Are you looking for the best WordPress image compression plugins? If so, keep reading this article. We will show you six of the popular plugins you can use to optimize your images!
But before going further, let’s look at what WordPress image compression plugins are and why you should use them.
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What Are WordPress Image Compression Plugins and Why Use Them
If you run a tutorial website or online store, you will add many images to your articles or product pages. While images help the visitors understand what you are saying, they can also slow down the website.
That’s where image compression plugins come in handy. With the help of an image compression plugin, you can optimize the size of the files without losing quality. So, in the end, you will have the image of the same quality but with a reduced file size.
These days, most image compression plugins automate the task. Hence, when you upload photos to the WordPress media library, the plugin compresses them. If you are also using any shared hosting provider that limits disk space usage, compressing images will help you with that, too.
Now that you know the primary purpose of WordPress image compression plugins, let’s examine what to look for in one.
What to Look for In a WordPress Image Compression Plugin
If you need an image compression plugin, consider these factors:
- Automatic compression: If the image compression plugin can automate that task, it will save you much time. This way, you do not need to focus on compressing images manually and can focus on other essential tasks.
- Bulk compression: Consider whether the plugin supports bulk compression instead of compressing images individually (which will take a long time). This will reduce the time required for image optimization.
- Compression methods: Check which type of compression the plugin uses. Most modern image compression plugins come with multiple compression methods, allowing users to choose a method according to their preferences.
- Image backup options: Some plugins allow you to keep the original files in a backup folder. This way, if necessary, you can quickly restore the images.
- Supported formats: You might upload images to your website in PNG, JPG, .webp, or JPEG formats. Ensure the image compression plugin supports these formats and can optimize them.
- Pricing: Many free image compression plugins are available. Free plugins will be enough if you are new to this system and have a few images to compress monthly. But if you have more pictures to optimize, choose an affordable compression plan.
Next, let’s move to the article’s core, where we will list the popular image compression plugins you should try.
Best 6 WordPress Image Compression Plugins
In a nutshell, the best six image compression plugins are:
- ShortPixel
- Optimole
- EWWW Image Optimizer
- Imagify
- TinyPNG
- Smush
Each plugin has unique features. Below, we explain what makes each tool unique. You can pick an option based on your requirements and preferences.
Without any further ado, let’s get into the list.
1. ShortPixel
If you are looking for an all-in-one image compression plugin for your WordPress website, you should check ShortPixel. ShortPixel can optimize multiple image formats such as JPEG, PNG, and GIF. Besides the images, it can also compress PDF files. One of the notable features of ShortPixel is the image to WebP conversion.
As you know, WebP is the best image format for improving website speed and performance. If you need to automate the process of converting your images into WebP format, ShortPixel can be helpful. You can also use a single API key for multiple websites. This way, you do not need to create individual API keys and handle every website through a single one.
Features
- Supports multiple image formats
- WP-CLI support
- Image to WebP conversion
- Uses a single API key for various websites
Pros
- Easy to configure
- Best for beginners
- Affordable pricing
Cons
- Dashboard design could be improved
Pricing
ShortPixel is a freemium tool. With its free version plan, you will get up to 100 monthly credits. Premium plans start at $3.99 a month.
2. Optimole
The next option we have for you is Optimole. It is a famous image compression plugin for WordPress that more than 200,000 users use. The plugin comes with two image compression methods – lossless and lossy. You can choose a preferred optimization method from the plugin’s settings, and you are good to go.
Besides image compression, Optimole will also help you load lazily; this way, you can use the same plugin for both tasks. From the plugin’s dashboard, you can also see the detailed stats on how many images you have compressed, how much storage space you saved, and so on.
Features
- Multiple compression options
- Works with weak internet connections
- Detailed stats
- Lazy loading available
Pros
- Easy compression feature
- Serve images faster
- Automatically select the correct image dimension
Cons
- Documentation could be improved
Pricing
Optimole is a premium image compression plugin. Their pricing starts at $22.52 a month.
3. EWWW Image Optimizer
If you are looking for a feature-rich WordPress image compression and performance optimization plugin, check out EWWW Image Optimizer. The plugin has a minimalistic setup wizard, which is helpful for both beginners and advanced users. Using their watermarking feature, you can add custom watermarks to your images.
