At a glance
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF
Optimize images & PDFs smartly. Create and compress next-gen WebP and AVIF formats. Smart crop and resize.
AF Companion – Starter Sites, Speed Booster & Growth Suite for Professional Publishing
One-Click Starter Sites, Performance Optimization, and Publisher Growth Tools
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | ShortPixel Image Optimizer | AF Companion |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 4.8.0+ | 5.0+ |
| Tested up to WP | 7.0 | 7.0.1 |
| Plugin age | 12 yrs | 5 yrs |
Quick Verdict
AF Companion wins this comparison for WordPress site owners who want more than just image optimization. Its 94% five-star rating from 34 reviews signals exceptional user satisfaction across starter sites, speed tools, and publisher growth features. ShortPixel Image Optimizer remains the specialist choice for pure image compression, but AF Companion delivers a broader, better-rated toolkit for building and speeding up a professional site.
Feature Comparison: ShortPixel Image Optimizer vs AF Companion
| Feature | ShortPixel Image Optimizer | AF Companion |
|---|---|---|
| Image compression & optimization | Yes, with smart compression algorithms | No, focuses on overall site performance optimization |
| WebP & AVIF conversion | Yes, creates and compresses WebP and AVIF formats | No |
| Smart crop and resize | Yes, includes crop and resize tools | No |
| PDF optimization | Yes, optimizes PDF files | No |
| One-click starter sites | No | Yes, import demo content and starter sites |
| Performance optimization suite | No | Yes, includes speed booster tools |
| Publisher growth tools | No | Yes, designed for magazine and news publishers |
| SEO tools | No | Yes, included in growth suite |
Who Should Use ShortPixel Image Optimizer
- Site owners focused on image-heavy content who need a dedicated image compression plugin that handles WebP and AVIF conversion automatically, trusted by 300K+ active installs.
- Teams running WooCommerce stores who want to convert images to webp in wordpress for faster product page loads, 86% of reviewers give it 5 stars for reliability.
- Anyone asking "how to compress images in wordpress without losing quality" and wanting smart crop and resize options built into one plugin.
Who Should Use AF Companion
- Publishers launching a magazine or news site who need a one click demo import wordpress magazine solution, backed by a 94% five-star rating from 34 reviews.
- Site owners who want a demo import plugin that also includes performance optimization and growth tools in a single package, eliminating the need for multiple plugins.
- Users building a site from scratch who prefer starter sites wordpress with pre-built layouts, combined with SEO and speed features out of the box.
Community & Support
ShortPixel Image Optimizer has 86% five-star reviews and 9% one-star reviews from 814 total ratings. AF Companion earns 94% five-star reviews and only 3% one-star reviews from 34 ratings, showing stronger overall user approval. Support thread samples for both plugins were too small to draw conclusions about response times or resolution rates.
Verdict: ShortPixel Image Optimizer or AF Companion for WordPress sites?
Pick ShortPixel Image Optimizer if your primary need is a specialist image compression plugin that converts images to webp in wordpress and optimizes PDFs. It has 30x more installs than AF Companion and remains the best image optimization plugin wordpress for users who only need image tools.
Pick AF Companion if you want an all-in-one solution for building and optimizing a professional publishing site. Its 94% five-star rating and 3% one-star rate from 34 reviews show it delivers on starter sites, speed, and growth features. For most intermediate WordPress users building a magazine or news site, AF Companion offers better value and higher satisfaction.
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 methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Q How many people use ShortPixel Image Optimizer compared to AF Companion?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer has 300K+ active installs while AF Companion has 10K+, meaning ShortPixel Image Optimizer is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — ShortPixel Image Optimizer or AF Companion?
AF Companion averages 4.9/5 from 34 reviews, while ShortPixel Image Optimizer averages 4.5/5 from 814 reviews — AF Companion has the higher average rating.
Q Which is more actively maintained — ShortPixel Image Optimizer or AF Companion?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer was last updated on Jun 4, 2026 and AF Companion on May 26, 2026, so ShortPixel Image Optimizer received the more recent update.
Q Are ShortPixel Image Optimizer and AF Companion both free?
Yes — both ShortPixel 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 ShortPixel Image Optimizer or AF Companion better for WordPress sites?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer is better if your main goal is image compression, WebP conversion, and resizing. AF Companion is better for importing demo content and magazine or news layouts. For pure image optimization, ShortPixel is the clear winner.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — ShortPixel Image Optimizer or AF Companion?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer is easier for a beginner because it works automatically after activation. You can set it to compress images on upload without touching any settings. AF Companion requires you to import demo content and configure theme options.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between ShortPixel Image Optimizer and AF Companion?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer focuses entirely on compressing images, converting to WebP, and resizing files. AF Companion is built for demo imports and magazine or news site features. They serve completely different purposes with no overlap.
Q Can you switch from ShortPixel Image Optimizer to AF Companion (or the other way) without losing data?
You can switch between them without losing your existing content or images. ShortPixel only modifies image files, and AF Companion only handles demo imports and theme settings. Your media library and posts will remain intact.
Q Which type of site should choose ShortPixel Image Optimizer, and which should choose AF Companion?
Choose ShortPixel Image Optimizer for any site that needs faster loading images, especially WooCommerce stores or image-heavy blogs. Choose AF Companion if you are building a magazine or news site and want one-click demo imports. Most users will get more value from ShortPixel for performance.
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