7 Best WordPress Image Compression Plugins Compared (2024)

By Naveed Ahmed | Reviewed by Syed Balkhi | January 2, 2024 | Reader Disclosure

Are you looking for the best WordPress image compression plugin for your website? Image compression plugins allow you to easily optimize images in WordPress for better speed and performance automatically.

In this article, I’ll compare the best image compression plugins for WordPress, drawing on my 15 years of experience in the field. I’ll go beyond just listing the plugins—I’ll delve into their pros and cons, test their performance, and provide real-world insights to help you choose the best option for your needs.

Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but an optimized picture is worth even more. By compressing your images, you not only make your website load faster, but you also improve your WordPress SEO and attract more traffic.

Let’s get started!

When Do You Need a WordPress Image Compression Plugin?

Images are much larger than plain text, meaning they take longer to load and can significantly slow down your website. This impacts user experience and can even affect your search engine rankings. However, images are also essential for engaging content, so striking the right balance is vital.

Here’s why you need a WordPress image compression plugin:

• Improved Website Speed: Smaller images load faster, reducing the time it takes for your website to load. This improves user experience and keeps visitors engaged.
• Enhanced SEO: Faster website speed is a crucial ranking factor for Google. A WordPress image compression plugin helps you achieve better search engine rankings.
• Increased Traffic: A faster website leads to higher conversion rates and fewer users bouncing off your site. This translates to more traffic and potential customers.
• Reduced Bandwidth Usage: Compressed images require less bandwidth, which can save you money on your hosting plan.
• Simplified Optimization: Manually optimizing every image can be time-consuming. A plugin automates this process, saving you time and effort.

The best way to optimize images is to use Photoshop or another image editing software before uploading them to WordPress. However, not everyone is comfortable with image editing programs, making image compression plugins a valuable solution.

7 Best WordPress Image Compression Plugins Compared (2024)

Now, let’s dive into the top contenders for the best WordPress image compression plugins:

1. EWWW Image Optimizer

EWWW Image Optimizer is often hailed as the king of WordPress image compression plugins. It’s user-friendly, offering automated optimization of images as you upload them. This plugin also excels at bulk compressing previously uploaded images.

Here’s what makes EWWW Image Optimizer stand out:

• Lossless Compression: EWWW prioritizes preserving image quality while minimizing file size. You’ll notice a significant reduction in file size without any noticeable degradation in image quality.
• Automated Optimization: Once activated, EWWW Image Optimizer handles image compression seamlessly, saving you manual effort. It also offers features like lazy loading and image scaling to optimize images for different devices.
• WebP Support: EWWW supports the next-generation WebP image format, further reducing image sizes and improving website performance.
• CDN Integration: The paid version of EWWW Image Optimizer comes with a CDN that compresses and converts images in real-time as they are viewed, minimizing the impact on your website’s loading time.
• Affordable Pricing: EWWW Image Optimizer is very affordable, with plans starting at $7 per month for unlimited images. This makes it a compelling option for budget-conscious users.

To learn more, see our complete EWWW Image Optimizer review.

2. Optimole

Optimole is another top contender, known for its image CDN capabilities. It provides real-time optimization and delivery of images to your website visitors, ensuring fast loading times, regardless of their location.

Here are its standout features:

• Image CDN: Optimole’s CDN is designed to deliver optimized images quickly and efficiently, minimizing server load and improving website speed.
• Centralized Dashboard: Optimole offers a centralized dashboard where you can view all of your optimized images and customize compression settings. This provides a high level of control over your image optimization process.
• Advanced Optimization Options: Optimole lets you fine-tune settings such as compression quality, image resizing, lazy loading, and more, enabling you to tailor the optimization process to your specific needs.
• Watermark Protection: Optimole offers a unique feature that automatically watermarks your images, protecting your work from unauthorized use.
• Free Plan: Optimole provides a free plan that allows you to optimize images for up to 5,000 monthly visitors. This makes it a viable option for small websites or those just getting started.

For more details, see our complete Optimole review.

3. ShortPixel Image Optimizer

ShortPixel Image Optimizer is a highly versatile option, offering a variety of compression formats and advanced features. This plugin is known for its ability to choose the optimal compression format for your images, ensuring quality and performance are maintained.

Here’s what makes ShortPixel unique:

• Compression Format Selection: ShortPixel gives you the flexibility to choose between lossy, glossy, and lossless compression, allowing you to customize the level of compression based on your specific needs.
• Original Image Backup: ShortPixel stores your original images in a separate folder, providing a backup if you need to revert to the uncompressed versions.
• PNG to JPEG Conversion: ShortPixel allows you to easily convert PNG images to JPEG format and vice versa with a single click. This can be helpful for optimizing images further.
• Plugin Compatibility: ShortPixel is compatible with popular plugins like WooCommerce, NextGEN Gallery, and WPML, making it a seamless integration for most websites.
• Cloudflare Integration: If you’re using Cloudflare as your CDN, you can integrate ShortPixel to automatically update your images with the optimized versions.