If you are experiencing a lot of image theft, this is an excellent way to prevent it. Besides image compression, EWWW Image Optimizer can help you with lazy loading, PDF compression, cloud backups, JS and CSS minification, Google font optimization, and so on. Overall, it is an excellent plugin to improve the website’s performance.
Features
- Easy to use
- Excellent customer support
- Watermark images
- Further optimization options
Pros
- Perfect optimization methods
- Highly secured
- Free image backups
Cons
- Conflicts in the image to WebP converter
Pricing
The plugin is a freemium tool. Their premium subscription starts at $7 a month (when you select monthly billing) or $70 a year (when you choose yearly billing).
4. Imagify
If you want a simple solution to compress your images, check out Imagify. Imagify was created by the team behind the popular WordPress caching plugin, WP Rocket. The plugin can help you optimize images on multiple websites with a single API key. Apart from compressing the pictures, you can also get the option to resize the files.
The plugin has multiple compression methods; you can choose one according to your requirements. Another advanced feature offered by Imagify is the custom API keys. These API keys can be handy if you integrate Imagify with any other custom development project.
Features
- Image resizing
- Fully automated optimization
- Custom API available
- CDN integration
Pros
- Supports all significant media files for compression
- Automated WebP conversion
- Multiple compression levels
Cons
- The compression ratio could be improved
Pricing
Imagify is a freemium plugin. For a month, you are allowed to optimize up to 200 images. Their premium subscription starts at $9.99 a month.
5. TinyPNG
TinyPNG is a popular service for compressing images online. They released a WordPress plugin to simplify the task. The plugin is also compatible with WooCommerce, so if you run an online store with WooCommerce, TinyPNG won’t cause compatibility issues. Besides WooCommerce, TinyPNG is compatible with WPML, a popular WordPress translation plugin.
The TinyPNG plugin will also add a dashboard widget with all the details, such as the total savings. This way, you will know how well the plugin performs and how much storage space you have saved. TinyPNG can compress images in the background to speed up your workflow without affecting productivity.
Features
- WP Retina 2X compatible
- Automatically optimize newly uploaded images
- Optimize individual images via the media library
- Detailed stats in the dashboard
Pros
- Straightforward use
- Compatible with WordPress translation plugin WPML
- Multisite compatible
Cons
- Limited features compared to other tools
Pricing
TinyPNG is a free WordPress plugin. You can get the plugin from the WordPress plugin repository.
6. Smush
The final option we have for you is Smush. Smush was created by one of the most famous guys in the market – WPMU Dev. Once the plugin is installed and configured, it will automate the image-compressing process. Apart from compressing, Smush can also offer you a free image to WebP conversion.
The free version of the Smush plugin is enough for beginners. With the free version subscription, you can optimize media files up to 5 MB in size. The directory smush feature allows you to optimize images that are not in the default media library folder. This is one of the unique features offered by the Smush plugin.
Features
- Automated optimization
- Free and unlimited optimization
- Compatible with multisite networks
- Optimize every media file in the library
Pros
- Background optimization will help you manage other tasks
- Incorrect image size detection and fixing
- Custom directory smushing
Cons
- Nothing so far
Pricing
Smush is a freemium plugin. Their premium plans start at $1.80 a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, we will show you a couple of frequently asked questions.
Why You Need Image Compression Plugins
The main purpose of image compression plugins is to optimize images and reduce their file size without sacrificing quality.
Are There Free Image Compression Plugins Available?
Yes. Several free image compression plugins are available. Most limit the number of optimizations you can perform in a month.
Will It Increase the Website’s Speed?
Yes. Reducing the image’s size can optimize the page size and increase the website’s speed.
Is There Bulk Compression Available?
Yes. The plugin offers a bulk compression option if you need to compress images in bulk.
Can We Back up The Original Images?
Some plugins will help you back up the original images on the server. However, doing this will increase your storage usage.
Conclusion
Besides good WordPress hosting and a lightweight theme, images affect your website’s speed. If you upload uncompressed images to your blog posts, the page will be slower when someone lands on it.
You can solve this situation with the help of an image compression plugin. In this article, we have shown you six of the best WordPress image compression plugins. Using these, you can compress your image files without losing quality and save storage space.
We recommend trying each one and finding the best tool from there.
Which plugin are you going to use to compress the images?
Let us know in the comments!
