EWWW Image Optimizer vs AF Companion

At a glance

Plugin A

EWWW Image Optimizer

Comprehensive image optimization with WebP, AVIF, Lazy Load, and more. Optimize images automatically for Faster Sites and Happy Visitors.

Rating

4.8/5

Active Installs 1.0M+

Author Shane Bishop

Version v8.7.2

Last Updated Jun 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Plugin B

AF Companion – Starter Sites, Speed Booster & Growth Suite for Professional Publishing

One-Click Starter Sites, Performance Optimization, and Publisher Growth Tools

Rating

4.9/5

Active Installs 10K+

Author AF themes

Version v2.1.1

Last Updated May 2026

Source WordPress.org ↗

Full Comparison

📊 Data-Driven Review

Technical Specs

EWWW Image Optimizer vs AF Companion: Key Statistics
Metric	EWWW Image Optimizer	AF Companion
Requires WP	6.7+	5.0+
Tested up to WP	7.0	7.0.1
Plugin age	14 yrs	5 yrs

Quick Verdict

AF Companion wins this comparison based on WordPress.org data. It holds a 94% five-star rating from its user base, compared to 90% for EWWW Image Optimizer. For most WordPress site owners, AF Companion delivers a broader set of tools that cover starter sites, performance tweaks, and growth features in one package. EWWW Image Optimizer remains a strong specialist for image compression, but AF Companion offers more value for the average publisher.

Feature Comparison: EWWW Image Optimizer vs AF Companion

Functional feature comparison between EWWW Image Optimizer and AF Companion
Feature	EWWW Image Optimizer	AF Companion
Image compression	Built-in, with automatic optimization on upload	Included as part of performance optimization suite
WebP conversion	Yes, with automatic WebP delivery	Included via performance tools
AVIF support	Yes, convert images to AVIF format	Not listed as a standalone feature
Lazy load	Yes, lazy load images WordPress plugin functionality built in	Included as part of speed booster
Starter sites	Not available	One-click starter sites with demo import plugin
Image resizing	Yes, resize images automatically WordPress	Not listed as a standalone feature
SEO tools	Not available	Part of publisher growth suite
Demo content import	Not available	Yes, how to import demo content in WordPress functionality included

Who Should Use EWWW Image Optimizer

Site owners focused on image compression WordPress tasks who want a dedicated tool with 100x more installs than AF Companion, giving them a proven track record.
Teams that need AVIF conversion built in, as EWWW Image Optimizer supports convert images to AVIF WordPress without extra plugins.
Developers running WooCommerce stores who require lazy load for WooCommerce product images, a feature that's part of the plugin's lazy load system.

Who Should Use AF Companion

Publishers launching a magazine or news site who need one click demo import WordPress magazine starter sites, saving hours of setup time.
Site owners who want a WordPress performance optimization plugin that also includes starter site imports and SEO growth tools in a single package.
Users who value high satisfaction ratings, as 94% of reviewers give AF Companion 5 stars, indicating strong real-world results.

Community & Support

EWWW Image Optimizer holds a 90% five-star rating from its reviewer base, with only 4% one-star ratings. AF Companion edges ahead with 94% five-star ratings and just 3% one-star ratings. Support thread data for both plugins is based on sample sizes too small to draw conclusions from, so neither plugin shows a clear support advantage from the available statistics.

Verdict: EWWW Image Optimizer or AF Companion for WordPress sites?

Pick EWWW Image Optimizer if your primary need is specialized image handling. It's the best image compression plugin WordPress users can install for dedicated WebP and AVIF conversion, plus automatic resizing. Its 90% five-star rating and vast install base show it delivers on that promise.

Pick AF Companion if you want more than image optimization. It combines starter sites, performance boosts, and publisher tools in one plugin. With 94% of reviewers giving it 5 stars, it's the data-driven winner for site owners who value a complete solution over a single-purpose tool.

How this comparison was made

This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Q How many people use EWWW Image Optimizer compared to AF Companion?

EWWW Image Optimizer has 1.0M+ active installs while AF Companion has 10K+, meaning EWWW Image Optimizer is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — EWWW Image Optimizer or AF Companion?

AF Companion averages 4.9/5 from 34 reviews, while EWWW Image Optimizer averages 4.8/5 from 1,834 reviews — AF Companion has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — EWWW Image Optimizer or AF Companion?

EWWW Image Optimizer was last updated on Jun 10, 2026 and AF Companion on May 26, 2026, so EWWW Image Optimizer received the more recent update.

Q Are EWWW Image Optimizer and AF Companion both free?

Yes — both EWWW Image Optimizer and AF Companion are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.

Q Is EWWW Image Optimizer or AF Companion better for WordPress sites?

For most sites, EWWW Image Optimizer is the better choice because it directly solves a universal problem: slow load times from unoptimized images. AF Companion is a niche tool built specifically for magazine and news themes, so it only helps if you use that exact theme. If you need to compress, convert to WebP, or lazy load images, EWWW Image Optimizer is the clear winner.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — EWWW Image Optimizer or AF Companion?

EWWW Image Optimizer is easier for a beginner because it works immediately after activation with default settings that automatically compress new images. AF Companion requires you to already have a compatible theme installed and is primarily used for importing demo content, which adds extra steps. Most beginners will find EWWW Image Optimizer more straightforward.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between EWWW Image Optimizer and AF Companion?

The biggest difference is that EWWW Image Optimizer focuses entirely on image performance with compression, lazy loading, and WebP conversion, while AF Companion is a theme-specific utility for importing demo content for magazine and news layouts. They solve completely different problems and do not overlap in functionality.

Q Can you switch from EWWW Image Optimizer to AF Companion (or the other way) without losing data?

Yes, you can switch between them without losing your existing images or content because they operate on completely separate parts of WordPress. EWWW Image Optimizer only modifies image files and leaves your posts and pages untouched, while AF Companion only imports theme demo data. Deactivating one does not affect the other's work.

Q Which type of site should choose EWWW Image Optimizer, and which should choose AF Companion?

Choose EWWW Image Optimizer for any site that needs faster loading images, especially WooCommerce stores or blogs with lots of photos. Choose AF Companion only if you are building a magazine or news site using a theme that specifically requires it for demo content import. For a general WordPress site, EWWW Image Optimizer is the practical choice.