WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in use today. It is a powerful platform that makes it easy to create and manage a website, but all that ease of use comes with a price. Many WordPress sites are slow and bloated, which can negatively affect your search engine rankings and the user experience. This is where image optimization plugins come in handy.
An optimized image takes up less space on your web server and takes less time to transfer to the browser than an unoptimized image, which means your site will load faster and use less bandwidth. Images contain a lot of information that may not be relevant to how they look on your website, such as metadata associated with the camera that took the photo or comments about the image. Image optimization plugins strip this excess data from your images without reducing their quality, and some even go so far as to compress them further using intelligent lossy compression algorithms.
This article presents our handpicked list of the best WordPress plugins for optimizing images.
Best WordPress Plugin For Optimizing Images
1. Smush
Smush is the most popular image optimization plugin available for WordPress. It applies lossless compression (meaning no quality is removed from the image file) to reduce your image size by up to 5 MB, individually or in bulk. It also takes other measures to improve page performance including lazy loading and auto-resizing.
Smush is an easy plugin for beginners. If you install this plugin on an existing site, all you need to do to turn it on is go to the plugin’s settings. Then, it will optimize all of your existing images. Any new images you upload will be optimized automatically too as long as the plugin is installed.
The free version of Smush and its paid companion, Smush Pro, are excellent all-around options for most WordPress users looking to compress their images but who don’t have time to compress each image themselves. Smush Pro ($6 per month) reduces file sizes more than the free version, and also removes file size limits (the free version restricts you to images under 1 MB).
2. Optimus
If bandwidth is a concern, Optimus optimizes uploaded WordPress images up to 70%. The plugin does this by sending images files to the Optimus server and returning new, smaller versions to use on your site. This compression is lossless and won’t alter the quality of the images. It also takes the work of actually compressing the images off of your own server.
Optimus is a hands-off tool — it automatically processes the images as they are uploaded to your WordPress site, thus improving your site’s page performance without effort on your part. You have the option to stop the automatic optimization if you wish.
In addition to the free version, Optimus offers two paid versions: Optimus HQ ($29 per year) and Optimus HQ Pro ($149 per year). Both paid versions enable HTTPS connection to the Optimus compression server, conversion for WebP images, and access to the developer API. Optimus HQ Pro is better for those who manage multiple sites since it provides a license for all customer sites.
3. EWWW Image Optimizer
The EWWW Image Optimizer plugin functions similarly to our first two recommendations in that it automatically optimizes images as you upload them to your site, and you also have the option to optimize previously uploaded JPG images individually or in bulk. EWWW’s compression is lossless.
But, EWWW comes with some extra perks that make it stand out. The plugin allows for unlimited file sizes, so you won’t need to worry about large, uncompressed images. Plus, the premium API version can handle PNG, GIF, and WebP files, which is great for sites that incorporate all of these file types. Lastly, EWWW Image Optimizer has a support team that answers all questions, including those from free users.
4. ShortPixel Image Optimizer
The freemium image optimization plugin ShortPixel offers two different image compression solutions, lossless and lossy. Lossy compression means some data is deleted from the file, resulting in much smaller files but slightly lower image quality. If you want to choose between these methods, try ShortPixel.
One of the best parts of this plugin is that it stores the original copy of the image, making it easy to restore if needed. It also comes with other small benefits including CMK to RGB conversion and image rescaling. And, ShortPixel allows compression for JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, AVIF, and PDF files without size limits.
ShortPixel lets users optimize 100 images per month for free, and charges monthly for additional images. For example, you can pay $3.99 per month for 7,000 images per month, $8.33 per month for 16,000 images per month, and so on.
5. Compress JPEG & PNG Images
Compress JPEG & PNG Images automatically optimizes your JPGs and PNGs by integrating with the image compression services TinyJPG and TinyPNG. These tools analyze the content of the image and choose the best compression strategy without compromising image quality. This compression includes reducing or eliminating metadata, distracting artifacts, and removing redundant data.
Compress JPEG & PNG Images will automatically optimize all images as you upload them in the background, plus images already uploaded to your site. There are also plugin options to keep certain metadata in your images, like copyright and geolocation, as well as a CMYK-to-RGB converter and no file size limits. However, you are limited to around 100 images a month for free. After that, you’ll need a paid account.
