Apart from stellar written content, another foolproof way to grab and retain your audience’s attention is through the use of images and visuals. However, this is where your content creation process might get a bit tricky.
When you use too many visuals and upload large image files, your website requires more effort to load, rendering your website slow.
One surefire way to speed up your website is through image compression. Thanks to plugin image compression tools such as ShortPixel and Imagify, you can now compress your images effortlessly without having to leave WordPress to do so!
Thus, in this article, we’ll explore two of the best WordPress image optimizer out there–ShortPixel vs. Imagify–by doing a quick overview of each of them, their features, pricing plans, and advantages and disadvantages.
Overview
When you’re a website owner, keeping your website in top shape is your number one priority. One way to do this is by optimizing your images, thus boosting your website appearance.
While we relied on external sources to resize images in the past, this tedious process has now been replaced with simple plugin tools that do most of the work for us.
Apart from ShortPixel and Imagify, there are a number of other WordPress image optimizer plugin tools available out there. But few others perform as well as ShortPixel and Imagify.
For that reason, we’ve decided to pit one against the other and end the ShortPixel vs. Imagify debate to determine the best WordPress image optimizer.
ShortPixel Overview
ShortPixel is one of the top-ranked WordPress image compression plugins. We can attribute its popularity to its neat selection of features, which are user-friendly and easy to use.
Like all image optimization tools, it allows you to upload and efficiently use images on your website by shrinking the size of the original image while retaining the near-same quality.
Thus, you avoid subjecting your visitors to the hurdles of slow webpage loading or low-quality photos while providing them with sharp, crystal-clear visuals.
ShortPixel can be used in its free version or as a premium at an affordable price. It is easy to install and configure to your website and doesn’t require any special adjustments after that.
Unlike other image optimization tools that shrink the image quality from 95% to 70%, ShortPixel optimizes the visuals multiple times to retain maximum resolution while compressing the image.
Is ShortPixel good? Let’s find out!
Imagify Overview
Imagify is another WordPress image optimizer plugin that can be used on WordPress to compress the image size and help optimize your website performance.
It was created by the same company that owns WP Rocked, a WordPress plugin that boosts speed and web performance.
Imagify offers some similar and some different features compared to ShortPixel. Once installed, it enables you to automatically optimize your images with almost no effort on your part.
It is good for optimizing thumbnails and retina images without sacrificing their quality, as well.
ShortPixel vs. Imagify – Feature Comparison
ShortPixel and Imagify are quite similar in terms of their features. They both offer bulk and automated image compression, enabling you to compress your images by simply adding them to your page.
In terms of this, they both do the work for you; even if you forget to compress your images, once your image optimization tool is installed, it will automatically optimize them.
Both of these plugins aim to deliver the highest-quality images. And even though both do a near-immaculate job, in terms of quality retention, ShortPixel comes out on top.
| ShortPixel | Imagify |
|---|---|
| ShortPixel✅ Free plan | Imagify✅ Free plan |
| ShortPixel✅ 100 free image compressions | Imagify✅ 20MB worth of images |
| ShortPixel✅ Lossless compression | Imagify✅ Three levels of compressions |
| ShortPixel✅ Automated use | Imagify✅ Automated use |
| ShortPixel✅ Three compression levels | Imagify✅ Store images in backup |
| ShortPixel✅ Works on JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, AVIF & PDF | Imagify✅ Works on JPG, PNG, PDF, GIF |
Let’s look at each image optimizing tool’s features:
ShortPixel Features
Let’s see the features that have made ShortPixel the best WordPress image optimizer as per users’ reviews:
- Allows you to optimize up to 100 images per month for free. Although ShortPixel’s free plan doesn’t offer as much free image compression as some of the other plugins out there.
- It has the lowest starting price for monthly subscriptions and good deals. There is also no limitation to the size of the images that need to be compressed.
- Three levels of compression: Glossy, Lossy, or Lossless. Glossy offers the best choice for those still concerned about Google Insights but willing to sacrifice speed for the best image quality.
Lossy and Lossless are more commonly used. The former is preferred because it offers the smallest optimized image size. So, if you’re looking for speed, the Lossy algorithms should be your go-to optimization.