ShortPixel is also very affordable, with plans starting at $4.99 per month for up to 5,000 images.

4. reSmush.it

reSmush.it is a simple yet effective option, providing automatic optimization of images on upload and bulk optimization for older images. It’s known for its ease of use and the ability to choose optimization levels for your uploads.

Here are its key features:

• Automatic Optimization: reSmush.it compresses images as soon as you upload them, streamlining your workflow and saving you time.
• Bulk Optimization: You can use reSmush.it to compress all of your previously uploaded images in bulk, ensuring that all of your images are optimized for speed.
• Slider-Based Control: A user-friendly slider lets you adjust the image quality and compression levels, giving you more control over the optimization process.
• reSmush API: reSmush.it uses a dedicated API to optimize images, ensuring that your images are compressed efficiently and effectively.

The downside of reSmush.it is that it doesn’t offer different compression levels and limits optimization to uploads under 5MB. You can exclude individual images if you need to keep them in their full size.

5. Compress JPEG & PNG images

Compress JPEG & PNG images, created by the team behind TinyPNG, is a popular choice for its simplicity and integration with TinyPNG’s cloud-based compression service. You’ll need to create an account to use the plugin.

Here are its key features:

• TinyPNG Integration: Compress JPEG & PNG leverages the power of TinyPNG’s cloud-based compression technology, ensuring high-quality compression.
• Automatic Compression: This plugin automatically compresses images upon upload, simplifying the optimization process.
• Bulk Optimization: Compress JPEG & PNG offers bulk optimization for older images, allowing you to optimize your entire image library with a few clicks.
• Image Size Settings: You can configure which image sizes you want to optimize and set a maximum size for your original uploads.

The free account of Compress JPEG & PNG images allows you to optimize up to 500 images per month.

6. Envira Gallery

Envira Gallery is a powerful and user-friendly WordPress gallery plugin that includes a built-in image compression tool. If you’re creating image galleries on your site, Envira is a fantastic choice.

Here’s what makes Envira Gallery a great option:

• Built-in Image Compression: Envira Gallery includes a dedicated image compression tool, streamlining image optimization within your gallery creation process.
• Lossy, Glossy, and Lossless Compression: You have the flexibility to choose the level of compression for your gallery images, balancing quality and performance based on your needs.
• Gallery Features: Envira Gallery provides a robust set of gallery features beyond image compression, including watermarking, image proofing, and more.

While Envira Gallery offers a free version, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro plan (starting at $99.50 per year) to access the image compression feature.

To learn more, see our detailed Envira Gallery review.

7. WP Rocket

WP Rocket is widely considered the best WordPress caching plugin available. It’s incredibly user-friendly and can significantly speed up your website. While primarily a caching plugin, WP Rocket includes image optimization features.

Here’s what WP Rocket offers:

• Lazy Loading: WP Rocket implements lazy loading, which only loads images as they become visible on the screen, improving initial website load time.
• Imagify Integration: WP Rocket’s developers created Imagify, a dedicated image optimization plugin that seamlessly integrates with WP Rocket. Imagify offers one-click optimization of all your images and provides options for on-the-fly resizing and image restoration.

WP Rocket is a paid plugin, and you’ll need to purchase a plan to access its features.

You can learn more in our Imagify review.

Bonus: Jetpack

Jetpack is a comprehensive WordPress plugin suite that combines essential WordPress features, including security, performance, and marketing tools. Its image optimization features fall under the performance category.

Here’s how Jetpack handles image optimization:

• Automatic Optimization: Jetpack automatically optimizes images and serves them using a CDN, reducing your server load and improving image loading speeds for your visitors.
• Simple Setup: To enable image optimization, you only need to turn on a single setting within Jetpack. There are no complex configurations.

You can use the free version of Jetpack to access its image optimization features.

If you like the idea of Jetpack but want to replace all of its features with individual plugins, see our guide on the best alternatives to the WordPress Jetpack plugin.

Comparison Test Scores for Image Compression Plugins

To get a clearer picture of how these plugins perform, I ran tests using the same image with each of them. These tests are designed to highlight differences in compression ratios and image quality.

Testing JPEG Image Compression

I used a JPEG image of 118.3 KB for this test. I didn’t adjust any plugin settings, using the default out-of-the-box settings for each plugin. Here are the results:

Plugin	Compressed Size	Saved (%)	Method
EWWW Image Optimizer	64 KB	54.24%	Lossless
Optimole	64 KB	54.24%	Lossless
ShortPixel Image Optimizer	72 KB	39.30%	Lossless
reSmush.it	78 KB	20.81%	Lossless
Compress JPEG & PNG images	118.1 KB	2 %	Lossy

Testing PNG Image Compression

Next, I used a PNG image of 99.4 KB to test how these plugins handle a different image format. Here are the results:

Plugin	Compressed Size	Saved (%)	Method
EWWW Image Optimizer	97 KB	1.9%	Lossless
Optimole	41 KB	64%	Lossless
ShortPixel Image Optimizer	36 KB	56%	Lossy
reSmush.it	36 KB	56%	Lossless
Compress JPEG & PNG images	34.3 KB	54%	Lossy

Which is The Best Image Compression Plugin for WordPress?

