Optimizing your website for search engines involves more than just incorporating relevant keywords into your landing pages and blog posts. Major search engines such as Google and Bing prioritize websites on their search engine results pages (SERPs) based on various factors, including website performance, speed, and design.
A crucial strategy for enhancing your site’s speed is image optimization. When utilizing a website content management system (CMS) like WordPress, this task is simplified with the availability of diverse tools and plugins.
This article will provide an overview of WordPress image optimization plugins before delving into a comparison of the top 10 WordPress image optimization tools for the year 2023.
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Are you eager to discover the most effective tools for optimizing images? Let’s explore further.
Fundamentals of SEO Image Optimization
Before delving into the details of WordPress plugins dedicated to image optimization, it’s crucial to grasp the concept of image optimization and its integration into your broader SEO strategy.
As previously mentioned, on-page optimization involving keywords represents only a segment of the overall SEO puzzle. Prominent search engine algorithms employ comprehensive evaluations to determine the ranking of content.
When optimizing web pages for search engines, it’s essential to explore tools and technologies that contribute to a well-rounded SEO strategy. One such noteworthy tool is the Smart Product Page Optimizer, recognized for its innovative approach that surpasses conventional keyword optimization, providing a holistic enhancement for product pages.
Page speed plays a pivotal role in rankings, with metrics related to user experience, design, and behavior serving as indicators of page speed. Extended loading times can lead to higher bounce rates, conveying a sense of spamminess and frustrating users. The faster a page loads, the better, and according to Backlinko, the top-ranking pages on Google load in 1.65 seconds.
Image optimization emerges as a key method for improving site speed, reducing the media size for faster loading while preserving image clarity and quality when executed correctly.
Google recommends a site loading time of within 3 seconds. To assess your site’s speed, you can utilize the Google PageSpeed Insights tool for testing loading times. In case your Core Web Vital Assessment indicates a failing grade, particularly in the LCP metric (as illustrated in the screenshot below), an image optimizer becomes imperative to address the issues, especially if you find yourself in the yellow or red zones.
Rest assured, there’s no need to fret. Today, I’ll be sharing information about the finest image optimizers, saving you from the hassle of scouring the internet and sifting through numerous tedious reviews.
What is a WordPress image optimization plugin?
A plugin for WordPress image optimization is a tool or application designed to enhance image quality that seamlessly integrates with the WordPress platform.
WordPress provides a plugin marketplace, allowing users to easily add a variety of tools to their WordPress dashboard with just a single click. While many WordPress image optimization plugins are available for free, there are also a few premium tools that require a modest monthly fee.
Now that you’re a bit more familiar with using a WordPress image optimization plugin, let’s review ten of the best options.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
ShortPixel Image Optimizer serves as a website optimization tool, providing features such as image compression, media hosting, and other functionalities aimed at enhancing site speed.
Features
- Automated image compression
- Optimization of JS/CSS
- Media hosting
- Command line optimization
- ShortPixel adaptive images
Pricing
The Short Pixel WordPress image compression plugin is available at no cost.
ShortPixel provides diverse pricing alternatives tailored to individual usage requirements. Users can purchase credits or gigabytes, with pricing options spanning from free to $83.33 per month.
WP Compress
WP Compress is an SEO utility designed to compress websites, thereby enhancing site speed, diminishing bounce rates, and ultimately improving business performance.
Features
- Image compression
- Website caching
- Access to a CDN
- JS/CSS optimization
- Bulk optimization option
Pricing
The WP Compress plugin is free on WordPress, but users must buy a premium version from WP Compress to activate the plugin. WP Compress’ pricing plans include the following:
- Starter: $9/month
- Professional: $29/month
- White-Label: $49/month
Lifetime licenses are available, as well.
EWWW Image Optimizer
EWWW Image Optimizer stands out as an excellent plugin for optimizing images. With its automatic compression feature, this tool seamlessly collaborates with various third-party providers, including WordPress.
Features
- API for automatic compression
- JS/CSS optimization
- Page caching
- Fast delivery via IO CDN
Pricing
The EWWW Image Optimizer plugin is free on WordPress, but the technology is also available as a stand-alone product.
Pricing plans for EWWW Image Optimizer include the following:
- Standard: $7/month
- Growth: $15/month
- Infinite: $25/month
Users get two months free when they pay annually.
TinyPNG
TinyPNG, a specialized WordPress plugin, focuses on compressing WebP, PNG, and JPEG files. What distinguishes this tool from others is its capability to optimize partially transparent images. Additionally, it provides insights into various compression levels.
Features
- Smart media compression
- Partially transparent image optimization
- Compatible with Photoshop
- Content delivery via Tinify CDN
Pricing
The TinyPNG plugin is free to install on WordPress. When using the tool through WordPress, you can compress 100 images for free each month, but file size limits exist.