The Lossless compression level allows pixel-by-pixel optimization, giving an identical look to the original. If you find it important to leave your images as they are, go for this option.
- Bulk compress all your images. Improve your SEO rankings as well as your visitor’s experience by compressing more images at once with the bulk compression feature.
This can be useful when you want to revisit your previously used images and optimize them in bulk. You can do this to all or choose which images you want to compress.
- Automatically optimize all your images. Once you install the plugin, there is no need for constant reconfiguration or adjustments for every uploaded photo. Your images will automatically be compressed, provided you don’t want to make any changes.
- Compress JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP. If your website allows visitors to download PDF files more often, perhaps you’d want to know that ShortPixel can convert PDF files as well. You can also compress Retina images.
- Optimize images outside the media library. ShortPixel allows you to optimize images not in your media library, like those added through other plugins.
- Back up original images. Save your original images for further use.
Imagify Features
Some of Imagify’s top features are:
- Optimize up to 2MB worth of images. Imagify allows you to optimize approximately 200 images per month for free. However, the image size cannot be larger than 2MB per image. If you want to compress a larger image, you’ll need to reduce the dimensions and get it under 2 MB manually.
- Choose among three levels of compression: Normal, Aggressive, or Ultra. Each of these levels provides a different degree of compression and quality reduction. The normal level gives you the least change in size as well as quality, while the ultra provides the greatest reduction in size, but also in image quality.
- Store your original images with the backup feature of the plugin.
- Imagify also allows you to optimize images automatically when the plugin is configured to your website.
- Make use of bulk compression to improve your site’s existing images for better performance.
- Use with JPGs, PNGs, PDFs and GIFs, as well as Retina images and thumbnails.
The Real Output
To see the real output of these two plugins, check out these before & after photo transformations with:
ShortPixel compression example
Imagify compression example
Pricing & Plans
Both image optimization tools offer good plans and at an affordable price, but ShortPixel carries the day with a lower monthly and yearly subscription rate.
Imagify, on the other hand, offers more use for the free version but doesn’t allow compression of images larger than 2MB.
Take a look at the table below to compare the monthly prices for the paid plans of ShortPixel and Imagify:
ShortPixel Pricing
| Price | Number of compressions |
|---|---|
| PriceFree | Number of compressions100 |
| Price$3,99/mo | Number of compressions7,000 |
| Price$8,33/mo | Number of compressions16,000 |
| Price$24,99/mo | Number of compressions55,000 |
| Price$41,66/mo | Number of compressions100,000 |
| Price$83,33/mo | Number of compressions220,000 |
Imagify Pricing
| Price | Number of compressions |
|---|---|
| PriceFree | Number of compressions20MB/200 images |
| Price$4,99/mo | Number of compressions500MB/5,000 images |
| Price$9,99/mo | Number of compressionsUnlimited |
Short Pixel Pricing & Plans
The ShortPixel free plan enables users to use 100 image compressions per month, sufficient for new website owners still establishing their webpage and brand.
As for the paid plans, they go like this:
- The cheapest plan allows access to as many as 7,000 image compressions for just $3,99 per month
- For the price of $8,33 per month, users can optimize 16,000 images
- For $24,99 per month, 55,000 images
- For $41,66 a month, up to 100,000 images
- And, for $83,33 per month, subscribers can use 220,000 image compressions.
The allowed image compressions are not limited to an individual webpage–you can use them for multiple websites.
ShortPixel also offers additional one-time credit packages. Here are the prices for each package:
- The lowest-rate package is only $9,99 and offers 10,000 credits, meaning 10,000 image compressions
- For $19,99 you can get a package of 30,000 credits
- For $29,99 you can get 50,000 credits
- For $59,00, you can get 100,000 credits
- For $99,00, you can get 170,000 credits
- And for $249,00–a whopping 500,000 credits.
In addition to this, ShortPixel also offers huge corporate plans:
- For just $350 a month, large companies and corporations can take advantage of more than 2 million image compressions and a 4-cores dedicated server
- For $500 a month, they can use more than 4 million compressions and have a twice as strong server
- The most extensive plan costs $1,000 per month for more than 16 million image compressions and a 32-cores dedicated server.