Based on my testing and extensive experience, here are my recommendations:

• EWWW Image Optimizer: EWWW Image Optimizer is the overall best choice. It achieves high levels of compression without sacrificing image quality. It’s equipped with an image CDN and other features that optimize your website for speed. This is a great option for most websites, especially those with a moderate to high volume of images.
• Optimole: Optimole is an excellent choice for websites that receive less traffic. It operates in the background, taking care of image optimization for you. It’s free for up to 5,000 visitors per month, making it a great option for smaller websites or those just getting started.
• ShortPixel Image Optimizer: If you’re looking for an affordable plugin that offers high levels of compression and image conversion, ShortPixel is worth checking out. It’s a great option for those who need a flexible solution and value having a backup of their original images.

Conclusion

Optimizing your website’s images is essential for improving performance, enhancing user experience, and boosting your SEO. Choosing the right image compression plugin is a crucial step in this process.

Consider your specific needs, budget, and website traffic volume when making your decision. Whether you opt for the powerful EWWW Image Optimizer, the CDN-powered Optimole, or the flexible ShortPixel, you’ll find a plugin that helps you compress images efficiently and effectively.

FAQs

What is image compression?

Image compression is the process of reducing the file size of an image without significantly compromising its quality. This is achieved by removing redundant information or using specialized algorithms to represent the image data more efficiently. There are two primary types of compression: lossless and lossy.

How do WordPress image compression plugins work?

WordPress image compression plugins typically use a combination of techniques to optimize images. These include:

• Lossless Compression: This method removes redundant data from an image without affecting its visual quality.
• Lossy Compression: This method reduces file size by discarding some image data, potentially leading to a slight decrease in quality. The extent of the quality loss depends on the compression level.
• Image Resizing: Some plugins automatically resize images to fit the dimensions required for your website, further reducing file size.
• Image Format Conversion: Some plugins can convert images to more efficient formats, such as WebP, which can result in significant file size reductions.

What are the benefits of using a WordPress image compression plugin?

The benefits of using a WordPress image compression plugin include:

• Improved Website Speed: Smaller images load faster, resulting in a faster website for your visitors.
• Enhanced SEO: Faster website speed is a key factor in Google’s search ranking algorithms.
• Increased Traffic: A faster website can lead to more traffic and higher conversion rates.
• Reduced Bandwidth Usage: Compressed images require less bandwidth, potentially reducing your hosting costs.
• Simplified Optimization: Plugins automate the optimization process, saving you time and effort.

Can I compress images before uploading them to WordPress?

Yes, you can compress images using Photoshop or other image editing software before uploading them to WordPress. This can give you more control over the compression level and image quality. However, a WordPress image compression plugin can still be helpful for automating the process and optimizing images that you may have missed.

Should I use more than one image compression plugin?

It’s generally not recommended to use multiple image compression plugins on the same website. This can lead to multiple layers of compression, potentially degrading image quality or causing unexpected issues.

Will image compression plugins affect my image quality?

High-quality image compression plugins aim to minimize quality loss while maximizing file size reductions. Lossless compression methods ensure no loss in image quality, while lossy compression methods offer varying levels of quality loss depending on the compression level. It’s important to choose a plugin that strikes the right balance between compression and quality for your needs.

Can I restore my images to their original size?

Some image compression plugins, such as ShortPixel, allow you to restore your images to their original size if needed. This is a helpful feature if you ever need to use the uncompressed versions of your images. Not all plugins offer this functionality, so check the plugin’s features before making your choice.

How often should I compress my images?

Most image compression plugins automatically compress images as you upload them, so you don’t need to worry about manually compressing them. However, if you have a lot of older images on your website, you may want to use the bulk optimization feature of your chosen plugin to compress those images as well.

What if I’m not comfortable using image compression plugins?

If you’re not comfortable using image compression plugins, you can still optimize your images manually. You can use Photoshop or other image editing software to compress your images before uploading them to WordPress. Many free online tools are also available for image compression. However, using a plugin can simplify the process significantly, making it easier to keep your website’s images optimized.

Do I need to optimize all of my images?

It’s best to optimize all of the images on your website for improved performance and SEO. Images can significantly impact your website’s loading time, so optimizing them is crucial for a positive user experience.

If you’re interested in learning more about tech news, feel free to visit my website: www.naveedahmed.me.