Imagify is an image compression plugin from the WP Rocket team that reduces image file sizes without visible quality loss. It compresses images automatically when you upload them to the media library, or you can run bulk optimization on existing images. The plugin offers three compression levels — normal (lossless), aggressive (lossy), and ultra (maximum compression) — and automatically converts images to WebP format for supported browsers. Unlike EWWW Image Optimizer which requires server tools for local compression, Imagify works on any hosting through its cloud-based API. The free tier includes 25 MB of image compression per month, with paid plans for higher volumes.
The plugin processes images through the Imagify API, creating optimized versions alongside the originals. WebP images are served via picture tag or URL rewriting.
Competitive Features
- Three compression levels — normal (lossless), aggressive (lossy), ultra (maximum compression)
- Automatic compression — compress images on upload with no manual steps
- Bulk optimization — optimize all existing media library images in one batch
- WebP conversion — automatic WebP generation with picture tag or URL rewriting
- Image resizing — resize large images to fit your theme’s maximum dimensions
- PDF compression — compress PDF files in the media library
- Next-gen formats — convert to WebP, AVIF, and other modern formats
Key Features
- Compression levels — choose between normal (lossless, 20% savings), aggressive (lossy, 60% savings), or ultra (high lossy, 80% savings)
- Auto-optimization — compress and resize images automatically when uploaded to the media library
- Bulk optimizer — optimize all existing images with progress tracking and pause/resume
- WebP delivery — serve WebP files to supported browsers with automatic fallback to original
- Image backup — keep original images with the option to restore originals at any time
- EXIF data — keep or remove EXIF/IPTC metadata from optimized images
- Scheduled optimization — automatically optimize new images on a schedule
Comparison with Competitors
Imagify vs ShortPixel
| Aspect | Imagify | ShortPixel |
|---|---|---|
| Compression levels | 3 (normal/aggressive/ultra) | 3 (lossy/glossy/lossless) |
| WebP conversion | Yes | Yes |
| AVIF conversion | No | Yes |
| Image backup | Yes | Yes |
| API-based | Yes | Yes |
Bottom line: ShortPixel offers more free compression (100 images vs 25 MB). Imagify has a cleaner interface and comes from the WP Rocket team. Both are excellent for server compatibility.
Recommended Stack: Imagify handles image compression. For overall site speed, pair it with WP Rocket — both from the same developer, making them perfectly compatible.
Official Changelog
Version 2.3.4
Release Date: September 7, 2026
- Fix: Optimization no longer stops when a next-gen destination path is unavailable.
- Fix: The “Settings saved” notice is back on multisite when Imagify is network-activated.
- Fix: Failing to reach the MCP OAuth discovery documents is no longer reported as a critical issue in Site Health.
- Enhancement: Updated the WP Rocket banner copy on the bulk optimization page.
Version 2.3.3
Release Date: August 19, 2026
- New: MCP media abilities now accept a filename or media URL, not just an attachment ID.
- Enhancement: Respect WordPress 7.1’s resize opt-out on client-side uploads to avoid double scaling.
- Fix: Thumbnails from WordPress 7.1 client-side uploads are now optimized instead of skipped.
- Fix: Companion files recorded by WordPress 7.1 are kept when regenerating or restoring a media.
- Fix: The Media Library rating banner is readable again.
Version 2.3.2
Release Date: August 18, 2026
- New: Added a Missing Next-Gen filter to the Media Library.
- New: Added a manual stop button for bulk optimization.
- Enhancement: Prioritize newly uploaded and manually optimized images in bulk jobs.
- Enhancement: Chunk large database queries to avoid timeouts on restrictive hosts.
- Fix: The Next-Gen generation progress bar is visible again.
- Fix: The Next-Gen progress bar no longer shows a negative count.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Imagify free?
Imagify offers a free tier with 25 MB of image compression per month. Paid plans start at $4.99/month for 5 GB, with higher tiers for larger volumes.
What compression level should I use?
Normal (lossless) is recommended for most sites — no visible quality loss with 20% file size reduction. Aggressive (60% reduction) works well for most images. Ultra (80% reduction) is best for large background images where slight quality loss is acceptable.
Does Imagify support WebP?
Yes. Imagify automatically generates WebP versions of your images and serves them to supported browsers using picture tags or URL rewriting. Fallback to the original format is automatic.
Can I restore original images?
Yes. Imagify keeps a backup of all original images. You can restore any image to its original state from the media library or run a bulk restore for all images.
Does Imagify work on any hosting?
Yes. Imagify uses a cloud-based API for image processing, so it works on any hosting without requiring server tools or specific PHP extensions. This is its main advantage over plugins like EWWW Image Optimizer.
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