Best WordPress Image Optimizer Plugins

Are you looking for the best WordPress image optimizer plugins free? If yes, then you’ve landed at the right place.

Image optimization plugins will help reduce the size of the images used in your WordPress site. If your website has plenty of large-size images and has to make them small, then you need to use the image optimization plugins. Your website can now provide a better user experience with faster loading.

There are several free WordPress image compression plugins available to optimize your website images. But it may be difficult for you to choose the best ones which are more suitable as per your need.  Don’t worry! We’ve come up with a collection of the best WordPress image optimizers for your website.

First, let’s start with how to choose a WordPress image optimizer plugins free for your website.

How to Choose a WordPress Image Optimizer Plugin? (6 Tips)

There are several things to look for while choosing the best WordPress image optimizer plugins for free. So, you need to make sure that the plugin you use has the following features:

  • Automated Optimization: The first and foremost thing is that the plugin should automatically resize and optimize images. It also must serve modern image formats to any image source.
  • Lazy Loader: Another thing is lazy loading. It must load images on your page only when you scroll or need them.
  • The number of images that can be compressed: Next thing is how many images the plugin compresses from its free version. 
  • Bulk Optimization: All your images should be able to optimize at the same time.
  • Compression Quality: Another important factor is that it must not degrade the image quality.
  • Easy to use: Lastly, it should be easy to use and user-friendly.

So, here’re the 14 best WordPress image optimizer plugins free to use for your WordPress website.


14 Best WordPress Image Optimizer (Compression) Plugins

1. Smush

Smush WordPress Image Optimizer Plugin

Smush is an award-winning image optimizer WordPress plugin aimed to optimize, compress and resize your images. You can optimize up to 5 MB-size images in JPEG, GIF, and PNG format. It’s 100% free and without any limit. As a powerful plugin, it saves your storage space. Moreover, it takes some of your server load to improve your Google Page Speed.

It’s one of the best image optimizers and compressor plugins with over 1 million active installations in WordPress. You can easily provide the best speed and quality for your website. It provides a user-friendly interface. So, i’s most popular among WordPress users.

Features:

  • Lossless compression to compress images without any effect on image quality.
  • Lazy load to defer offscreen images with the flip of a switch.
  • Bulk optimization to optimize and compress up to 50 images at a time.
  • Automated optimization to auto-smush attachments for super-fast compression on upload.
  • Incorrect size image detection to locate images that are slowing your website.
  • Super servers are used to smush images with fast and reliable Smush API without downtime.
  • Directory Smush optimizes images even when they are not located in the media library.

There are premium plans available which costs $5 per month. You can compress about 1000 images using it.


2. WP-Optimize

WP-Optimize Image Compressor for WordPress

WP-Optimize is an all-in-one plugin used to clean databases, compress large images and cache your website. It provides lossy compression that can convert large images used in your website to be compressed as files. Now you can entirely upload your image library with these files easily, which reduces loading time.

It allows image optimization without degrading the image quality. Moreover, it promotes high page loading speed. This makes it to be quite popular for creating your website fast and being optimized. This plugin is also suitable for multisite. 

Features:

  • Bulk compression to compress several images together with a single click.
  • Restore Originals’ function to retrieve and reverse back to your original images when you need to.
  • Auto-compress function for images to be automatically compressed in your website.
  • EXIF Data-Keeping to retrieve information about your original image even after being compressed.
  • Compatible with PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, and TIF image files.
  • Compress images up to 5 MB size and free compress up to 64 MB.

There are also premium versions of WP-Optimize. It costs $39/year for Starters, $59/year for Business, and $149/year for Unlimited service.


3. SiteGround Optimizer

SiteGround Optimizer WordPress Compression Plugin

SiteGround Optimizer is a WordPress plugin developed by SiteGround that is responsible for improving the performance of WordPress instances. If you’re a SiteGround user and using the SiteGround hosting platform, then this plugin can be used. It can’t be used for any other hosting platform

This plugin is designed to link WordPress with the SiteGround performance services. It also provides multiple optimization techniques. Among its variety of optimization services, one is image optimization. SG Optimizer can optimize existing and new images without degrading image quality.

Features:

  • Enable or disable the use of automatic optimization for new images.
  • Bulk optimization for old images.
  • Enable or disable lazy load to images and even other multimedia elements.
  • Exclude unrequired images to perform lazy load.
  • WebP formats for new or existing images.

4. Autoptimize

Autoptimize Image Compressor for WordPress

Autoptimize is an easy-to-use optimizer plugin in WordPress. If you want your website to have a great performance, then this plugin provides remarkable web optimization performance services.

Apart from image optimization, it also performs HTML, CSS, and JavaScript optimization. It allows you to aggregate, minify scripts and styles, and injects CSS in the page head by default.

Features:

  • Compatible with WebP and AVIF formats also.
  • Optimize and perform lazy load to images. Exclude images like logos, social media icons, etc. It’s because they don’t require a lazy load.
  • Support users with their questions.
  • Works only for publicly available images.

Apart from the free version for image optimization, there are premium versions also available. Autoptimize also provides Autoptimize Expert Configuration that costs €299. Similarly, Complete Speed Optimization costs €799.


