EWWW Image Optimizer vs ShortPixel

EWWW Image Optimizer and ShortPixel both compress WordPress images, but they price and process that work differently. EWWW leans on tiered, bandwidth-based subscriptions built around its Easy IO CDN, while ShortPixel runs on a per-image credit system through its cloud API.

Both plugins convert images to WebP and AVIF and can bulk-optimize an existing media library. The practical choice comes down to whether you'd rather pay for bandwidth or pay per image processed.

Quick verdict: Choose EWWW Image Optimizer if you want a bandwidth-based plan with an image CDN bundled in. Choose ShortPixel if you'd rather pay per image compressed and want native HEIC support for phone photos. Sites with huge libraries but modest traffic often find ShortPixel's credit model cheaper; high-traffic sites tend to fit EWWW's bandwidth tiers better.

EWWW Image Optimizer vs ShortPixel at a glance

Numbers above are StatWP's own estimates, derived from WordPress.org's bucketed reporting rather than an exact figure the directory publishes, and update automatically rather than reflecting a fixed snapshot.

Feature and starting price at a glance

Pricing and feature claims above are each vendor's own, pulled from their pricing and product pages rather than StatWP data. EWWW's cheapest paid tier caps out on bandwidth rather than image count, so a handful of large product photos can burn through a plan faster than thousands of small ones would on ShortPixel's credit model - the two pricing structures reward very different media libraries.

What does EWWW Image Optimizer actually do?

Beyond the install and ratings numbers, EWWW's own site positions the plugin around a few specific, separately-sold mechanics:

• A Compress API that automatically compresses new uploads and keeps a 30-day backup of the originals.

• Easy IO CDN, which the company describes as a “fully automated one-click solution” for auto-scale, auto-WebP, and auto-compress delivery.

• SWIS Performance, adding page caching plus deferred JS/CSS loading beyond just images.

• Customizable resize generation, so site owners control exactly which image sizes get created and optimized.

EWWW's own site markets these as separable services you can buy individually rather than one bundled Pro plan.

What does ShortPixel actually do?

ShortPixel's own site leans on a different set of mechanics:

• SmartCompress, which the company says uses proprietary algorithms to keep images looking natural rather than optimizing to a flat quality percentage.

• WebP and AVIF conversion, plus HEIC conversion for photos straight off an iPhone.

• AI-assisted smart cropping and bulk optimization that runs via background cron jobs so large libraries don't stall a page load.

• Automatic local backup of original images with one-click restoration if a compression pass goes wrong.

ShortPixel's own marketing centers on “install and forget” automation rather than the modular, buy-what-you-need structure EWWW uses.

What features does each one have that the other doesn't?

EWWW Image Optimizer's clearest structural edge is on pricing: its own site sells Easy IO CDN, the Compress API, and SWIS Performance as separable services rather than forcing every plan into one bundled tier, so a site that just wants the CDN isn't also paying for a caching layer it doesn't need.

ShortPixel's clearest edge is format and accuracy: SmartCompress plus native HEIC support handles source files - including iPhone photos - that a lot of optimizers need a separate conversion step for first.

Which should you actually use?

If you're already paying for CDN and page-speed tools separately, EWWW Image Optimizer's modular pricing means you're not paying twice for a caching layer you don't need. If your media library is dominated by phone photography, ShortPixel's SmartCompress and HEIC support remove a conversion step you'd otherwise handle by hand. Either plugin's free tier is enough to test raw compression quality before committing to a paid plan.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between EWWW Image Optimizer and ShortPixel?

EWWW Image Optimizer prices around bandwidth and image-CDN delivery, with Easy IO CDN, the Compress API, and SWIS Performance sold as separate services. ShortPixel prices around a monthly image-credit allowance processed through its cloud API. Both compress and convert images to WebP and AVIF; the difference is mostly the billing model and format handling rather than raw compression quality.

Is ShortPixel better than EWWW Image Optimizer?

Not universally. ShortPixel's native HEIC support gives it an edge for phone photography, and its credit-based pricing can be cheaper for smaller libraries. EWWW Image Optimizer's modular services can cost less for sites that already have caching and CDN needs covered elsewhere. Neither is a strictly better version of the other.

Does EWWW Image Optimizer require a paid plan to work?

No - the plugin has a free tier on WordPress.org. The paid tiers add the Easy IO CDN, the cloud-based Compress API, and SWIS Performance page-speed features.

Can ShortPixel optimize images already in my media library?

Yes - ShortPixel's bulk optimization processes existing images in the background via cron jobs, not just new uploads.

Which plugin handles WebP and AVIF conversion?

Both do. EWWW converts through its Easy IO CDN, and ShortPixel converts through its cloud compression API, along with HEIC conversion for iPhone photos.

See the live, current numbers for either plugin any time on StatWP's EWWW Image Optimizer page or StatWP's ShortPixel page, or run this comparison yourself with StatWP's compare tool.