Imagify Pricing & Plans
Imagify’s free plan gives users the opportunity to compress up to 2MB worth of images, or approximately 200 images–double what the ShortPixel free plan can offer.
However, the lowest paid plan starts at $4,99 for 500MB of data, or about 5,000 image compressions, which is more expensive than the basic plan ShortPixel offers. It also provides less credit.
But, Imagify offers unlimited access to image compressions for just $9,99 per month.
If you are already familiar with the fact that Imagify is the product of the same company that owns WordPress Rocket, you might be wondering, is Imagify free with WP Rocket?
Unfortunately, even if you have WP Rocket, you can still only use the 2MB worth of image compressions a month and will have to purchase a paid plan for more than that.
ShortPixel vs. Imagify – Pros & Cons
Like any other product, all these image optimization plugin tools have their pros and cons. If you’re looking for the best image optimizer WordPress for yourself, you may want to take a look at our pros and cons rundown for ShortPixel and Imagify:
| shortPixel Pros | shortPixel Cons |
|---|---|
| shortPixel Pros✅ Works with all image formats | shortPixel Cons❎ No transfer of credits |
| shortPixel Pros✅ Great compression value | shortPixel Cons❎ Blurred panoramic images |
| shortPixel Pros✅ Bulk compression | shortPixel Cons❎ Backup fills space |
| shortPixel Pros✅ Offers different levels of compression | shortPixel ConsNIL |
| shortPixel Pros✅ Easy installation and configuration | shortPixel ConsNIL |
| shortPixel Pros✅ Easy to use | shortPixel ConsNIL |
| shortPixel Pros✅ Affordable price | shortPixel ConsNIL |
| shortPixel Pros✅ Automated compression | shortPixel ConsNIL |
| shortPixel Pros✅ Easy backup and restore | shortPixel ConsNIL |
| shortPixel Pros✅ No limit on image size | shortPixel ConsNIL |
| shortPixel Pros✅ Use for multiple pages | shortPixel ConsNIL |
Imagify Pros and Cons
| Imagify Pros | Imagify Cons |
|---|---|
| Imagify Pros✅ Supports most image formats | Imagify Cons❎ More expensive |
| Imagify Pros✅ Automated optimization | Imagify Cons❎ Fewer paid plans |
| Imagify Pros✅ Three levels of compression | Imagify Cons❎ Limited image size |
| Imagify Pros✅ Secure backup | Imagify ConsNIL |
| Imagify Pros✅ Bulk optimization | Imagify ConsNIL |
| Imagify Pros✅ Fairly easy to install and use | Imagify ConsNIL |
| Imagify Pros✅ Use account for more than one site | Imagify ConsNIL |
| Imagify Pros✅ Use for multiple pages | Imagify ConsNIL |
Now, let’s dive deeper into each individual advantage and disadvantage of both plugins:
ShortPixel Pros
Let’s check out ShortPixels most redeemable qualities that make it a top choice among many website owners:
- Optimizes all image formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, AVIF & PDF
- Has great compression value of up to 90% size compression while retaining the quality level
- Has an option for bulk compression to optimize a large number of images all at once
- Offers three different levels of compressions depending on your needs and preferences: Glossy, Lossy, and Lossless
- It is very easy to install, configure, and use
- There’s a price plan for everyone. With a starting price of just $3.99 ShortPixel is very affordable and offers a variety of paid packages to suit everyone’s needs
- It can automatically compress your images upon upload
- All of the compressions are done on an external server, which is good for your server and allows you to easily back up your images and restore them later.
- Compressions are not limited according to size
- One account is not limited to a single page–you can use ShortPixel for multiple websites.
ShortPixel Cons
No image compression tool is perfect, and neither is ShortPixel. Let’s see why a webmaster may turn its back on this plugin:
- ShortPixel doesn’t allow the transfer of unused credits to the next month’s credit score. Any unused image compressions left cannot be used after the month expires
- When optimizing larger images, such as panoramic photographs, they sometimes come out blurred
- Reconsider how important it is for you to back up your images, since an automatic backup can fill a lot of space and pose problems.