5. EWWW Image Optimizer

EWWW Image Optimizer for WordPress

EWWW Image Optimizer is aimed to solve the issue of large images used in your websites that make you say ‘Ewww’. It’s the only plugin that allows using tools available on your own server for the optimization of images. It allows you to optimize the existing images. Moreover, it automatically optimizes your new images on upload. 

This plugin provides the best compression. It has no speed limits and can optimize unlimited file size. The use of leading tools of the industry in this plugin provides smooth handling for pixel-perfect optimization.

Features:

  • Adaptive steering that has intelligent conversion options. This keeps accurate image format, whether JPG, PNG, GIF, or WebP.
  • Comprehensive coverage that optimizes each image of your website. It also works for WordPress media libraries.
  • Safe and secure with the use of the best SSL encryption.
  • Provide one-to-one support to answer questions.
  • 30 days of free image backups to store your original images.

The core plugin is free while the premium version is divided into three plans. They are Standard, Growth, and Infinite plugins that cost $7, $15, and $25 monthly, respectively.


6. Imagify

Imagify – Optimize your Images and Convert WebP

Imagify is regarded as the most advanced tool to optimize images in WordPress. In a single click, large images can be automatically resized or optimized without degrading quality. It also allows you to get a WebP image format. This reduces image size and speeds up your website. You can optimize 20 MB image size free for every month.

There are three levels of compression namely Normal, Aggressive, and Ultra as per the degree of image optimization. Normal provides lossless compression without quality degradation. Aggressive provides stronger lossy compression leading to unrecognizable tiny loss of quality. While Ultra provides the strongest lossy compression.

Features:

  • Compatible with animated or non-animated image formats like JPG, PNG, PDF, and GIF.
  • Bulk optimizer enables optimizing your images existing in your website easily.
  • Backup option to restore original images or optimize in another level.
  • Compatible with WooCommerce and NextGen media gallery tools.
  • Can choose your level of compression.

Apart from the free starters of Imagify, there are other premium plans available. The Growth plan costs $4.99 with 500 MB to optimize. While Infinite plan costs $9.99 per month with unlimited image size.


7. ShortPixel

ShortPixel Image Optimizer WordPress Plugin

ShortPixel Image Optimizer is a frequently updated image compressor for WordPress which is freemium (Free and Premium). It provides lossy and lossless compression for all the common image formats. Such as JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, AVIF, and PDF files. Additionally, glossy JPEG compression allows you to provide high-quality lossy optimization. This is best suitable for photographers.

It’s easy to use and install the plugin with automatic optimization and advanced background optimization. It’s highly compatible with any media gallery, or also with slider or eCommerce or watermarking plugins.

Features:

  • Allows running on multiple websites or a multisite (whether HTTP or HTTPS) using a single API Key.
  • Best for testing the use of the plugin. It’s because the local backup is available to restore one-by-one or all images.
  • Bulk optimization for existing images easily with a click.
  • Image details and overall statistics in optimization report for 30 days.
  • No limit in file size to be optimized.
  • Directly integrate with CloudFare using an API Key or a Token.
  • Display JPEG images quickly with progressive JPEG encoding.

It provides 100 free credits/month and additional credits can be $4.99 for 5000 image credits. Credits are not taken if the images are optimized for about less than 5%. The credit for optimization is free for nonprofits.


8. Compress JPEG & PNG images

Compress JPEG & PNG images - Image Compressor

Compress JPEG & PNG images allows your WordPress website to load fast by optimization of JPEG and PNG images. Images can be whether animated or not. This plugin consists of the integration of popular image compression services of TinyJPG and TinyPNG. It automatically optimizes new images and performs compression to images in your media library.

You can automatically resize images by keeping the maximum width and/or height of your choice. You can also optimize and resize your image uploads from WordPress mobile app. There isn’t any file size limit. You can also compress your images online and then use them on your website. This states that installing the plugin is not necessary. Moreover, it provides a simpler interface to use.

Features:

  • Optimize about 100 images each month for free.
  • Bulk optimization of existing media libraries.
  • JPEG images are displayed faster by progressive JPEG encoding.
  • Can save original image’s information and location.
  • Single API key used to enable multisite support.
  • Compatible with WooCommerce and WP Retina 2x.

There’s a paid version of this plugin available that can be enabled from the dashboard. It even shows your total cost savings. Above 500 image optimization will cost charges one-time at the end of the month.


9. reSmush.it

reSmush.it Free Image Optimizer and Compress Plugin

Based upon the reSmush.it API, reSmush.it provides free image optimization to JPG, PNG, BMP, TIF, and GIF image format files up to 5 MB in size. There’s a reduction to 80% of image compression in it. It’s due to the use of different algorithms and libraries.

Its service is being used by over 400K websites of different CMS (Content Management System). They’re currently working to provide new features such as conversion to next-generation image formats.

Features:

  • Bulk optimization to optimize all your images just by a click.
  • Exclude images to not perform optimization.
  • Change the optimization level that matches your needs easily.
  • Revert to your original images.
  • Original copy saved and optimization for its copy.