6. Imsanity
If you’re looking for an image optimizer plugin that resizes instead of compressing, try Imsanity. This free plugin changes the dimensions of images as you upload them to your WordPress site. It’s unique in that you can specify a maximum width, height, and quality level, and it will detect and resize any images that exceed those parameters, making it ideal for websites that have less-stringent image requirements across the board.
Imsanity also offers a bulk resize feature for any previously uploaded images and can convert less optimized file types (such as BMPs and PNGs) to less bulky JPG formats. Overall, this plugin is best for content-heavy sites, such as blogs, that require authors to upload their own images. Instead of relying on contributors to size images themselves, use Imsanity to automate the process.
Note that Imsanity does not apply compression beyond the WordPress default compression. However, you can use an image compression plugin in conjunction with Imsanity to further compress your resized images.
To learn more about this powerful plugin, check out our in-depth look at Imsanity.
7. Imagify
Like several of the previous options here, Imagify compresses your newly uploaded images as well as images currently in your WordPress media folder. Everything is handled automatically, saving you time and improving your workflow.
One notable feature of Imagify is its three optimization levels, which you can toggle in the plugin settings. The three options are lossless compression, lossy compression, and strong lossy compression for the smallest image files but the lowest image quality. This gives you more control over the degree of quality and file size.
Imagify is compatible with WooCommerce, NextGen Gallery, and other popular plugins, making it ideal for sites with a lot of images that need to be compressed. In addition, Imagify has a backup option where you can restore the original version at any time and begin again.
8. reSmush.it
reSmush.it is the official WordPress plugin for the reSmush.it image compressor, which applies one of several compression algorithms to each image you upload. It allows you to compress images up to 5 MB for free, and you can bulk optimize images in just two clicks.
Importantly, reSmush.it creates a copy of the original image and works off that copy for compression, ensuring that you never lose the original. It also has a sliding scale for optimization level for finer control over compression level.
9. Kraken Image Optimizer
This plugin works with the Kraken.io API, an image optimization service that supports both lossless and lossy compression. Kraken offers image optimization in addition to other features such as a Page Cruncher and Dropbox compatibility. Optimization is performed through Kraken’s infrastructure and adding the output to your WordPress library.
Besides compression, the plugin automatically resizes images upon upload based on designated maximum dimensions, and it has a bulk action menu to handle multiple images in one go.
Also of note is the file size limit, which is a generous 32 MB per file. However, you’re limited to 100 MB of images per month on the free version. There are five paid plans for increased file size limits, ranging from 500 MB per month for $5 per month to 60 GB of images per month for $79 per month,
10. WP Compress
Finally, we have WP Compress, an image optimization plugin that shrinks file sizes using local image optimization and live image optimization. It also offers adaptive images by device, retina device support, and image lazy loading. File compression is completely automated.
WP compress also uses a CDN to serve images as fast as seven milliseconds without needing to make them so small, and it offers a number of features for agencies who may be working with multiple client sites. Together, these features make WP Compress a strong contender for those managing multiple client sites.
image optimization plugin wordpress free
1. Smush Image Compression and Optimization
Active Installations: 1+ Million | Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (8000+ Reviews) | Performance: 98% | Updates & Support: Yes | WordPress: 5.3+Preview & Download
Resize, optimize, optimise and compress all of your images with the incredibly powerful and 100% free WordPress image smusher, brought to you by the superteam at WPMU DEV!
Smush has been benchmarked and tested number one for speed and quality and is the award-winning, back-to-back proven crowd favorite image optimization plugin for WordPress.
- Lossless Compression – Strip unused data without affecting image quality
- Lazy Loader – Defer offscreen images with the flip of a switch
- Bulk Smush – Optimize up to 50 images with one click
- Image Resizing – Set a max width and height and large images will scale down as they are being compressed
- Incorrect Size Image Detection – Quickly locate images that are slowing down your site
- Directory Smush – Optimize images even if they are not located in the media library
- Automated Optimization – Asynchronously auto-smush your attachments for super fast compression on upload
- Unlimited & Free – Optimize all of your images up to 5MB in size forever (no daily, monthly, or annual caps)
- Gutenberg Block Integration – View all Smush stats directly in image blocks
- Multisite Compatible – Both global and individual Multisite settings
- Process All Your Files – Smush will process PNG, JPEG and GIF files for optimum results
- Super Servers – Smush images with no slowdown using WPMU DEV’s fast, reliable Smush API
Automatically compress and resize huge photos up to 32MB. Use the Smush Pro CDN to serve stunning, high-quality images from 45 locations around the globe.