If you use Photoshop, you can add the TinyPNG plugin for a one-time fee of $65.
There are different fees attached to using TinyPNG for content delivery. But you never have to worry about image file size again. Image uploads are simple and easy.
Optimole
Optimole is a company dedicated to image optimization and content delivery. Within the realm of WordPress, the company offers two plugins: one for Image Optimization & Lazy Load and another for Super Page Cache designed specifically for Cloudflare.
Features
- Image optimization
- Compress image
- Maintain image quality
- Retina images
- WebP optimization
- Cloud image library
- Lazy load images
- 12–24 hour tech support (depending on the plan)
Pricing
Both of Optimole’s plugins are free on WordPress, but pricing for access to premium plans follows a “per X site visits” structure:
- Starter: $19.08/month for up to 50k site visits
- Business: additional functionality with pricing broken down by usage
- $39.08/month for up to 100k site visits
- $90.83/month for up to 250k site visits
- $297.50/month for up to 750k site visits
- $582.50/month for up to 1.5 million site visits
- $1165.83/month for 5 million site visits
- Custom: flexible pricing for your custom needs
Jetpack
Jetpack is a versatile SEO tool providing an array of features aimed at minimizing load times. This plugin proves valuable for website owners and managers seeking comprehensive SEO support and essential features.
Features
- Image optimization (reduce image size)
- Website security
- XML sitemap generation
- Advanced site statistics
- Enhanced image backup
Pricing
Jetpack has various pricing plans available. The “Complete” plan costs $50/month (billed annually) and includes Jetpack’s performance tools and image optimization.
Imagify
Imagify stands out as an outstanding WordPress plugin for image optimization. What distinguishes Imagify from other alternatives is its capability to support PDF files and optimize GIFs.
Features
- Multimedia optimization (images, PDFs, and GIFs)
- Image resizing
- Easy-to-configure settings
- Secure dashboard
- Lossy and lossless compression options
Pricing
The Imagify plugin is free on WordPress, but plans from Imagify are as follows:
- Starter: Free — includes 20 MB (which is about 200 images per month)
- Growth: $4.99/month — includes 500 MB (which is about 5000 images per month)
- Infinite: $9.99/month — includes unlimited images
Kraken.io
Kraken.io is a specialized tool primarily dedicated to image optimization. In contrast to several other options discussed, its focused approach enables it to be offered at a more affordable price point. In essence, it allows for cost-effective image optimization without compromising the integrity of the original image. Additionally, manual resizing of individual images becomes a thing of the past.
Features
- Image optimization and compression
- Cloud storage
- No vendor lock-in
- Image resizer
- ZIP uploader (images on upload)
Pricing
The Kraken.io plugin is free on WordPress, and the software comes in five separate plans on the Kraken.io website. These include:
- Micro: $5/month for 500 MB of images
- Basic: $9/month for 2 GB of images
- Advanced: $19/month for 5 GB of images
- Premium: $39/month for 15 GB of images
- Enterprise: $79/month for 60 GB of images
Kraken.io gives you two months free when you pay annually.
reSmush.it
reSmush.it is a straightforward WordPress image optimization tool specializing in fundamental image compression. While this tool is available for free, its limitation lies in handling images only up to 5 MB in size. It’s important to distinguish that this tool is not to be confused with WP Smush / Smush Pro, which is another noteworthy contender for discussion on a different occasion.
Features
- Multiple image formats: GIF, BMP, and TIF optimization
- Uses various algorithms for optimal performance
- 80% reductions
Pricing
This tool is entirely free to use. The developers accept donations, but users don’t have to pay. You can size images to your heart’s desire (without going broke in the process).
Imsanity
Imsanity is an additional image optimization tool within WordPress crafted to compress large images. This tool was developed by the WordPress community.
Features
- Image optimization
- Bulk image compression (compress jpeg)
- BMP and PNG image to JPE
- Only available on WordPress
Pricing
Since this is a community-developed tool, it’s free to use.
Conclusion
The ten WordPress image optimization plugins discussed in this article share similar functionalities, but they exhibit slight variations in features, pricing, and other aspects.
Determining the “best option” among the numerous image optimization choices is challenging due to diverse individual needs. Essential considerations, ranging from image SEO to efficient media library management and avoiding lossy compression, should guide your selection of the most suitable WordPress image optimizer plugin.
Testing out the free versions or trial offerings of paid options is advisable to understand the available features. While reviews provide insights, the most accurate assessment comes from exploring individual dashboards and applying these tools to your existing images.
Once you gain familiarity with the available options, narrow down your choices based on functionality and budget compatibility. Subsequently, select the plugin that aligns with your preferences or seamlessly integrates into your tech stack.
While personal preferences may vary, if pressed to choose a favorite, Wordable stands out as my preferred option. It efficiently handles the entire process, enabling one-click publishing of Google Docs to WordPress with compressed images, ensuring optimal site performance.
