The Best Image Compression Tools for WordPress Websites

Image optimization is one of those things everyone agrees is important… and then somehow it’s the last thing we deal with.

Until the Lighthouse score tanks.
Or a client uploads a 12,000px, 20MB hero image straight from their phone.
Or you inherit a site that weighs more than it should.

This week inside The Admin Bar, we asked agency owners what they actually use to compress images — and the answers fell into a few very clear camps.

There was one dominant favorite. But there were also some interesting alternatives depending on workflow.

The Most Mentioned Image Compression Tools

These tools & solutions came up repeatedly in the discussion:

Let’s break down why agencies are choosing each.

Why Agencies Choose These Image Compression Tools

When it comes to image optimization, the real dividing line isn’t quality — it’s workflow.

Are you optimizing:

• Automatically in WordPress?
• Before upload?
• On the server?
• Or via CDN?

ShortPixel

The runaway favorite in this thread.

ShortPixel was mentioned more than any other tool — by a wide margin.

David Innes shared one of the strongest endorsements in the thread:

“For the last couple of years ShortPixel hasn’t just outperformed the other common plugins (often by considerable margins) it even stands up against dedicated desktop optimizers…”

Why agencies like it:

• Set-it-and-forget-it automation
• Bulk optimization for inherited sites
• WebP/AVIF conversion
• Developer/API access
• Reliable performance results

Common hesitations:

• Credit-based pricing
• Backup folders taking space
• Occasional over-optimization complaints

Best fit: agencies managing maintenance plans who want automation with minimal oversight.

EWWW Image Optimizer

EWWW was the second most mentioned plugin.

Why agencies like it:

• Strong CDN integration (EasyIO)
• Unlimited domain options
• Reliability on high-traffic sites
• Good performance gains

Best fit: agencies running higher-traffic or media-heavy sites where CDN-level optimization matters.

Squoosh

If ShortPixel dominates the “plugin” crowd, Squoosh dominates the “manual pre-upload” crowd.

Kara Schoonveld said:

“Squoosh is so simple – drag and drop, can resize, choose quality, and choose output.”

Why agencies like it:

• Free
• Browser-based
• Resize + format conversion
• AVIF/WebP support
• No plugin required

It’s especially useful when dealing with massive raw images before they ever touch WordPress.

Best fit: agencies who prefer optimizing before upload — or want a lightweight, no-plugin workflow.

TinyPNG / TinyJPG

Still a staple.

Anil Agrawal mentioned:

“TinyPNG for quick one-off compression or WebP conversion online”

Why agencies like it:

• Simple interface
• Good compression
• Familiar brand
• Fast for one-offs

The main limitation mentioned: upload size caps on free plans.

Best fit: quick manual compression without installing anything.

LiteSpeed Cache

For agencies already using LiteSpeed hosting, image optimization is often built in.

Martin Evers Wessel said:

“I use litespeed cache plugin with their build in webp converter.”

Cody Clifton also mentioned using LiteSpeed for site-wide optimization.

Why agencies like it:

• Built-in functionality
• No extra plugin
• Integrated caching + image optimization

Best fit: agencies on LiteSpeed infrastructure who want fewer plugins.

Imagify

Imagify appeals to agencies wanting predictable pricing instead of credits.

David Zack added:

“I’m using Imagify. $9.99/month for unlimited sites and compression. Seems like a great deal…”

Best fit: agencies who prefer subscription pricing over usage credits.

WP Compress

Mentioned multiple times, especially in comparison to ShortPixel and EWWW.

Michal Krakowiak included it in his stack, ranking it between EWWW and ShortPixel.

It’s often marketed aggressively with LTD offers — which some members were skeptical of.

Best fit: agencies evaluating alternatives to credit-based systems.

Local-First Workflows (Affinity, Photoshop, XnConvert, Clop)

A significant group prefers optimizing before upload — no WordPress plugin involved.

Dana Maggacis said:

“XnConvert! Love that it’s not an extra plugin, and it’s completely FREE.”

Caleb Critz shared about Clop:

“It’s a local app that automatically compresses images upon download or when copying to your clipboard.”

Peter Melling mentioned batch processing in Affinity Photo.

Why agencies like this approach:

• No added plugin overhead
• No API calls
• Full control over output
• Privacy (no uploads to third-party servers)

Best fit: agencies who want tight control and fewer installed plugins.

CDN / Server-Level Optimization

Some agencies are skipping plugins entirely.

Clayton Leis shared:

“We use Cloudflare Polish through WP Engine.”

Svetoslav Marinov described a custom nginx setup:

“…it generates the optimized images or CSS or JS on the fly”

These setups shift optimization to the infrastructure layer.

Best fit: technically advanced agencies or high-performance hosting environments.

Patterns We Noticed

A few things stood out clearly:

• ShortPixel dominated the plugin category.
• Many agencies prefer optimizing before upload.
• Credit-based pricing makes some nervous.
• CDN-level optimization is increasingly common.
• Agencies want “set it and forget it” — especially for clients who upload their own images.

The biggest split wasn’t about quality. it was about workflow.

How to Choose the Right Image Compression Tool

Ask yourself:

• Do clients upload their own images?
• Do you want automation or control?
• Do you prefer credits or subscriptions?
• Are you trying to reduce plugin bloat?
• Is your hosting already handling this?

If clients are uploading constantly → automation wins.
If you control all media → local-first might make more sense.
If you run high-traffic sites → CDN or server-level compression may be worth it.