Imagify Pros
Besides letting you use the same login across multiple websites, Imagify is also fantastic because of the following reasons:
- Supports most used image formats, such as JPGs, PNGs, PDFs, GIFs, Retina images, and thumbnails
- Once it’s installed, it can automatically optimize all uploaded images without any special work on your part
- Just like ShortPixel, Imagify offers three levels of compression: Normal, Aggressive, and Ultra
- Offers an option to securely back up all your original images and restore them at any time
- Option to bulk optimize a large number of images
- Although not as user-friendly as ShortPixel, Imagify is fairly easy to set up and use
- Your account is not limited to single-webpage use–you can use your plan on as many websites as you like, perhaps even share it with a friend.
Imagify Cons
Of course, Imagify also has its downsides. Let’s explore them below:
- When compared to ShortPixel and other image optimizer plugins, Imagify has a bit of a steep price, starting at $4,99 a month for just 5,000 image compressions
- It also offers fewer options in terms of paid plans. There are only two–you can either get 5,000 credits or an unlimited amount
- The free version only allows smaller images than 2MB to be compressed.
Support & Help
Both ShortPixel and Imagify have good customer service to offer support and help to new and existing users:
ShortPixel Support & Help
ShortPixel offers different ways of communicating with its users. You can contact them through email, or write your inquiry directly on their website and await their response.
You can also browse through their FAQs sections for a quick solution to your problem. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for there, you can ask anything you want to know directly.
Imagify Support & Help
Imagify also has a good customer support policy. When you go to their webpage and visit the Support section, you can first browse through their answers to common issues to spare yourself time.
You can also write them a ticket explaining your problem and wait for the help of their friendly and knowledgeable support team.
Every ticket gets processed, and the responses are made during business hours, Monday through Friday. You may have to wait a bit for a response if you write to them some other time.
You can also browse through their FAQs section to learn more about their service or perhaps even find a solution there.
Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, ShortPixel and Imagify both have good customer reviews.
ShortPixel is depicted as a more user-friendly image-optimizing tool because it doesn’t require any previous knowledge to use it. On the other hand, Imagify may seem a bit more technical and confusing to set up, but once you get it up and running, it’s just as easy to use.
If you decide to go for ShortPixel, there are three main steps to set it up:
- First, you need to download the plugin. You can do this by looking it up on the WordPress plugin search, which is the easiest way. You can also download the plugin and upload it to your WordPress or do it manually using FTP.
- Once you install your image optimizer, you’ll need to add your API address. Each account has its own API key needed for verification.
- The final step is to start optimizing your images. Go to the settings bar, configure the features according to your preferences, and start using the plugin!
If, on the other hand, you want to try out Imagify for your website’s image optimization needs, you will need to go through a similar process:
- To begin, you’ll need to decide whether to try the free version or opt for a paid plan that best fits your needs.
- If you decide to try the free version, you’ll need to register an account by visiting Imagify’s registration page.
- The next step will be to install the plugin in your WordPress and then activate it.
- Lastly, you’ll need to adjust the settings to your needs, like bulk optimization and automation feature.
Not sure which plan to use or exactly how many image compressions you’ll need in a month? Imagify offers a nifty tool that can help you with this decision!
By simply going to your WordPress Settings>Imagify, you can find the “What Plan do I Need?” tool. It will recommend a plan based on your website’s previous image uploads.
If you agree with the recommendation, you can subscribe to a monthly or yearly plan directly from there.
ShortPixel vs. Imagify: Final Verdict
ShortPixel and Imagify are two of the best image compression plugin tools currently on the market, with highly similar features and performance. Their objective is to optimize the speed of their user’s websites by compressing the size of the displayed images while retaining as much of the quality as possible.
So, which WordPress image optimizer plugin is better–ShortPixel or Imagify?
Our final verdict is that ShortPixel is somewhat better than Imagify as it offers a better bang for your buck and more options in terms of paid plans. Customers have more alternatives regarding choosing a plan best tailored to their needs and a better chance to gain highly optimized images for their website.
This isn’t to say Imagify is bad–in fact, it’s better than ShortPixel in that it lets you use it across multiple sites!
So, both have their pros and cons, and ultimately, it’s up to you to make an informed decision based on your website needs.
