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.
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.
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | ShortPixel Image Optimizer | Plugin Check (PCP) |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 4.8.0+ | 6.3+ |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.4+ |
| Tested up to WP | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Plugin age | 12 yrs | 15 yrs |
Quick Verdict
ShortPixel Image Optimizer is the clear winner for most WordPress users. It has 30x more installs than Plugin Check (PCP), and 86% of its 814 reviews are 5-star. ShortPixel Image Optimizer solves a real, daily problem: how to compress images in WordPress without losing quality. Plugin Check (PCP) serves a narrow audience of plugin developers, not site owners looking to improve speed.
Feature Comparison: ShortPixel Image Optimizer vs Plugin Check (PCP)
| Feature | ShortPixel Image Optimizer | Plugin Check (PCP) |
|---|---|---|
| Image compression | Smart compression with lossy, glossy, and lossless modes | Not a feature |
| WebP conversion | Creates and compresses WebP and AVIF formats automatically | Not a feature |
| PDF optimization | Optimizes PDF files alongside images | Not a feature |
| Smart crop and resize | Built-in crop and resize tools | Not a feature |
| Plugin directory compliance checks | Not a feature | Checks plugins against WordPress.org directory requirements |
| Best practices auditing | Not a feature | Audits for performance, security, and accessibility best practices |
| Accessibility testing | Not a feature | Includes accessibility checks for plugin code |
| Primary user role | Site owners, content editors, WooCommerce store managers | Plugin developers submitting to WordPress.org |
Who Should Use ShortPixel Image Optimizer
- Site owners who need to convert images to WebP in WordPress automatically. ShortPixel Image Optimizer handles this on upload or in bulk, trusted by over 300K+ active installs.
- Teams running a WooCommerce store who want WebP images for WooCommerce store speed. The plugin compresses product images without visible quality loss, backed by an 86% 5-star rating.
- Anyone searching for the best image optimization plugin WordPress offers. ShortPixel Image Optimizer provides three compression levels and PDF optimization in one tool.
Who Should Use Plugin Check (PCP)
- Developers preparing a plugin for WordPress.org submission. Plugin Check (PCP) automates checking against directory requirements, saving hours of manual review.
- Plugin authors who need a WordPress plugin best practices checker. The tool audits for security, performance, and accessibility issues before release.
- Teams that want to check WordPress plugin for directory standards without reading the full guidelines. Plugin Check (PCP) runs these checks with one click.
Community & Support
ShortPixel Image Optimizer has 86% of its 814 reviews at 5 stars, with only 9% at 1 star. Plugin Check (PCP) shows 80% 5-star ratings and 6% 1-star ratings from its 35 reviews. Both plugins had very few support threads in the last two months, making it impossible to draw meaningful conclusions about response times or resolution rates.
Verdict: ShortPixel Image Optimizer or Plugin Check (PCP) for WordPress sites?
Pick ShortPixel Image Optimizer if you run a content site, blog, or online store. It solves the immediate need to optimize images for WordPress speed with 30x more installs than Plugin Check (PCP) and a 86% 5-star approval rate. It handles image compression, WebP conversion, and resizing in one plugin.
Pick Plugin Check (PCP) only if you are a developer submitting plugins to WordPress.org. It is a niche auditing tool, not a performance plugin for end users. For the 99% of WordPress site owners who just want to resize images before upload WordPress or boost page speed, ShortPixel Image Optimizer is the practical choice.
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 Plugin Check (PCP)?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer has 300K+ active installs while Plugin Check (PCP) has 10K+, meaning ShortPixel Image Optimizer is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — ShortPixel Image Optimizer or Plugin Check (PCP)?
Both plugins average 4.5/5 on WordPress.org — ShortPixel Image Optimizer from 814 reviews and Plugin Check (PCP) from 35 reviews.
Q Which is more actively maintained — ShortPixel Image Optimizer or Plugin Check (PCP)?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer was last updated on Jun 4, 2026 and Plugin Check (PCP) on May 29, 2026, so ShortPixel Image Optimizer received the more recent update.
Q Are ShortPixel Image Optimizer and Plugin Check (PCP) both free?
Yes — both ShortPixel 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 ShortPixel Image Optimizer or Plugin Check (PCP) better for WordPress sites?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer is better if your main goal is to speed up your site by compressing images and converting them to WebP. Plugin Check (PCP) is better if you need to test your own plugin for security, performance, and accessibility issues before releasing it. They solve completely different problems, so the right choice depends entirely on whether you are optimizing media or auditing code.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — ShortPixel Image Optimizer or Plugin Check (PCP)?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer is much easier for a beginner because it works automatically after activation, compressing and resizing images as you upload them. Plugin Check (PCP) requires you to have a plugin to test and understand technical reports about code standards and security. Most beginners will find ShortPixel ready to use in under a minute with no configuration needed.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between ShortPixel Image Optimizer and Plugin Check (PCP)?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer focuses on compressing images, converting to WebP, and resizing files to reduce page load times. Plugin Check (PCP) is a testing tool that checks plugins for accessibility, performance, security, and coding best practices. One optimizes your media, the other audits your code, so they serve entirely different purposes.
Q Can you switch from ShortPixel Image Optimizer to Plugin Check (PCP) (or the other way) without losing data?
Yes, you can switch between them without losing data because they work on completely separate parts of your site. ShortPixel Image Optimizer modifies your media library files, and those optimized images remain on your server even if you deactivate the plugin. Plugin Check (PCP) only runs tests on your plugins and does not store any permanent data that affects your site.
Q Which type of site should choose ShortPixel Image Optimizer, and which should choose Plugin Check (PCP)?
Choose ShortPixel Image Optimizer if you run any site that uploads images, especially WooCommerce stores or blogs where large photos slow down page speed. Choose Plugin Check (PCP) only if you are a developer or site owner who needs to test a custom plugin for security flaws or accessibility problems before using it on a live site. For a typical content site or online store, ShortPixel is the practical choice.
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