optimization Plugins Compared (2026)
Looking for the best image optimization plugin for your WordPress site? You’re on the right track. Images are one of the biggest reasons websites load slowly.
Here’s a surprising stat: nearly two-thirds of a web page’s total data comes from media files like images and videos. On average, media alone makes up about 67% of a page’s size.
That’s why image optimization matters so much. If your images aren’t optimized, your site will struggle to load quickly—no matter how good the rest of it is.
In this article, we’ll walk through the 10 best WordPress image optimization plugins. Each one can help you speed up your site and improve overall performance.
Let’s get started.
What is Image Optimization?
Image optimization means making image files smaller so your pages load faster. This is usually done with a WordPress image optimization plugin or a simple script.
There are two main approaches to it: lossy compression, which reduces file size by removing some image data, and lossless compression, which keeps the image quality fully intact while still trimming the file size.
What are Image Optimization Plugins?
Image optimization plugins help website owners speed things up by reducing image file sizes without hurting how the images look. By compressing images efficiently, these tools make pages load faster and feel smoother to use.
They play a big role in improving load times, boosting search engine rankings, and creating a better experience for visitors. When pages load quickly, users are more likely to stay, browse, and engage with the site.
Most image optimizer plugins can automatically compress images as you upload them. They reduce file sizes while keeping quality intact and can also deliver images in modern, next-gen formats that load faster on today’s browsers.
WordPress offers a wide range of image optimization plugins designed to improve site performance and keep visitors happy. Some of the most common features include:
- Automatic image compression
- Bulk optimization for images already on your site
- Conversion to next-generation image formats
- Image resizing and cropping tools
Using these plugins helps ensure your images are fully optimized, which leads to faster load times and better overall site performance. The result is a smoother user experience, stronger search visibility, and a more effective online presence overall.
10 Best WordPress Image Optimization Plugins
Here are our picks for the top image optimization plugins for WordPress on the market:
1. Smush
Smush is the best image optimization plugin for WordPress. It is a part of the WPMU DEV family of plugins.
Smush allows you to optimize images automatically after uploading them to your website. Plus, it also offers a bulk optimization option for compressing existing images.
What stands out about Smush is its User Interface (UI). As with most of the WPMU DEV plugins, the display is sleek and easy to understand.
It also provides resizing and lazy-loading functionality. Plus, you can set the plugin to remove image metadata after each new file upload.
The free plugin supports images up to 5 MB in size. If you want to go over that limit, you’ll need to upgrade to the premium version, which also allows you to add a Content Delivery Network (CDN) for even faster loading times.
Key Features:
- Convert JPG & PNG to local WebP.
- Strip unused data without affecting image quality.
- Bulk image optimization support.
- With a single click, you may optimize and compress up to 50 images.
- Incorrect image size detector to quickly detect unoptimized images.
- Compatible with the most popular WordPress plugins.
Pricing:
You can use the Smush free version to optimize unlimited images for free. However, individual images cannot exceed 5MB. To remove those limits, you need to upgrade to the pro plan, which starts from $3/mo for one site license.
2. EWWW Image Optimizer
The EWWW Image Optimizer plugin works similarly to Smush in that it automatically optimizes images when you upload them to your site. You may also optimize previously uploaded JPG images individually or in bulk. EWWW’s compression is lossless.
However, EWWW offers several additional benefits that set it apart. The plugin supports infinite file sizes, so you won’t have to be concerned about large, uncompressed images.
Additionally, the premium API version can handle PNG, GIF, and WebP files, which is ideal for sites that use all of these file types.
Finally, EWWW Image Optimizer provides a support team that responds to all queries, including those from free users.
Key Features:
- Automatically resize your images.
- Compress and optimize images.
- Works with JPGs, PNGs, GIFs, and PDFs.
- No Speed Limits and unlimited file size.
- Bulk image compression support.
Pricing:
A free version is available on WordPress.org. The pro version starts from $7/mo.
