At a glance
Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF
Speed up your website by using our WebP & AVIF Converter. Optimize images and serve WebP and AVIF images instead of standard formats!
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.
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | Converter for Media | ShortPixel Image Optimizer |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 4.9+ | 4.8.0+ |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.4+ |
| Tested up to WP | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Plugin age | 7 yrs | 12 yrs |
Quick Verdict
Converter for Media is the winner. It holds a 96% five-star rating and has 500K+ active installs, which is 1.67x more than ShortPixel Image Optimizer. For most WordPress users looking for a reliable image optimization plugin, Converter for Media delivers better overall satisfaction.
Feature Comparison: Converter for Media vs ShortPixel Image Optimizer
| Feature | Converter for Media | ShortPixel Image Optimizer |
|---|---|---|
| WebP conversion | Built-in converter for WebP and AVIF formats | Creates and compresses WebP and AVIF formats |
| AVIF support | Converts images to AVIF format | Creates next-gen AVIF formats |
| Image compression | Optimizes images by converting to WebP and AVIF | Compresses images and PDFs with smart optimization |
| PDF optimization | Not listed in plugin tags or features | Optimizes PDF files alongside images |
| Smart crop and resize | Not listed in plugin tags or features | Includes smart crop and resize functionality |
| Primary plugin tags | compress-images, convert-webp, image-optimization, optimize-images, webp | compress-images, convert-webp, image-optimization, optimize-images, resize |
Who Should Use Converter for Media
- Site owners who want the most trusted image optimization plugin on WordPress.org, backed by 500K+ active installs and a 96% five-star rating.
- Anyone researching how to convert images to webp in WordPress and needs a single plugin that handles both WebP and AVIF conversion without extra tools.
- Users who prioritize community satisfaction, only 2% of reviewers gave Converter for Media a one-star rating, making it a low-risk choice for the best image compression plugin WordPress has to offer.
Who Should Use ShortPixel Image Optimizer
- Site owners who need PDF optimization alongside image compression, as ShortPixel Image Optimizer handles both file types in one workflow.
- WordPress users who require smart crop and resize features built into their image optimization plugin, saving them from installing a separate image editor.
- Anyone running a media-heavy site who values the ability to compress images without losing quality, a feature cited by 86% of its reviewers who gave it five stars.
Community & Support
Converter for Media has a strong community vote of confidence: 96% of its 1088 reviews give it five stars, while only 2% give it one star. ShortPixel Image Optimizer shows a wider satisfaction gap, with 86% five-star ratings and 9% one-star ratings. The support sample for both plugins is too small to draw conclusions about thread resolution.
Verdict: Converter for Media or ShortPixel Image Optimizer for WordPress sites?
Pick Converter for Media if you want the most popular and best-rated option for image optimization. It has 1.7x more installs than ShortPixel Image Optimizer, and 96% of its users rate it five stars. It's the clear choice for anyone asking how to convert images to webp in WordPress with maximum community trust.
Pick ShortPixel Image Optimizer if you need PDF compression or smart crop and resize features that Converter for Media doesn't offer. Its 86% five-star rating still reflects a solid user base, particularly for sites that manage mixed media files.
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 Converter for Media compared to ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
Converter for Media has 500K+ active installs while ShortPixel Image Optimizer has 300K+, meaning Converter for Media is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — Converter for Media or ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
Converter for Media averages 4.9/5 from 1,088 reviews, while ShortPixel Image Optimizer averages 4.5/5 from 814 reviews — Converter for Media has the higher average rating.
Q Which is more actively maintained — Converter for Media or ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
ShortPixel Image Optimizer was last updated on Jun 4, 2026 and Converter for Media on Jun 3, 2026, so ShortPixel Image Optimizer received the more recent update.
Q Are Converter for Media and ShortPixel Image Optimizer both free?
Yes — both Converter for Media and ShortPixel Image Optimizer 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 Converter for Media or ShortPixel Image Optimizer better for WordPress sites?
For most WordPress sites, Converter for Media is better because it focuses purely on converting images to WebP and AVIF with zero configuration. ShortPixel Image Optimizer is better if you need to resize images or want more granular control over compression levels.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — Converter for Media or ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
Converter for Media is easier for a beginner because it works automatically after activation with no settings to adjust. ShortPixel Image Optimizer requires you to choose compression levels and decide whether to resize images, which adds extra steps.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between Converter for Media and ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
The biggest difference is that ShortPixel Image Optimizer includes a resize feature, while Converter for Media does not. If you need to shrink large image dimensions, ShortPixel is the only choice between these two.
Q Can you switch from Converter for Media to ShortPixel Image Optimizer (or the other way) without losing data?
You can switch between them without losing your original image files, but you will lose the WebP or AVIF copies created by the previous plugin. Both plugins store their converted files separately, so you need to clear the old plugin's cache before activating the new one.
Q Which type of site should choose Converter for Media, and which should choose ShortPixel Image Optimizer?
Choose Converter for Media if you want a set-and-forget solution that automatically serves WebP images to supporting browsers. Choose ShortPixel Image Optimizer if you need to resize product images for WooCommerce or want to manually control compression quality for each image.
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