wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “image size”
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 size”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 2 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 #6 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 16 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 #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 1106 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Variation Swatches for WooCommerce – Color, Image & Size Swatches 200K+ · 4.6★ (51)
wp.org #1 2 
Simple Image Sizes 60K+ · 4.6★ (91)
wp.org #2 3 
Perfect Images: Regenerate Thumbnails, Image Sizes, WebP & AVIF 60K+ · 4.8★ (279)
wp.org #3 4 
EWWW Image Optimizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1842)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 
Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN 1M+ · 4.8★ (6053)
wp.org #10 ↑3 4 too low 7 
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830)
wp.org #9 ↓1 2 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 #13 ↑2 4 too low 10 
Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF 900K+ · 4.3★ (1656)
wp.org #14 ↓2 4 too low 11 
Featured Image from URL (FIFU) 60K+ · 4.6★ (264)
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF 500K+ · 4.9★ (1106)
wp.org #23 ↓6 11 too low 13 
Better image sizes 2K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #4 ↑1 9 too high 14 
Robin Image Optimizer – Unlimited Image Optimization, WebP & AVIF 100K+ · 4.4★ (131)
wp.org #17 ↓1 3 too low 15 
EasyMedia – Increase Media Upload File Size | Role-Based Upload Limit | Increase Execution Time 70K+ · 4.9★ (99)
wp.org #19 ↑1 4 too low 16 
Robo Gallery – Photo & Image Slider 40K+ · 4.3★ (406)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
WP Image Zoom 10K+ · 4.3★ (119)
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
Image Regenerate & Select Crop 7K+ · 4.7★ (58)
wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too low 19 
ThumbPress – Compress Images, Manage Thumbnails, Detect Image Issues, WebP/AVIF, Lazy Loading, Hotlinking & More 20K+ · 3.7★ (117)
wp.org #18 1 too high 20 
Disable Media Sizes 10K+ · 5.0★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #21 1 too low 21 
Media Library File Size 6K+ · 4.6★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 9 too high 22 Image Optimizer – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF 1M+ · 1.7★ (81) host-installed base
wp.org #6 ↑1 16 too high 23 A Advanced Custom Fields: Image Size Select Field 300+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 8 too high 24 
Image Prioritizer 40K+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓2 13 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.