Best WordPress Image Optimization Plugins in 2026

Data from WordPress.org Updated September 7, 2026 First published September 4, 2026 5 min read

Compression, resizing and modern formats for the images WordPress serves.

Images are usually the heaviest thing a WordPress page sends. These plugins shrink them: compressing on upload, generating modern formats, and serving an image sized for the space it occupies rather than the one the camera produced.

Together these 10 plugins run on more than 5,210,000 active WordPress sites. Ranked from both WordPress.org orderings for "image-optimization", its tag listing and its search results.

On this page

Best for each measure
Quick comparison
The top 10
How to choose
Head-to-head
How this list is ranked
FAQ
Conclusion
Other rankings

Best Image Optimization Plugin for each measure

One plugin per measure, taken from the same WordPress.org figures as the ranking. A measure with nothing behind it is left out rather than guessed.

Most installed: Image Optimization
1 million+, active installs reported by WordPress.org
Highest rated: Converter for Media
4.9 out of 5, from 1,099 reviews, counting only plugins with at least 50
Most reviewed: Smush
6,051 reviews, the largest body of feedback behind a score
Most recently updated: EWWW Image Optimizer
September 1, 2026, the latest release in this list
Longest established: Smush
December 5, 2008, first published on WordPress.org
Best support record: Converter for Media
6 of 6 resolved, recent threads on the WordPress.org support forum
Most languages: Converter for Media
17 languages, translated to 90% or more on translate.wordpress.org

Image Optimization Plugins compared: rating, reviews, installs

#	Plugin	Rating	Reviews	Active installs
1	Image Optimization	1.7	77	1 million+
2	Imagify	4.3	1,653	1 million+
3	EWWW Image Optimizer	4.8	1,838	1 million+
4	Smush	4.8	6,051	1 million+
5	Converter for Media	4.9	1,099	500,000+
6	Optimole	4.7	638	200,000+
7	Robin Image Optimizer	4.4	129	100,000+
8	ShortPixel Image Optimizer	4.5	819	300,000+
9	reSmush.it	4.3	165	100,000+
10	WPvivid Image Optimization	4.3	7	10,000+

The 10 best Image Optimization Plugins, ranked by WordPress.org

Ranked from both WordPress.org orderings for "image-optimization", its tag listing and its search results. Arrows show movement against the previous snapshot.

1.Image Optimization

Image Optimization – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF

1.7 (77) 1 million+ active installs Updated Jul 7, 2026 Tested up to 7.0.4

Automatically resize, optimize, and convert images to WebP and AVIF. Compress images in bulk or on upload to boost your WordPress site performance.

Stats and rankings WordPress.org Website
2.Imagify

Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF

4.3 (1,653) 1 million+ active installs Updated Aug 19, 2026 Tested up to 7.1

Image optimization in 1‑click: compress, resize & convert to WebP/AVIF – free up to 20MB/month. Enjoy the easiest WordPress image optimizer to set up.

Stats and rankings WordPress.org Website
3.EWWW Image Optimizer

4.8 (1,838) 1 million+ active installs Updated Sep 1, 2026 Tested up to 7.1 Paid version available

Comprehensive image optimization with WebP, AVIF, Lazy Load, and more. Optimize images automatically for Faster Sites and Happy Visitors.

Stats and rankings WordPress.org Website
4.Smush

Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN

4.8 (6,051) 1 million+ active installs Updated Aug 24, 2026 Tested up to 7.1 Paid version available

Compress and optimize images, enable lazy load, serve WebP & AVIF, and speed up your site with a global image CDN.

Stats and rankings WordPress.org Website
5.Converter for Media

Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF

4.9 (1,099) 500,000+ active installs Updated Aug 18, 2026 Tested up to 7.1

Speed up your website by using our WebP & AVIF Converter. Optimize images and serve WebP and AVIF images instead of standard formats!

Stats and rankings WordPress.org Website
6.Optimole

Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization

4.7 (638) 200,000+ active installs Updated Aug 26, 2026 Tested up to 7.1

Automatically optimize images with bulk compression, lazy loading, WebP/AVIF conversion & CloudFront image CDN. Boost Core Web Vitals & conversions.

Stats and rankings WordPress.org
7.Robin Image Optimizer

Robin Image Optimizer – Unlimited Image Optimization, WebP & AVIF

4.4 (129) 100,000+ active installs Updated Aug 20, 2026 Tested up to 7.1

Unlimited automatic image optimization for WordPress. Compress images, convert to WebP, and improve site speed without losing image quality.

