WebP Express
by rosell.dk · Performance
Serve autogenerated WebP images instead of jpeg/png to browsers that supports WebP.
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 86/100
no flags
Active installs
300K+
≈350K estimated
Momentum
-8%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Add “imagick”, “jpg to webp” and “convert to webp” to your wp.org tags. You rank #4, #4 and #5 for them without listing them, close enough for a declared tag to move you up. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so with 3 listed these are the slots worth spending.
86 health vs 69 average across 1,808 Performance plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →6.5%
of downloads still active
At least 300K of 4.6M lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Performance plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,103 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 7 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.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 14 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 6.9.11, the current branch or newer
4.4★ over 162 reviews, smoothed to 4.33★
3 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 4 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →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.
37
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.1
Velocity
places per keyword, 27d
13%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 27d
-0.1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| webp express | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| express | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| webp your tag | #3 | #3 | down 1 |
| png to webp | #2 | #3 | 0 |
| webp images | #4 | #5 | 0 |
| webp convert | #3 | #4 | up 1 |
| jpg to webp | #4 | #4 | down 1 |
| webp converter | #4 | #4 | 0 |
| imagick | #4 | #2 | 0 |
| png | #7 | #7 | 0 |
| convert to webp | #5 | #6 | 0 |
| jpeg | #8 | #9 | up 2 |
| convert webp | #7 | #8 | down 1 |
| jpeg to png | #6 | #5 | 0 |
| bandwidth | #12 | #11 | 0 |
| optimize webp images | #8 | #9 | 0 |
| browsers | #22 | #16 | down 1 |
| image converter | #16 | #14 | 0 |
| htaccess | #24 | #17 | down 1 |
| images your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| performance your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
118 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 19 listed. 99 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
- Add “imagick”, “jpg to webp” and “convert to webp” to your wp.org tags. You rank #4, #4 and #5 for them without listing them, close enough for a declared tag to move you up. WordPress.org counts only your first five tags, so with 3 listed these are the slots worth spending.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 432.7K · 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.
7
releases in the last 12 months
14d ago
latest release · v0.25.16 · 18 Oct 2026
93
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 97% 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 “300K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 10 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 2 Sep 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ nenadvuk7mo ago
had troubels running it recently, lost access to library files, restored once deactivated. Could be a combination of plugins, anyway cannot recommend
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Pavel10mo ago
Good plugin. Thanks for the update.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ metroobra1.4y ago
Excelent and good free plugin for convert images jpg/png a webp
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ smastromattei2.0y ago
This stuff is the real deal: just an app that works, no hassling like premium versions or special features. Thank you.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ michalszota2.0y ago
It works. It’s seamless. It provides clear explanations of all the options. It’s done with the nicest, selfless hacker mindset there is.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Dušan Vrban2.3y ago
While many other optimization plugins try to reduce the server work and get you to use their cloud solution (and pay), this plugin does the most suitable job. Converts the files on request from the end user, doing it on the server. Creating the required sizes and later serving the other users those images. Practically, if you upload the image and preview your post/page, the converted file is there and no more waiting. No payments, no bloatware. With popular plugins that’s mostly not the case as they do the bulk conversion by sending the files to their servers and of course – if you pay for it – send back the files when they can. It can take quite some time and often having issues as the sync can run into various troubles on your or their side. Meaning that with other plugins you may have to wait to have optimized images served (if ever). With this one, you have it there from the start. Fantastic job!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ sojic2.4y ago
The plugin which do what it should do. Nothing more!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ iz4atkal2.6y ago
Works perfectly well. Just make sure to read the documentation and that your server has the proper rules enabled.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 0.25.15 (released 19 May 2026) * Fixed medium security problem with the WPC converter and got rid of some deprecated warnings on newer PHP versions (thanks to hostep from Belgium, dmitryuk from Kazakhstan and AH72KING from Pakis 0.25.15
- — Version 0.25.14 (released 25 December 2025) * Fixed issue that the delete images feature also deleted webp-images that was uploaded as such, when webp-express was configured to store converted images in same folder as originals (not the 0.25.14
- — Version 0.25.13 (released 25 December 2025) * It is no longer a requirement on Nginx to modify redirection rules by adding a “hash” parameter. This was briefly required in 0.25.10-12. Btw, thanks Patrick Müller, for an extraordinary lar 0.25.13
- — Version 0.25.12 (released 22 December 2025) * Added notification for users on Nginx which uses redirect rules to change their rewrite rules manually. They must now pass a “hash” parameter in the querystring to the WebP conversion script 0.25.12
- — Version 0.25.11 (released 22 December 2025) * Fixes .htaccess rules for redirecting to converter. The bug was introduced in 0.25.10. It caused the conversion not to work on some systems. Thanks to Jon Wallace for reporting the issue on 0.25.11
- — Version 0.25.9 (released 7 April 2024) * Bugfix: Fixed ewww conversion method after ewww API change 0.25.9
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 4 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (0.25.16). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2026-10-20 CVE-2026-97328 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 0.25.15 Patched in 0.25.16
- 2025-12-03 CVE-2025-11379 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 0.25.9 Patched in 0.25.11
- 2019-06-26 CVE-2019-15837 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 0.14.11 Patched in 0.14.11
- 2018-12-11 CVE-2019-15330 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory Affects < 0.14.11 Patched in 0.14.11
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
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 30 languages, 29 at 90% or more
Plus 6 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
6 of 8 pass · checked 27 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ! Says what it does Short description names no action; say what the plugin does for the site.
- ✓ Has a FAQ 14 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 12 of 14 read like questions a user would type.
- ✓ Names who it is for Names its audience or use cases ("made for", "great for").
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 6 headings and 6 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 4,587 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 3 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-01-12 400K+ → 300K+ down after 323 days in tier
- 2025-02-23 300K+ → 400K+ up after 85 days in tier
- 2024-11-30 400K+ → 300K+ down after 11 days in tier
- 2024-11-19 300K+ → 400K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2024-11-17 400K+ → 300K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2024-11-16 300K+ → 400K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2024-11-14 400K+ → 300K+ down after 5 days in tier
- 2024-11-09 300K+ → 400K+ up after 539 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).
-
Modern Image Formats 100K+ installs · 3.7★ · 3 shared tags B -
Autoptimize 800K+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A -
Cache Enabler 100K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A -
Image Placeholders 60K+ installs · 3.8★ · 2 shared tags B -
Enhanced Responsive Images 50K+ installs · 3.6★ · 2 shared tags -
Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer 30K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for WebP Express into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/webp-express" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="WebP Express — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> WebP Express: 300K+ active installs, 4.4★ (162 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/webp-express
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