Autoptimize
by Optimizing Matters · Performance
Autoptimize speeds up your website by optimizing JS, CSS, images (incl. lazy-load), HTML and Google Fonts, asyncing JS, removing emoji cruft and more.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 91/100
no flags
Active installs
800K+
≈860K estimated
Momentum
+179%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “images”, “performance” and “optimize” for “emoji”, “defer javascript” and “web performance optimization”. “images” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “emoji” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “performance” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “defer javascript” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “optimize” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #22. “web performance optimization” sits at #9 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
91 health vs 69 average across 1,806 Performance plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.8%
of downloads still active
At least 800K of 45.2M lifetime downloads are still running, in line with its category: the median Performance plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,099 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Performance plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 5 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 6 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.7★ over 1,428 reviews, smoothed to 4.68★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
4 of 5 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
49
Momentum
Holding steady
+0.3
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
37%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+1.6
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| autoptimize | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| cruft | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| core web vitals your tag | #4 | #4 | up 4 |
| emojis | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| emoji css and js | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| remove emoji css and js | #2 | #2 | — |
| emoji | #5 | #3 | down 1 |
| critical css | #5 | #4 | 0 |
| web vitals | #5 | #4 | up 4 |
| defer javascript | #6 | #6 | down 1 |
| pagespeed your tag | #12 | #10 | down 1 |
| minify | #8 | #7 | up 1 |
| vitals | #5 | #4 | up 1 |
| web performance optimization | #9 | #9 | up 1 |
| google fonts | #15 | #9 | up 2 |
| head | #11 | #6 | up 4 |
| cdn | #11 | #9 | up 5 |
| performance optimization | #12 | #10 | down 2 |
| web performance | #7 | #6 | down 1 |
| minify javascript | #12 | #9 | up 1 |
| images your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| performance your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
341 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 284 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “images”, “performance” and “optimize” for “emoji”, “defer javascript” and “web performance optimization”. “images” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “emoji” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “performance” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “defer javascript” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “optimize” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #22. “web performance optimization” sits at #9 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “pagespeed”. #12 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 895.4K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
5
releases in the last 12 months
6d ago
latest release · v3.1.17 · 25 Oct 2026
108
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 87% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “800K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 4 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 63% of the way through.
Install history since 1 Dec 2020
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 3.1.15.1 fix for “Uncaught Error: Using $this when not in object context” when preloads are set 3.1.15.1
- — Version 3.1.15 also add fetchpriority=high to preload set on Extra tab improve exit survey display in RTL languages security enhancements for 2 authenticated stored XSS issues responsibly reported by stealhcopter and bashu multiple min 3.1.15
- — Version 3.1.14 improve HTML output for let the 404-handler issue a 302 iso 301 HTTP response (as mentioned by thefitrv) small improvement in critical CSS cron job handling in case of an empty “time limit” (thanks for the help Jason) fi 3.1.14
- — Version 3.1.13 multiple minor changes/ improvements/ bugfixes, see the GitHub commit log . 3.1.13
- — Version 3.1.12 image optimization: improvements to the favicon regex javascript optimization: integrate most recent version of jsmin.php critical CSS: improve blocklist (url/ paths that should not be added to the job queue) some other 3.1.12
- — Version 3.1.11 code quality improvements see the GitHub commit log . some other minor changes/ improvements/ filters, see the GitHub commit log . 3.1.11
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 15 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (3.1.17). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 5.4 Autoptimize <= 3.1.15.1 - Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Comment Author Name ↗2026-10-01 CVE-2026-78471 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.1.15.1 Patched in 3.1.16
- Patched High · 7.2 Autoptimize <= 3.1.15.1 - Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting via REQUEST_URI Path ↗2026-09-30 CVE-2026-14995 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.1.15.1 Patched in 3.1.16
- Patched High · 7.2 Multiple Plugins <= Multiple Versions - Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2026-04-27 CVE-2026-3220 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 3.1.15 Patched in 3.1.15
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Autoptimize <= 3.1.14 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via 'ao_post_preload' Meta Value ↗2026-03-20 CVE-2026-2352 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.1.14 Patched in 3.1.15
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Autoptimize <= 3.1.14 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Lazy-loaded Image Attributes ↗2026-03-20 CVE-2026-2430 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.1.14 Patched in 3.1.15
- Patched Medium · 6.4 Autoptimize <= 3.1.13 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2025-12-03 CVE-2025-13401 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.1.13 Patched in 3.1.14
- Patched Medium · 4.4 Autoptimize <= 3.1.6 - Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Critical CSS Rules ↗2023-04-25 CVE-2023-2113 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.1.6 Patched in 3.1.7
- 2022-12-05 CVE-2022-4057 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 3.0.4 Patched in 3.1.0
- Patched Medium · 5.5 Autoptimize <= 3.1.0 - Authenticated (Admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via Critical CSS Settings ↗2022-07-19 CVE-2022-2635 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.1.0 Patched in 3.1.1
- 2021-05-07 CVE-2021-24332 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 2.8.4 Patched in 2.8.4
- Patched Critical · 9.8 Autoptimize <= 2.7.7 - Arbitrary File Upload (and Remote Code Execution) via Import Settings ↗2020-10-09 CVE-2021-24376 Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type Affects < 2.7.8 Patched in 2.7.8
- 2020-10-09 CVE-2021-24378 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 2.7.8 Patched in 2.7.8
- 2020-10-09 CVE-2021-24377 Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization Affects < 2.7.8 Patched in 2.7.8
- 2020-08-24 CVE-2020-24948 Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type Affects <= 2.7.6 Patched in 2.7.7
- 2017-06-19 Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program Affects <= 2.1.0 Patched in 2.1.1
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 61 languages, 21 at 90% or more
Plus 37 more locales with partial translations.
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
5 of 8 pass · checked 26 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Autoptimize speeds up your website by optimizing JS, CSS, images (incl. lazy-load), HTML and Google Fonts,..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 38 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 38 of 38 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 0 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,416 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "core web vitals", "pagespeed" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-06-19 900K+ → 800K+ down after 273 days in tier
- 2025-09-19 1M+ → 900K+ down after 10 days in tier
- 2025-09-09 900K+ → 1M+ up after 4 days in tier
- 2025-09-05 1M+ → 900K+ down after 2286 days in tier
- 2019-06-03 900K+ → 1M+ up after 88 days in tier
- 2019-03-07 800K+ → 900K+ up after 65 days in tier
- 2019-01-01 700K+ → 800K+ up after 122 days in tier
- 2018-09-01 600K+ → 700K+ up after 45 days in tier
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ installs · 4.9★ · 4 shared tags A -
AEH Speed Optimization: Browser Cache, Optimized Minify, Lazy Loading & Image Optimization 2K+ installs · 3.5★ · 4 shared tags B -
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ installs · 4.8★ · 3 shared tags B -
W3 Total Cache 900K+ installs · 4.4★ · 3 shared tags A -
Aruba HiSpeed Cache 100K+ installs · 3.5★ · 3 shared tags B -
10Web Booster – Website speed optimization, Cache & Page Speed optimizer 60K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Autoptimize into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/autoptimize" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Autoptimize — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Autoptimize: 800K+ active installs, 4.7★ (1,428 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/autoptimize
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