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

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 “image optimizer”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 1 plugin is pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.

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 it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Image Optimizer – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF shows at wp.org #5 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 1M+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.7★ average from 81 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF places #7 on merit, 4.9★ from 1106 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 wp.org
1 EWWW Image Optimizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1842) wp.org #1 2 Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN 1M+ · 4.8★ (6053) wp.org #2 ↑1 3 ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830) wp.org #3 ↓1 4 Robin Image Optimizer – Unlimited Image Optimization, WebP & AVIF 100K+ · 4.4★ (131) wp.org #4 5 reSmush.it : The original free image compressor and optimizer plugin 100K+ · 4.3★ (166) wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too low 6 Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF 900K+ · 4.3★ (1656) wp.org #8 2 too low 7 Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF 500K+ · 4.9★ (1106) wp.org #13 ↓2 6 too low 8 Kraken.io Image Optimizer – Compress, Convert to WebP & AVIF, Resize & Bulk Optimize 10K+ · 4.5★ (119) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641) wp.org #9 10 Cimo – Free Instant Image Optimizer & WebP Converter 10K+ · 4.9★ (20) wp.org #7 ↓1 3 too high 11 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) wp.org #12 ↑2 1 too low 12 LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778) wp.org #18 ↓2 6 too low 13 10Web Booster – Website speed optimization, Cache & Page Speed optimizer 60K+ · 4.6★ (405) wp.org #20 ↑1 7 too low 14 Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616) wp.org #23 9 too low 15 Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer 30K+ · 4.2★ (69) wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too high 16 Resize Image After Upload 80K+ · 4.8★ (56) wp.org #16 ↑2 17 QuickWebP – WebP & AVIF Image Optimizer, Compression & SEO for WordPress 8K+ · 4.8★ (20) wp.org #19 ↑3 2 too low 18 WP SVG Images 30K+ · 5.0★ (13) wp.org #22 ↑1 4 too low 19 Image Optimizer – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF 1M+ · 1.7★ (81) wp.org #5 14 too high 20 Pixellize Image Optimizer 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #17 ↑2 3 too high 21 Toolszu Image Optimizer 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #15 6 too high 22 CodingBunny Image Optimizer 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 ↑1 11 too high 23 Embed Optimizer 50K+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too high 24 S3 Image Optimizer 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 ↓7

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.