📊 Data-Driven Comparison · Updated 2026

EWWW Image Optimizer or Plugin Check (PCP)? How to Choose the Right One

Honest Breakdown

PM
By PluginMatch Editorial
· ⏱ 3 min read
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EW
EWWW Image Optimizer

1.0M+ installs

WP.org rating 4.8/5
PL
Plugin Check (PCP)

10K+ installs

WP.org rating 4.5/5

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
Plugin B

Plugin Check (PCP)

Plugin Check is a WordPress.org tool which provides checks to help plugins meet the directory requirements and follow various best practices.

Rating
4.5/5
Active Installs 10K+
Author WordPress.org
Version v2.0.0
Last Updated May 2026

Full Comparison

Technical Specs

EWWW Image Optimizer vs Plugin Check (PCP): Key Statistics
MetricEWWW Image OptimizerPlugin Check (PCP)
Requires WP6.7+6.3+
Requires PHP7.4+7.4+
Tested up to WP7.07.0
Plugin age14 yrs15 yrs

Quick Verdict

Pick EWWW Image Optimizer if your site needs image compression. It has 100x more installs than Plugin Check (PCP) and a 90% five-star rating from 1834 reviews. Plugin Check (PCP) serves a completely different purpose, it's a compliance tool for plugin developers, not a performance plugin for site owners. For most WordPress users, EWWW Image Optimizer is the clear choice.

Feature Comparison: EWWW Image Optimizer vs Plugin Check (PCP)

Functional features of both plugins
Feature EWWW Image Optimizer Plugin Check (PCP)
Image compression Built-in lossy and lossless modes Not applicable
WebP conversion Automatic WebP output, including picture tag support Not applicable
AVIF conversion Supports converting images to AVIF format Not applicable
Lazy load Built-in lazy load for images and iframes Not applicable
Image resizing Automatic resize during upload, with dimension limits Not applicable
Plugin directory compliance checks Not applicable Scans for directory requirements, accessibility, performance, and security best practices
Testing tools Not applicable Built-in checks for plugin best practices and WordPress coding standards
Accessibility testing Not applicable Includes accessibility checks for plugin output

Who Should Use EWWW Image Optimizer

  • Site owners who want to know how to optimize images in WordPress without manual effort, the plugin processes uploads automatically, and 90% of reviewers give it 5 stars.
  • Anyone searching for a webp converter wordpress plugin that also supports AVIF, lazy load, and automatic resizing in one package.
  • Teams running WooCommerce stores who need lazy load for woocommerce product images, the lazy load feature works on any image, including gallery thumbnails.

Who Should Use Plugin Check (PCP)

  • Plugin developers preparing a submission to the WordPress.org directory, this tool checks for directory requirements and best practices before you submit.
  • Developers who need a wordpress plugin best practices checker to audit their code for security, performance, and accessibility issues before release.
  • Anyone maintaining an existing plugin who wants to check wordpress plugin for directory standards compliance, 80% of reviewers rate it 5 stars for this specific use case.

Community & Support

EWWW Image Optimizer has a strong community signal with 90% of 1834 reviews giving it 5 stars and only 4% giving it 1 star. Plugin Check (PCP) shows 80% five-star ratings and 6% one-star ratings from its smaller review base. Support thread data for both plugins is too limited to draw conclusions about response times or resolution rates.

Verdict: EWWW Image Optimizer or Plugin Check (PCP) for WordPress sites?

Pick EWWW Image Optimizer if you run a content site, blog, or store that needs faster page loads through image compression. It's the best image compression plugin wordpress users can install today, 90% of reviewers confirm its value, and it handles WebP, AVIF, lazy load, and resize images automatically wordpress tasks in one tool.

Pick Plugin Check (PCP) only if you are a developer submitting or maintaining a plugin on WordPress.org. It serves a narrow, essential role for plugin compliance but offers nothing for site performance. For the 100x larger audience of site owners, EWWW Image Optimizer is the correct choice.

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 Plugin Check (PCP)?

EWWW Image Optimizer has 1.0M+ active installs while Plugin Check (PCP) has 10K+, meaning EWWW Image Optimizer is used on more sites.

Q Which has better user ratings — EWWW Image Optimizer or Plugin Check (PCP)?

EWWW Image Optimizer averages 4.8/5 from 1,834 reviews, while Plugin Check (PCP) averages 4.5/5 from 35 reviews — EWWW Image Optimizer has the higher average rating.

Q Which is more actively maintained — EWWW Image Optimizer or Plugin Check (PCP)?

EWWW Image Optimizer was last updated on Jun 10, 2026 and Plugin Check (PCP) on May 29, 2026, so EWWW Image Optimizer received the more recent update.

Q Are EWWW Image Optimizer and Plugin Check (PCP) both free?

Yes — both EWWW Image Optimizer and Plugin Check (PCP) 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 Plugin Check (PCP) better for WordPress sites?

For most sites, EWWW Image Optimizer is better if you need to speed up your site by compressing images, converting them to WebP, and lazy loading them. Plugin Check (PCP) is better if you are a developer or site auditor who needs to test your plugins for security, performance, and accessibility issues. They solve completely different problems, so the right choice depends on whether you want to optimize media or validate your plugin code.

Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — EWWW Image Optimizer or Plugin Check (PCP)?

EWWW Image Optimizer is much easier for a beginner because it works automatically after activation, compressing and resizing images in the background without any technical knowledge. Plugin Check (PCP) requires you to understand plugin development standards and testing terminology, making it better suited for experienced developers rather than casual site owners.

Q What is the biggest feature difference between EWWW Image Optimizer and Plugin Check (PCP)?

The biggest difference is that EWWW Image Optimizer handles image compression, conversion to WebP, lazy loading, and resizing to make your site faster. Plugin Check (PCP) is a testing tool that checks plugins for security flaws, accessibility problems, and coding best practices, so it does not touch images at all.

Q Can you switch from EWWW Image Optimizer to Plugin Check (PCP) (or the other way) without losing data?

Yes, you can switch between them without losing data because they serve completely different purposes and do not share any settings or stored data. EWWW Image Optimizer keeps your optimized images in the media library, and Plugin Check (PCP) only generates temporary test reports, so deactivating one has no effect on the other.

Q Which type of site should choose EWWW Image Optimizer, and which should choose Plugin Check (PCP)?

Choose EWWW Image Optimizer for any site that displays images, especially WooCommerce stores or blogs where large photos slow down loading times. Choose Plugin Check (PCP) if you run a site with many custom-coded plugins or if you are a developer submitting plugins to the WordPress repository and need to verify they meet official guidelines.