CW Image Optimizer

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

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

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 100% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price. A small install base leaves thin data to model from.

Reviewers with server access rave about the compression and the small footprint, while those on shared or managed hosting can't install the command-line tools it depends on and rate it one star.

1. ★★★★★ ksere

   10.4y ago

   If you have console access to your server and you are able to install the prerequisites it works like a charm! Tested on a digitalocean droplet running Ubuntu.

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ Grzegorz.Janoszka

   10.5y ago

   I have been using EWW, but it had so many options and it was taking too much space in my backups. This plugin is very tiny and does the same job.

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ Robbie_berns

   10.7y ago

   Installed easily, great compression

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ fmlcorporation

   10.9y ago

   Great if you concerned about your privacy. The compression is done in you server with open source tools. The only issue that I had is that I had to disable the installation check. But the instructions in the README file were clear and the it worked great on my images. Not recommended for people who don’t know how to use Linux.

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ sajjadul

   11.4y ago

   Simply does not work. Tried in my dreamhost VPS.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ danielsico

   11.5y ago

   Bad plugin

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ Ena-Mar

   11.6y ago

   This plugin requires the installation of additional programs. Unless you run your own server you will not be able to do so. Most users on a normal hosting will not be able to access the linux shell of their server. If you have your own server give it a try. If not save the time and move on.

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ DominicLindner

   11.7y ago
   Read on wp.org ↗

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 7.2.16 · WP 5.3

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2025-11-14 300+ → 200+ down after 59 days in tier
2. 2025-09-16 200+ → 300+ up after 4 days in tier
3. 2025-09-12 300+ → 200+ down after 1 days in tier
4. 2025-09-11 200+ → 300+ up after 64 days in tier
5. 2025-07-09 300+ → 200+ down after 1 days in tier
6. 2025-07-08 200+ → 300+ up after 4 days in tier
7. 2025-07-04 300+ → 200+ down after 358 days in tier
8. 2024-07-11 400+ → 300+ down after 2 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).

• A Attachment Importer 3K+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags D
• Responsive Lightbox & Gallery 100K+ installs · 4.9★ · 2 shared tags A
• Simple Image Sizes 60K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A
• Image Watermark 40K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags B
• Lightbox with PhotoSwipe 20K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A
• Auto Upload Images 20K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags D

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Drop a live Pulse card for CW Image Optimizer into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

CW Image Optimizer: 200+ active installs, 3.9★ (14 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/cw-image-optimizer