3. Imagify
Another popular image optimizer plugin for WordPress is Imagify. It will start automatically optimizing your images and thumbnails once installed, using its advanced image compression algorithms.
With Imgify, you have three levels of image compression to choose from, giving you the ability to balance image quality and size. Before compressing your images, the plugin makes a backup of them.
As a result, you can always go back to the original and try a different compression algorithm if you don’t like the results.
Furthermore, once optimized, it produces a WebP version of the image that you may use on the front-end of your website.
For more, check out our complete Imagify review.
Key Features:
- It supports JPG, PNG, WebP, and animated GIFs.
- On-the-fly image optimization.
- Create a backup of images before compressing.
- Image resizing support.
- It has three levels of image compression – Normal, Aggressive, and Ultra.
Pricing:
You can use the free version to optimize approximately 200 images/month. To optimize unlimited photos, you need to upgrade to the pro version, which costs $9.99/mo.
4. Imsanity
Imsanity is a free image optimization plugin for WordPress. You may choose the maximum width and height of your images in Imsanity, and it will automatically resize any larger images you submit.
While most image optimization plugins require you to optimize your images before uploading them to WordPress, Imsanity allows you to upload images as-is.
After that, you may resize them all at once. Instead of depending on an external server, you may use built-in WordPress features.
If you have multiple users submitting and uploading content to your site, Imsanity is a great tool to use.
You may use Imsanity to resize and compress their images instead of depending on them to do it before uploading.
Key Features:
- Automatically scales a large image.
- Bulk resize feature to resize existing images.
- It converts BMP and PNG files to JPG for further savings.
- Use WordPress’s built-in image scaling functions.
Pricing:
Imsanity is a free plugin that you can download from WordPress.org.
5. TinyPNG
TinyPNG is a free online image-compressing tool. However, it may also be used as a WordPress image compression plugin.
The plugin compresses the images you upload, reducing file size and improving site performance. It also supports automated optimization for new uploads and bulk optimization for compressing older images.
TinyPNG stores metadata, copyright information, location data, and creation dates. As a result, you can take full credit for all images uploaded to your site.
You may also use the plugin’s dashboard widget to check your image compression data and statistics.
The plugin is also designed to optimize color profiles. It converts images to standard RGB color profiles to save space and improve compatibility.
Key Features:
- Automatically optimize new images on upload.
- Resize image feature.
- It has an advanced background optimization feature to speed up your workflow.
- Option for bulk optimization.
- Choose to preserve copyright metadata, creation date, and GPS location in your original images.
- WooCommerce compatible.
- Convert CMYK to RGB.
- No file size limits.
Pricing:
TinyPNG JPEG, PNG & WebP image compression plugin is entirely free.
6. ShortPixel Image Optimizer
ShortPixel Image Optimizer is one of the top free image optimizer plugins for WordPress. This plugin is lightweight while integrating the idea of automation.
You may just install the plugin and forget about image sizes because it automatically compresses them. It resizes existing images while looking for new ones.
In addition, ShortPixel Image Optimizer is GDPR-compliant and uses little resources to reduce strain on your web servers. It works well on a shared cloud network, VPS, or dedicated web hosting.
It’s simple to optimize PNG, JPG, and other image formats using lossless and lossy compression.
You may also optimize photographs stored in your media library or delivered over FTP.
Furthermore, with a single click, you can test the optimization parameters and image quality. Similarly, all users may use the restore option for free to do bulk optimization.
Key Features:
- TinyPNG’s Compress JPEG & PNG images plugin is entirely free.
- It supports JPG, PNG, GIF & PDF.
- With a single click, you can compress your whole WordPress Media Library.
- Automatically compress new images on upload.
- It supports both lossy and lossless compression.
- Save and maintain a backup of your original photos in a different folder.
- Use a single API Key on multiple websites.
- Option to optimize all images (thumbnail images) or just the original image.
Pricing:
A free version allows you to optimize 100 images each month. To optimize unlimited images, the price starts from $9.99/mo or $19.99 one time for 30,000 images.