10. Optimole

Image optimization and Lazy Load by Optimole

Optimole is an all-in-one image optimizer plugin that consists of full automation and a wide range of evolutionary features. From a cloud-based system, it optimizes your images in real-time. This provides high-quality images and speeds up your website.

You can optimize as much as images you want for up to 5K monthly visits. It’s compatible with WebP and supports Retina and watermarks.

Features:

  • Lossy and lossless optimization for high-quality images even in small size.
  • Smart cropping to keep the image well-sized without losing focus.
  • Lazy load to defer offscreen images and seamless viewing experience without content shifting.
  • Downgrade image quality when in weak connections.
  • Free access to AWS CloudFront CDN with edge locations in over 200 cities.

For the premium version, it’s available with a monthly cost of $19.08 for the Starter. Similarly, it costs $39.08 for the Business version.


11. Optimus

Optimus Image Optimization Plugin

Optimus is another WordPress image optimizer plugins free to use by KeyCDN. It automatically reduces file size up to 70% on upload. Numerous kilobytes are saved per image that maintains the performance of the website through high-quality images.

The free version provides a limitation of up to 100 KB. It doesn’t require adjustments to code and allows bulk optimization with a single click.

Features:

  • Outputs progressive JPEG for quick image loading.
  • Conversion is available to WP Retina 2x and WebP.
  • Provides slightly lossy compression of JPEG images while lossless compression of PNG images.
  • Option to not remove EXIF and IPTC files.
  • Compatible with WordPress Multisite and WooCommerce.

Apart from the free version, Optimus HQ and Optimus HQ Pro are also available that yearly cost $29 and $149, respectively.


12. Image Optimization for SEO

Image Optimization for SEO

Image Optimization for SEO is a WordPress plugin that resizes and compresses your images to increase your website speed. So, it’s an SEO-friendly image optimizer plugin.

You can replace the title and alt tags of used images without affecting the code and database of your website. It provides complete documentation of the plugin. So, it’s easy to use and has a user-friendly interface.

Features:

  • Responsive dashboard design.
  • Multisite-support.
  • Bootstrap-based responsive plugin settings panel.
  • Compatible with major browsers and WordPress themes.
  • Multilingual and translation-ready.

The premium version provides additional features and costs about $11 per month.


13. WP Compress

WP Compress – Image Optimizer [All-In-One]

WP Compress is a WordPress plugin that automatically optimizes your image to resize and convert your images and rank your website higher. It’s an all-in-one delivery solution that you may use for any or all components that you desire. It serves via Hybrid CDN, SVG via CDN and serves WebP images.

WP Compress provides much more than image optimization. It allows local (media library) as well as live (real-time) image optimization. You can have a live chat and gain frequent updates from it. You can optimize around 100 MB images free for every month.

Features:

  • Lazy load images.
  • Bulk optimization and bulk restore with a single click.
  • Lossless, Intelligent, and Ultra compression modes available.
  • Adaptive images for every device and Retina device support.
  • Prevention against over-compression.
  • Gain external URLs like Amazon S3.

The paid version allows upgrades of the starter plugin that costs just $5 per month.


14. Robin Image Optimizer

Robin Image Optimizer WordPress Plugin

Robin Image Optimizer is a smart and advanced image optimizer that compresses 80% of your images without loss of image quality. Both free and premium versions have similar features which is the best part about it.

The free version has no limitations on the number of images that you optimize. Even though your image must be within 5 MB size. You can also optimize images when on boot.

Features:

  • Automatic optimization takes place for several images after every minute.
  • Manual mass optimization by the press of a button.
  • Original images stored as a backup that can be restored or re-optimized.
  • Choose among the three compression modes namely normal, regular and high.
  • Statistics are available for optimized images.
  • Reduce image weight by changing the size of the pre-optimized image.

Premium versions are divided as Short, Large, XXL, and XXXL based on the number of images to optimize per year. This yearly costs $39, $89, $288, and $499, respectively.


Which is the Best Free Image Compression Plugin?

Now that you’ve seen the most popular WordPress image optimizer plugins free, you can increase your website speed using it.

Smush ranks first as the best image compressor for WordPress due to its unlimited free lossless compression. Other plugins can be used specifically for image optimization as per its main impressive feature. This includes Optimole for responsive image, Imagify for excellent compression, EWWW Image Optimizer for no image size limits, and similarly others.

If you need plugins that work for multiple optimization performance services, you can use SG Optimize, WP-Optimize, or Autoptimize.


Conclusion

That’s it! We’ve come to the end of our list for the 14 best WordPress image optimizer plugins free in 2021. We hope this article helped you to choose the free WordPress image compression plugin for your website.

We assure you that these plugins are the free image optimizer that’ll get you lighter images without degrading their quality. From the above list, we recommend you Smush if you’re looking for the best image optimizer plugin.

If you’re already using any of these mentioned plugins, then you can share your experience below in the comments section. If you have any more queries, then feel free to ask us.

You can also check our articles on how to choose the best WordPress plugins and best WordPress speed optimization plugins.

You can also get in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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