wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “disable image compression”

wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →

For “disable image compression”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20.

wp.org search ranks on

Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.

We add

A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Raina Image Compression shows at wp.org #7 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization places #8 on merit, 4.7★ from 640 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN 1M+ · 4.8★ (6053) wp.org #1 2

EWWW Image Optimizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1843) wp.org #2 3

ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830) wp.org #3 4

WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617) wp.org #4 5

WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4229) wp.org #6 1 too low 6

Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF 900K+ · 4.3★ (1657) wp.org #5 1 too high 7

TinyPNG Image Optimization – Image Compression JPEG & PNG | Convert to WebP & AVIF 100K+ · 4.5★ (181) wp.org #8 1 too low 8

Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization 200K+ · 4.7★ (640) wp.org #13 5 too low 9

Perfect Images: Regenerate Thumbnails, Image Sizes, WebP & AVIF 60K+ · 4.8★ (279) wp.org #12 3 too low 10

Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641) wp.org #9 1 too high 11

LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778) wp.org #16 5 too low 12

WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346) wp.org #14 2 too low 13

ThumbPress – Compress Images, Manage Thumbnails, Detect Image Issues, WebP/AVIF, Lazy Loading, Hotlinking & More 20K+ · 3.7★ (117) wp.org #10 3 too high 14

Cimo – Free Instant Image Optimizer & WebP Converter 10K+ · 4.9★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #11 3 too high 15

Smart Image Resize for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.6★ (82) wp.org #21 6 too low 16

WP Compress – Instant Performance & Speed Optimization 9K+ · 4.5★ (155) wp.org #24 8 too low 17

Featherweight 10K+ · 4.1★ (45) wp.org #18 1 too low 18

WP SVG Images 30K+ · 5.0★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #15 3 too high 19

ImageRecycle pdf & image compression 1K+ · 4.5★ (26) wp.org #19 20

Squeeze – Browser-Based Image Compression & WebP Converter (No API, No Limits) 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #17 3 too high 21

Raina Image Compression 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #7 14 too high 22

WPSSO Tune WP Image Editors 800+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #20 2 too high 23

Image Quality Control | Still BE 400+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #22 1 too high 24

CodingBunny Image Optimizer 600+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #23 1 too high

Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.