EWWW Image Optimizer vs Image Optimization (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Image Optimization Plugins top 10: EWWW Image Optimizer at #3 and Image Optimization at #1. EWWW Image Optimizer leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
EWWW Image Optimizer
Comprehensive image optimization with WebP, AVIF, Lazy Load, and more. Optimize images automatically for Faster Sites and Happy Visitors.
Image Optimization
Image Optimization – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF
Automatically resize, optimize, and convert images to WebP and AVIF. Compress images in bulk or on upload to boost your WordPress site performance.
Who leads on what
EWWW Image Optimizer leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Image Optimization ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Both report 1 million+ active installs on WordPress.org.
EWWW Image Optimizer is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 1,838 reviews, against 1.7 from 77 reviews.
EWWW Image Optimizer has more reviews behind its score: 1,838 against 77.
EWWW Image Optimizer was updated more recently, on September 1, 2026; Image Optimization on July 7, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
EWWW Image Optimizer
Pick EWWW Image Optimizer if the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Image Optimization
Pick Image Optimization if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them.
EWWW Image Optimizer vs Image Optimization side by side
| EWWW Image Optimizer | Image Optimization | |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization Plugins ranking | #3 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 1.7 |
| Reviews | 1,838 | 77 |
| Active installs | 1 million+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 49,705,025 | 15,619,885 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Sep 1, 2026 | Jul 7, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 7, 2012 | Jan 8, 2024 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
EWWW Image Optimizer ratings
Image Optimization ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither EWWW Image Optimizer nor Image Optimization can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Image Optimization Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
EWWW Image Optimizer vs Image Optimization: common questions
Is EWWW Image Optimizer better than Image Optimization?
EWWW Image Optimizer leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Image Optimization ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which has more users, EWWW Image Optimizer or Image Optimization?
Image Optimization ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which is rated higher, EWWW Image Optimizer or Image Optimization?
Both report 1 million+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are EWWW Image Optimizer and Image Optimization free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. EWWW Image Optimizer is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Image Optimization may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to EWWW Image Optimizer and Image Optimization
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Image Optimization Plugins comparisons
- EWWW Image Optimizer vs Imagify
- EWWW Image Optimizer vs Optimole
- EWWW Image Optimizer vs reSmush.it
- EWWW Image Optimizer vs Robin Image Optimizer
- EWWW Image Optimizer vs ShortPixel Image Optimizer
- EWWW Image Optimizer vs Converter for Media
- EWWW Image Optimizer vs Smush
- EWWW Image Optimizer vs WPvivid Image Optimization
- Image Optimization vs Imagify
- Image Optimization vs Optimole
- Image Optimization vs reSmush.it
- Image Optimization vs Robin Image Optimizer
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.