Bulk optimize every image you’ve ever added to your site with one-click. Double your savings and fix your Google PageSpeed with the best image optimizer WordPress has ever known.
2. WP Offload Media Plugin
Active Installations: 70,000 | Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (300+ Reviews) | Performance: 98% | Updates & Support: Yes | WordPress: 5.3+Preview & DownloadSiteGround 63% OFF Special
With the WP offload media plugin, you can seamlessly upload your existing media library. You can even offload your media files in the background while doing something else, and let the offload media system do its job. Bulk offloading media is also possible.
Besides, the plugin allows you to have full control over your files from the cloud throughout the media library. You can even control privacy settings without leaving your media library and decide who can save or download your media files.
One of the biggest advantages of the WP Offload Media solution is the possibility of reducing server storage space. Once you offload your files to the Publitio Media Assets Management system, you can remove the files from the server and free up storage space.
Keep in mind that image and video quality for offloaded files is set up by default. You can choose different values. For example, each offloaded video is transcoded to 480p format, while you can choose from the following video quality formats: 360p, 480p, 720p and 1080p. Of course, the larger the format, the larger the video size, and it will take more time to transcode it.
3. Autoptimize
Active Installations: 1+ Million | Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (1060+ Reviews) | Performance: 99% | Updates & Support: Yes | WordPress: 5.3+Preview & DownloadSiteGround 63% OFF Special
Autoptimize makes optimizing your site really easy. It can aggregate, minify and cache scripts and styles, injects CSS in the page head by default but can also inline critical CSS and defer the aggregated full CSS, moves and defers scripts to the footer and minifies HTML. You can optimize and lazy-load images (with support for WebP and AVIF formats), optimize Google Fonts, async non-aggregated JavaScript, remove WordPress core emoji cruft and more. As such it can improve your site’s performance even when already on HTTP/2! There is extensive API available to enable you to tailor Autoptimize to each and every site’s specific needs.
4. Optimole
Active Installations: 70,000 | Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (200+ Reviews) | Performance: 98% | Updates & Support: Yes | WordPress: 5.3+Preview & DownloadGet Bluehost 69% OFF
FAST PROCESSING OF YOUR IMAGES FOR FAST LOADING WEBSITES ON ANY DEVICE
Our technology allows images to be reduced in size without any visual altering.The human eye cannot detect any but the browser will understand the difference. Optimole keeps your images’ details safe. Optimole best free image optimizer available.
5. Imagify
Active Installations: 400,000 | Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (700+ Reviews) | Performance: 98% | Updates & Support: Yes | WordPress: 5.3+Preview & DownloadGet SiteGround 63% OFF
Dramatically reduce image file sizes without losing quality, make your website load faster, boost your SEO and save money on your bandwidth.
Speed up your website with lighter images without losing quality.
Imagify is the most advanced image compression tool, you can now use this power directly in WordPress. After enabling it all your images including thumbnails and retina images from WP Retina x2 will be automatically optimized on the fly when you will add in into WordPress.
WHY USE IMAGIFY TO OPTIMIZE YOUR IMAGES?
You already have lots of unoptimized images? Not a problem, you will love the Bulk Optimizer to optimize all your existing images in one click.
Imagify can directly resize your images, you won’t have to lose time anymore on resizing your images before uploading them.
Three level of compression are available:
- Normal, a lossless compression algorithm. The image quality won’t be altered at all.
- Aggressive, a lossy compression algorithm. Stronger compression with a tiny loss of quality most of the time this is not even noticeable at all.
- Ultra, our strongest compression method using a lossy algorithm.
With the backup option, you can change your mind whenever you want by restoring your images to their original version or optimize them to another compression level.
Conclusion
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Check out other publications to gain access to more digital resources if you are just starting out with Flux Resource.
Also contact us today to optimize your business(s)/Brand(s) for Search Engines