Try ShortPixel Image Optimizer
7. Optimole
When it comes to image optimization plugins, Optimole provides you with the option of using a lossless or lossy method.
On the other hand, the plugin offers powerful features like lazy loading, access to an AWS Cloudfront CDN to deliver your images to a worldwide audience quickly, and much more to manage your image optimization needs.
The unique feature of Optimole is its dynamic image serving.
When you install the plugin, optimole will replace all of your image URLs with cloud-based URLs. When a visitor visits your website, it will now offer the user an optimized image in real-time.
Please remember that the compressed image files are not saved in your WordPress database but are created and provided in real-time.
In addition, the plugin dynamically resizes the image according to the visitor’s browser and viewport. As a result, every image is perfectly sized for the device it is viewed from.
Key Features:
- Images are optimized and served in real-time.
- It serves images of the correct size based on the visitor’s browser and viewport.
- It serves images via a blazing-fast content delivery network.
- Image quality is automatically adjusted depending on the visitor’s internet connection speed.
- It has lossy and lossless compression options.
Pricing:
A free version is available on WordPress.org. The premium version starts from $22.99/mo.
8. Optimus
Optimus is an excellent WordPress image optimization plugin. It was created by KeyCDN, a worldwide content delivery platform.
Optimus optimizes images, thumbnails, and featured images. It can decrease image size by up to 70%.
The image quality is not compromised during or after the optimization process.
All of the files compressed using Optimus are immediately deleted from the server. As a result, you don’t have to worry about your data being saved on the server.
Key Features:
- It offers bulk image optimization tools for existing pictures.
- It also provides an automatic optimization feature to process the images automatically.
- Fully compatible with WooCommerce and Multisite.
- Optimus servers never store any images.
Pricing:
A free version is available on WordPress.org. The premium version starts from $29/year.
9. reSmush.it
reSmush.it is another free WordPress image optimizer tool. It allows you to optimize images automatically upon upload and offers a bulk optimization option for older images.
With an easy-to-use slider, you have complete control over image quality and compression.
It optimizes pictures with the reSmush API and lets you pick the amount of optimization for your uploads.
The disadvantage is that it lacks multiple compression levels. It also restricts optimization to files that are less than 5MB in size. If you need to include a full-size image, you can exclude individual images from compression.
Key Features:
- It allows bulk optimization.
- Exclude images not to perform optimization.
- It also provides a backup for optimized images.
- Backup and restore original images.
- File logging for developers.
- Powerful and free image optimizer API.
Pricing:
reSmush.it is a free plugin available on WordPress.org.
10. WP Compress
WP Compress is also included in our list of the best image optimization WordPress plugins.
In addition to image optimization, it is an all-in-one plugin that reduces image size and file size and improves load speeds on WordPress websites to increase conversions.
Furthermore, the plugin adjusts your images to the right dimension for your visitors’ devices without affecting image quality.
It even supports retina devices and generates retina images in possible cases.
To use the plugin, simply link it to your website. You won’t have to bother about maintenance after installation.
Key Features:
- It works with JPG, PNG, and GIF.
- Lossless, Intelligent, and Ultra compression modes are available.
- Automatic image resizing.
- It supports both lossy and lossless compression, reducing file size by up to 70%.
- Gain external URLs like Amazon S3.
Pricing:
A free version is available on WordPress.org. The premium version starts from $3/mo.
Wrapping Up
That’s the end of our list.
You can use any of the above image optimization plugins for WordPress to compress images and improve your website performance without any image editing skills.
Most of them are freemium. So, if you enjoy the plugin and want more features, you can upgrade from free to premium.
We hope our list of the best WordPress image optimizer plugins has made your plugin selection easier.
For more, check out these other helpful resources:
- 21 Best Ways to Speed Up a WordPress Site
- Top 10 Best WordPress Cache Plugins
- NitroPack vs WP Rocket: Which Offers Better Site Speed?
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