Stats and rankings WordPress.org Website
8.ShortPixel Image Optimizer

ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF

4.5 (819) 300,000+ active installs Updated Aug 20, 2026 Tested up to 7.1

Optimize images & PDFs smartly. Create and compress next-gen WebP and AVIF formats. Smart crop and resize.

Stats and rankings WordPress.org Website
9.reSmush.it

reSmush.it : The original free image compressor and optimizer plugin

4.3 (165) 100,000+ active installs Updated Aug 20, 2026 Tested up to 7.1

reSmush.it is the FREE image compressor and optimizer plugin - use it to optimize your images and improve the SEO and performance of your website.

Stats and rankings WordPress.org Website
10.WPvivid Image Optimization

Compress, Resize & Lazy Load Images – WPvivid Image Optimization

4.3 (7) 10,000+ active installs Updated Jun 1, 2026 Tested up to 7.0.4

Optimize, compress and resize images in WordPress in bulk. Lazy load images. Auto resize and optimize images upon upload.

Stats and rankings WordPress.org

How to choose a Image Optimization Plugin for WordPress

1
Serving the wrong size costs more than compression
A 3000 pixel photograph in a 600 pixel slot wastes most of its bytes. Resizing on upload fixes that permanently.
2
Modern formats are the second win
WebP and AVIF are substantially smaller than JPEG at the same quality. Check the plugin falls back for browsers that cannot read them.
3
Know where the work happens
Compressing on your own server is free and slow. Sending images to a service is fast and metered. Both are valid; the bill differs.
4
Keep the originals until you are sure
Lossy compression cannot be undone. A plugin that keeps a backup of the original lets you change your mind.

Image Optimization Plugin comparisons: side by side

The top four against each other on installs, ratings, reviews and updates. Each measure names its own leader; there is no overall winner.

How we rank Image Optimization Plugins

WordPress.org publishes two orderings for "image-optimization" and neither is reliable alone. The tag listing covers every tag the directory files these plugins under, "image-optimization", "compress-images", "optimize-images", "image-compression", "webp" and "convert-webp", and is sorted by active installs, which lets a large plugin carrying one of them loosely sit above the ones the category is about. Its search results are sorted by relevance and carry their own noise. So a plugin is placed here by where it sits across both lists: high in each one lifts it, high in only one does not. We fetch both every day at 03:00 UTC, keep every day's snapshot, and add nothing of our own. No plugin is inserted, removed or sponsored, and each entry shows its position in both lists on its own page. Full methodology.

Image Optimization Plugins FAQ

What is the best Image Optimization Plugin for WordPress?

On WordPress.org's own ranking for "image-optimization", Image Optimization is #1 as of September 7, 2026, with 1 million+ active installs and a 1.7 out of 5 rating. By rating, Converter for Media scores 4.9 out of 5 from 1,099 reviews.

Which Image Optimization Plugin has the most active installs?

Image Optimization, with 1 million+ active installs reported by WordPress.org as of September 7, 2026. It ranks #1 in this list.

Which Image Optimization Plugin has the highest rating?

Converter for Media, rated 4.9 out of 5 by 1,099 reviewers on WordPress.org. Only plugins with at least 50 reviews are counted, so a single 5-star review does not win.

Which Image Optimization Plugin was updated most recently?

EWWW Image Optimizer shipped its latest release on September 1, 2026. 9 of the 10 plugins in this list were updated in the last 90 days, which is the usual sign of active maintenance.

How many Image Optimization Plugins are there on WordPress.org?

WordPress.org lists 385 plugins tagged "image-optimization", "compress-images", "optimize-images", "image-compression", "webp" and "convert-webp" as of September 7, 2026. This page shows the top 10 in the directory's own order.

Are these Image Optimization Plugins free?

All 10 are free to install from WordPress.org. 2 of them are listed as commercial, meaning the developer sells a paid version or add-ons: EWWW Image Optimizer, Smush.

Does WordPress not already optimise images?

Only partly. It generates several sizes on upload and serves a responsive set, which helps, but it does not compress meaningfully, does not convert to modern formats, and happily stores the full-size original you uploaded. Those three gaps are what these plugins fill.

Is WebP worth it over compressed JPEG?

Usually, at roughly a quarter to a third smaller for the same visible quality, and every current browser reads it. AVIF goes further still with slower encoding. The important part is the fallback: the plugin should keep the original format for anything that cannot read the new one.

Image Optimization Plugins: the bottom line

As of September 7, 2026, Image Optimization holds the #1 spot for "image-optimization" on WordPress.org, followed by Imagify and EWWW Image Optimizer. If install base matters most, Image Optimization leads with 1 million+ active installs. If ratings matter most, Converter for Media scores 4.9 out of 5 across 1,099 reviews.