WordPress image compression plugins are essential tools in a blogger’s arsenal because a page’s loading speed is critically important in search engine optimization and ranking.
A slow loading page can damage your audience’s trust in your brand and authority. Worse, it can result in a much-diminished page rank because website loading speed is a factor in Google’s ranking algorithm.
Other factors, such as third-party JavaScript and CSS hosted off-site, may have their own effects on the loading time of a particular page but more often than not, large uncompressed image files are the ones causing the sluggishness.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the best WordPress image compression plugins you can use to minimize the image file sizes and allow your pages to load much faster than before.
7 Of The Best Image Compression Plugins on WordPress
1. WP Smush
In our experience, WP Smush is hands down the most efficient WordPress image compression plugin available right now. This plugin is compatible with most WP media library plugins and is quite popular among WordPress developers. Check out some features of this plugin below.
WP Smush Features:
• Allows for the conversion of JPEG, GIF, and PNG image files as large as 32 MB (for the paid version), either one at a time or in batches.
• Can be fully automated to screen all new images and remove extraneous data without compromising image quality right before adding those images to your media library.
• Global settings are available for network owners or administrators handling multiple websites.
• Compatible and can work with any media library plugin on WordPress such as WP All Import, WP Offload S3, WP Retina 2X, NectGen Gallery, etc.
• Allows for compression of any images located in directories outside of your main media library.
• Uses lossless compression technology to reduce image sizes.
• Premium (paid) version available with more powerful features but a free version is handy enough for smaller websites.
2. Short Pixel
Short Pixel is another handy image compression plugin on WordPress right now. The plugin can be activated through their API Key which you can obtain when you subscribe and register as a user.
Subscription to the plugin comes with 100 free image compression credits each month, which is adequate for smaller websites. Additional compression credits may be purchased through their plans starting at $4.99 per month. Here are some of the features of this plugin.
Short Pixel Features:
• Supports fast compression of JPG, PNG, and GIF image files. Can also process PDF files.
• Has a backup and restore feature which is quite handy when you need your high-resolution images back. Original images can be restored anytime.
• Allow for automatic processing of all newly uploaded images. Old image files can be processed and compressed with a single click.
• Images of any file size can be compressed, and your 100 free image compression credits will always be counted first before your purchased credits are used.
• Provides for an option to preserve EXIF tag on images which are quite handy for photographers and those websites that need detailed high-res images on demand.
3. Image Pro
The Image Pro compression plugin is an open source software developed by Mihai Valentin for WordPress. It’s new to the image optimization scene but has steadily gained popularity among developers because of its streamlined features.
In our opinion, this plugin works best for small website owners who want to tweak featured images individually before publishing a blog post or a web page.
Image Pro Features:
• Supports drag and drop capability to add any images to a post being edited and resize or position the image inside the post to fit your requirements.
• Provides for convenient and efficient media library management with its image search and filtering (by file type) capabilities.
• Can process multiple files uploaded directly from your desktop and quickly resize images within the Image Pro Editor according to your specified parameters.
4. Compress JPEG & PNG Images
The Compress JPEG & PNG Images plugin works in tandem with the popular image compression services TinyJPG and Tiny PNG. It’s free for the first 500 images (500 image credits per month), and additional packages can be purchased depending on your requirements.
Compress JPEG & PNG Images Features:
• Generous free monthly plan (500 free image credits per month) which is more than adequate for most websites and blogs.
• There are no file size limits, and the plugin can process any image in any directory on your site.
• Fast and convenient bulk compression for old images already stored in your media library.
• Supports automatic compression of new images on upload before these are added to the media library.
• Convenient for owners of multiple websites as compression processing on these sites can be managed through a single API Key.
• Allows for the option to preserve important image metadata such as copyright, location, and date taken information.
5. EWWW Image Optimizer
EWWW Image Optimizer is one of the best image compression plugins you can use on your WordPress website or blog right now. It can optimize new images on upload and can also process older stored images in bulk.
I think what’s most convenient about EWWW Image Optimizer is that it actually works as a standalone plugin and will process your images without connecting or uploading those images to an outside server. Additional features are available to registered users, but if you want to keep it simple, the plugin can be used without registering to get your API key.
EWWW Image Optimizer Features:
• Works seamlessly with other WordPress media library plugins such as FooGallery, NextGen Gallery, Grand Flash Album Gallery, etc. Images cached and stored separately by these plugins are automatically processed by EWWW Image Optimizer.
• Supports optimization of images uploaded to CDNs (content delivery networks) such as Amazon S3, Azure Storage, Cloudinary, and DreamSpeed CDN, etc.
• Supports bulk optimization of older images inside media library and other folders or directories inside your website.
• Includes the ExactDN support to automatically resize images fit screen sizes of viewing devices.
• There are no limits to files sizes for compression and processing speed is not restricted.
• Supports backup of original images for restoration for up to 30 days.
• Can speedily process commonly used image files such as PNG, JPG, and GIF.
6. CW Image Optimizer
CW Image Optimizer plugin is another excellent choice for image compression on WordPress. Images can be automatically compressed on upload, and you’ll have the option to compress in batches older images already existing in your media library.
Like the WWW Image Optimizer plugin above, the CW Image Optimizer can function as a standalone plugin. This means that all images are stored and processed inside your own servers. Installation of additional tools for this plugin, however, can be a bit of a challenge for new users.
CW Image Optimizer Features:
• Stand-alone capability. This plugin runs on your own web servers, and that means faster compression time for all images. No need to wait in queue for external servers to process your images.
• Lossless optimization technology will render compressed images visually the same as the original without the baggage of big image files.
• Automatic compression of new images as they’re uploaded right before adding those images to your library. Previously uploaded images in the media library can be processed in bulk.
7. Bulk Resize Media
Created by Marty Thornley, the Bulk Resize Media plugin is another useful image optimize plugins in WordPress that focuses on resizing huge images before compression.
The logic behind this is that overly large original files are still kept on your servers and can be inadvertently used for some posts. This can result in slower loading time and increased bandwidth demand for your website.
With Bulk Resize Media, the emphasis is in resizing the image first which in itself can already reduce file sizes significantly and jettisoning the large original files altogether.
Bulk Resize Media Features:
• Capable of converting BMP images into JPG file format.
• Supports MultiSite requirements. Owners of multiple websites can run their compression processes from a centralized location.
• Allows for resizing and compression of all your previously uploaded images stored in the media library and other directories.
• Supports resizing of large, high-resolution image files on upload following maximum size parameters you’ve set. Option to delete large original files.
• Allows setting of your own width, height, and image quality parameters for automatic compression.
Conclusion
A page that loads slowly can potentially damage your website’s authority and sabotage your SEO efforts. For one, it will always be viewed negatively by your target audience. Secondly, it could lead to a reduced rank in the search results since Google considers a website’s loading speed as a ranking factor.
With these considerations in mind, it’s clear that an active WordPress image compression plugin is a must-have tool for any publisher working to nudge their search ranking a little bit higher in the pecking order.
If you have tips and suggestions about speeding up a website, image compression techniques, WP image compression plugins, please leave a comment below.
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