Optimole vs ShortPixel Image Optimizer (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: Optimole at #6 and ShortPixel Image Optimizer at #8. Optimole leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Optimole
Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization
Automatically optimize images with bulk compression, lazy loading, WebP/AVIF conversion & CloudFront image CDN. Boost Core Web Vitals & conversions.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF
Optimize images & PDFs smartly. Create and compress next-gen WebP and AVIF formats. Smart crop and resize.
Who leads on what
Optimole leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Optimole ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Image Optimization Plugins.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
Optimole is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 638 reviews, against 4.5 from 819 reviews.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer has more reviews behind its score: 819 against 638.
Optimole was updated more recently, on August 26, 2026; ShortPixel Image Optimizer on August 20, 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.
Optimole
Pick Optimole if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
Pick ShortPixel Image Optimizer if you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Optimole vs ShortPixel Image Optimizer side by side
| Optimole | ShortPixel Image Optimizer | |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization Plugins ranking | #6 | #8 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| Reviews | 638 | 819 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 300,000+ |
| Total downloads | 8,754,804 | 19,829,492 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 26, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Sep 23, 2018 | Nov 5, 2014 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Optimole 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 Optimole 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.
Optimole vs ShortPixel Image Optimizer: common questions
Is Optimole better than ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
Optimole leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Optimole ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which has more users, Optimole or ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
Optimole ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #8 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Optimole or ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 200,000+.
Are Optimole and ShortPixel Image Optimizer free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Optimole may also sell a paid version or add-ons. ShortPixel Image Optimizer may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Optimole and ShortPixel Image Optimizer
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.