wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “optimize jpeg”
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 “optimize jpeg”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
LWS Optimize – All-in-One Speed Booster & Cache Tools shows at wp.org #6 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 20K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.6★ average from 9 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Autoptimize places #10 on merit, 4.7★ from 1428 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #1 2 
Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF 900K+ · 4.3★ (1657)
wp.org #2 3 
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #3 4 
Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF 500K+ · 4.9★ (1106)
wp.org #4 5 
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830)
wp.org #5 6 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4229)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization 200K+ · 4.7★ (640)
wp.org #10 3 too low 8 
TinyPNG Image Optimization – Image Compression JPEG & PNG | Convert to WebP & AVIF 100K+ · 4.5★ (181)
wp.org #8 9 
EWWW Image Optimizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1842)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 Autoptimize 800K+ · 4.7★ (1428)
wp.org #14 4 too low 11 
Kraken.io Image Optimizer – Compress, Convert to WebP & AVIF, Resize & Bulk Optimize 10K+ · 4.5★ (119)
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 
Offload, AI & Optimize with Cloudflare Images 1K+ · 4.9★ (33)
wp.org #9 3 too high 13 
10Web Booster – Website speed optimization, Cache & Page Speed optimizer 60K+ · 4.6★ (405)
wp.org #20 7 too low 14 
PhastPress 10K+ · 4.9★ (99)
wp.org #17 3 too low 15 
Perfect Images: Regenerate Thumbnails, Image Sizes, WebP & AVIF 60K+ · 4.8★ (279)
wp.org #21 6 too low 16 LWS Optimize – All-in-One Speed Booster & Cache Tools 20K+ · 4.6★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #6 10 too high 17 
WebP Express 300K+ · 4.4★ (162)
wp.org #19 2 too low 18 
Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer 30K+ · 4.2★ (69)
wp.org #23 5 too low 19 
PNG to JPG 10K+ · 4.7★ (40)
wp.org #24 5 too low 20 
Compress, Resize & Lazy Load Images – WPvivid Image Optimization 10K+ · 4.3★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #18 2 too high 21 
Squeeze – Browser-Based Image Compression & WebP Converter (No API, No Limits) 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 
Image Optimizer – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF 1M+ · 1.7★ (81) host-installed base
wp.org #15 7 too high 23 
JPEG PNG Compressor 50+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #13 10 too high 24 
neo Optimize – Resize and cache images – the original remains untouched 30+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #16 8 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.