EWWW Image Optimizer vs ShortPixel Image Optimizer (October 2026)
Updated October 23, 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 #2 and ShortPixel Image Optimizer at #5. EWWW Image Optimizer leads on 5 of the 6 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.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF
Compress images & PDFs automatically, convert to WebP & AVIF, and generate SEO-friendly filenames with AI. Bulk optimization, smart crop & resize.
Who leads on what
EWWW Image Optimizer leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
EWWW Image Optimizer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #5 in Image Optimization Plugins.
EWWW Image Optimizer has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 300,000+.
EWWW Image Optimizer is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 1,841 reviews, against 4.5 from 829 reviews.
EWWW Image Optimizer has more reviews behind its score: 1,841 against 829.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer was updated more recently, on October 14, 2026; EWWW Image Optimizer on October 13, 2026.
EWWW Image Optimizer was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 922,557 times against 350,091.
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 you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one being installed faster right now.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
Pick ShortPixel Image Optimizer if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
EWWW Image Optimizer vs ShortPixel Image Optimizer side by side
| EWWW Image Optimizer | ShortPixel Image Optimizer | |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization Plugins ranking | #2 | #5 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 1,841 | 829 |
| Active installs | 1 million+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 50,763,924 | 20,369,139 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 922,557 | 350,091 |
| Last updated | Oct 13, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 7, 2012 | Nov 5, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
EWWW Image Optimizer ratings
ShortPixel Image Optimizer 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 ShortPixel Image Optimizer 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 ShortPixel Image Optimizer: common questions
Is EWWW Image Optimizer better than ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
EWWW Image Optimizer leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. EWWW Image Optimizer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #5 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which has more users, EWWW Image Optimizer or ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
EWWW Image Optimizer ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #5 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which is rated higher, EWWW Image Optimizer or ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
EWWW Image Optimizer has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 300,000+.
Are EWWW Image Optimizer and ShortPixel Image Optimizer free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. EWWW Image Optimizer is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. ShortPixel Image Optimizer may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to EWWW Image Optimizer and ShortPixel Image Optimizer
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Weekly · free
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.