Image optimization for WordPress

Image optimization improves site speed and SEO by reducing file size without compromising image quality. Optimized images load faster, enhance Core Web Vitals, and improve performance scores, whether you’re handling large images, JPEG images, or PNG files.

Lossless compression reduces file size while retaining the original image quality. Lossy compression shrinks image files further by eliminating unneeded image data, which may slightly affect quality. The choice between the two depends on your needs: if image quality is paramount, go for lossless; if file size is more critical, consider lossy. Both are supported, so you can compress images based on whether speed or quality matters most.

No. Elementor’s image optimization plugin stores both compressed and original image files. Backups ensure you can always restore original images, whether they are PNG images, JPEG images, or WebP images.

The free trial includes credits you can use for image optimization. Each credit covers one optimized image file. By default, WordPress creates several sizes for every uploaded photo, and Image Optimizer will optimize all of them. That means with the default settings, your free trial covers about 50 image files. 

If you’d prefer to optimize only the sizes you actually use, you can adjust this in your settings to make your credits go further. Once you’ve tested this tool and are ready to optimize the rest of your media library, you can upgrade to any of our three paid plans to meet your needs. 

If you cancel your subscription, all your previously compressed images remain available on your website and will continue serving at reduced file size. However, you won’t be able to compress new images unless you renew your subscription or stay within the free trial limit.

WebP images and AVIF deliver smaller file sizes than traditional PNG images or JPEG images, while preserving image quality. These modern image formats speed up websites. Most web browsers today support these formats; if they don’t, the original backup will be used.

Image Optimizer by Elementor integrates into the WordPress media library, automates bulk image optimization, and manages image conversion on a dedicated server, keeping your site fast without server strain. Your own server won’t suffer from downtime or the need to keep the tab open. It offers on-the-fly optimization, WebP conversion, and other features tailored to users’ needs.

Absolutely. Image Optimizer is a flexible, stand-alone image optimization plugin for WordPress that works across all your images, whether you manage portfolios, eCommerce shops, or blogs with many large images.

You can use one Image Optimizer subscription across any and all your sites, as long as you have the credits.

The plugin dashboard provides detailed insights into image optimization, including the number of image files that can benefit from optimization.

Yes! You can enable bulk image optimization, compress specific PNG files or JPEG images individually, or automatically optimize uploads, ensuring all your images remain high in quality while lightweight in file size.

When using lossy compression, there’s a slight reduction in image quality, which is usually invisible to the naked eye. However, this plugin provides options for both lossless and lossy compression, allowing you to choose your compression mode based on your preferences. 

Image optimizer stores your original images so you can restore them at any time, and you have a backup of the original images.
As with other image optimization tools, backups are always recommended to protect your original image files because you are going to be making significant changes (especially if you do bulk optimization), and this way, you’ll have the backed-up site just in case anything goes wrong.

Each Image Optimizer plan gives you an annual amount of credits to spend on images you want to compress. On average, one image compression usually requires five credits since each image usually has five associated basic WordPress sizes that will also be compressed. In some cases, 2 or 3 additional default sizes will be needed, depending on your WordPress image settings. 

The credits are spent on all your images created by WordPress in the media library. If you want to change which sizes are optimized, you can do so in the Image Optimizer settings screen.

Credits for image optimization reset annually and cannot be rolled over or transferred. We recommend using credits to compress images across your site before renewal.

The plugin includes a straightforward dashboard showing credits used and remaining. You’ll also receive alerts at 80% usage and 100% usage, so that you can plan ongoing image optimization accordingly.