wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “image quality”
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 quality”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 3 plugins are 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 #23 on merit, a gap of 18 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
Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 640 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN 1M+ · 4.8★ (6053)
wp.org #1 ↑3 2 
EWWW Image Optimizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1842)
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF 900K+ · 4.3★ (1656)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830)
wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too low 5 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #10 ↓1 5 too low 6 
Robin Image Optimizer – Unlimited Image Optimization, WebP & AVIF 100K+ · 4.4★ (131)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF 500K+ · 4.9★ (1106)
wp.org #11 ↓3 4 too low 8 
Image Watermark 40K+ · 4.2★ (298)
wp.org #8 ↑2 9 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #12 ↑2 3 too low 10 
reSmush.it : The original free image compressor and optimizer plugin 100K+ · 4.3★ (166)
wp.org #9 ↑2 1 too high 11 Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization 200K+ · 4.7★ (640)
wp.org #18 ↑1 7 too low 12 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #14 ↑4 2 too low 13 
Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #23 10 too low 14 
Image Quality Control | Still BE 400+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #3 ↓1 11 too high 15 
Image Alt Text 10K+ · 5.0★ (56)
wp.org #15 ↑2 16 
Robo Gallery – Photo & Image Slider 40K+ · 4.3★ (406)
wp.org #20 4 too low 17 
Ultimate Responsive Image Slider 30K+ · 4.5★ (248)
wp.org #21 4 too low 18 
Image Widget 100K+ · 4.9★ (287)
wp.org #24 6 too low 19 
ThumbPress – Compress Images, Manage Thumbnails, Detect Image Issues, WebP/AVIF, Lazy Loading, Hotlinking & More 20K+ · 3.7★ (117)
wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20 
Resize Image After Upload 80K+ · 4.8★ (56)
wp.org #22 ↓1 2 too low 21 
Cimo – Free Instant Image Optimizer & WebP Converter 10K+ · 4.9★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓4 4 too high 22 
Manual Image Crop 7K+ · 4.1★ (56) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↑1 3 too high 23 Image Optimizer – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF 1M+ · 1.7★ (81) host-installed base low rating, top placement
wp.org #5 18 too high 24 
Image Prioritizer 40K+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 11 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.