How does ShortPixel compare to other image optimisation plugins (e.g Smush, Imagify, TinyPNG, Kraken, EWWW, Optimole)?
ShortPixel consistently has better compression rates along with more features, backup support and has very affordable one-time or monthly plans. Here are a couple of independent reviews: AuthorityHacker – “ShortPixel is our tool of choice, simply because it’s pretty much automated – we just let it do its thing.” ( read full review ) WP Modula – “One of the reasons I’m personally a huge fan of ShortPixel is the built-in support for next-gen image formats like WebP.” ( read full review )
Can I use the same API Key on multiple web sites?
Yes, you can. As long as you have available credits, you can use a single API Key on as many websites as you wish!
What plan is better for me? What do you recommend?
Everyone has different needs, but generally, we recommend getting a One-Time plan to optimize your whole Media Library and then get a Monthly plan to optimize your future uploads. To learn more, have a look at this comparison
How many thumbnails do I have, and which plan should I choose?
To know how many thumbnails you have, just install the plugin and go to Media > Bulk ShortPixel. The plugin will tell you how many thumbnails you’ve got. Based on this, have a look at our plans
Can I upgrade/downgrade easily my plan?
Of course. You can upgrade or downgrade your plans in a couple of clicks from your account on shortpixel.com.
Can I test/use the plugin for free?
Yes, you can. We offer 100 free image optimization credits each month. Exceeding the monthly free quota will pause the optimization process till the quota is reset or extended by buying one of our plans.
Can I optimize images that aren’t in Media Library?
Absolutely. You can actually optimize any image you have on your site regardless of its place. You just need to add – in the Advanced section of the ShortPixel Settings – the folders where the images you want to optimize are located and ShortPixel will work its magic and do the rest.
Can I optimize images that are both past and new?
Sure! You can optimize all your past/current images and photos using our “Bulk ShortPixel” page in your Media with a single click.
A credit = an optimized image?
Yes, that is correct. But please note that usually, an image in Media Library has 5 or more associated thumbs. Each optimized thumbnail requires a credit. In the rare cases when ShortPixel does not optimise the image (lossy) with at least 5%, the credit will not be consumed, though.
Can I restore my images? What happens with the originals?
If you choose the “Image backup” option in Settings/ShortPixel then the original version of any optimized image or PDF will be saved in the backup folder. The original image is needed if you want to restore an image or if you want to convert an image from lossy/glossy to lossless or vice-versa.
What types of formats can be optimized?
ShortPixel optimises JPEG (JPG, JPEG, JPEG 2000, JPEG XR), PNG, GIF (animated and still), and PDF type of files.
Do you have one-time plans?
Yes we do. The credits that come with our one-time plans never expire. Yummy! 🙂
What happens to my existing images?
Your existing images are replaced with the optimized ones. If you choose the backup option then the originals will be saved in a separate folder so you can restore them should you ever need/want to do that.
How does the plugin work?
Our lightweight plugin sends the original images to our Image Optimization Cloud where they are compressed. ShortPixel then downloads the optimized images and the unoptimized originals are replaced with the optimised versions.
Do you optimize images in the cloud?
Yes, all the images processed by ShortPixel are optimized in the Cloud. This takes the load off of your server and allows us to produce the best results.
What payment methods are accepted?
We accept payments via card (Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB, UnionPay), PayPal, and Apple Pay.
How do I activate the API key on a multisite?
You have to activate the plugin in the network admin and then activate it manually on each individual site in the multisite. Once you have done that, the Settings menu appears and you can add the API key for each individual site. As an alternative, you can edit wp-config.php and add this line:
define('SHORTPIXEL_API_KEY', 'APIKEY');
where APIKEY is the API Key received upon sign up. If configured that way, the API key will be used for all the sites of the multisite but will only be visible on the main site’s Settings page, being hidden for the rest of the sites.
I am not the only one working on the WordPress Dashboard. How can I hide my API key?
There is a simple way to hide the API key, all you need to do is to add these two lines in your wp-config.php:
define('SHORTPIXEL_API_KEY', '<<your api key here>>'); define('SHORTPIXEL_HIDE_API_KEY', true); How much is a credit?
A credit is used each time ShortPixel optimizes an image or thumbnail by at least 5%. If we’re not able to optimize an image or thumbnail by at least 5% then no credit will be used 🙂 Please also note that usually images in your Media Library have 3-5 thumbs associated and a credit will be used for each featured image or associated thumbnail that is optimized.
Why shall I use a WordPress plugin and not an offline tool?
Because ShortPixel algorithms were perfected while optimizing over 3.5 billion real-life images. ShortPixel not only offers the best compression for JPEG, PNG, GIF, and PDF files but it also saves you a lot of time. You just install it on your site and then ShortPixel will take care that all the images on your site are immediately optimized after upload.
Does optimizing images affect my ALT tags?
Image compression does not change your ALT text. If you enable AI Image SEO, ShortPixel can also generate image metadata according to your selected settings.
If I stop using ShortPixel will my images remain optimized?
Absolutely! Once optimized, the images will remain optimized unless you explicitly choose to restore them. But why would you do that? 🙂
Do I have to pay monthly or one time?
We have both options available. One-time credits never expire and are a bit more expensive. Check out our prices here
When can I cancel a monthly plan?
Whenever you want. The credits you still have available for the current billing period will still be available until the end of the billing period. At the end of it, you won’t be billed again and the plan will be reset to the free plan.
When do credits expire?
Monthly credits expire after 30 days while one-time credits never expire.
Do you have an API?
Yes, we have several APIs and tools. You can learn more about it here: https://shortpixel.com/api-tools
Can I use the ShortPixel WP plugin on a localhost installation?
Unfortunately not 🙁 But you can use either our command line tool or our web tool https://shortpixel.com/web-tool-docs https://shortpixel.com/cli-docs
How does resizing work?
If you choose the option to resize images on your site, then the featured image can be resized to a predefined size while keeping its aspect and proportions intact. The associated thumbs won’t be resized. Using this option you can safely upload original images safely without needing to apply any pre-processing to make them smaller.
Will ShortPixel work if my website is using CloudFlare?
Absolutely! Sometimes you’ll need to make sure you whitelist some IPs, just contact us and we’ll assist you with that.
Where do I report security bugs found in this plugin?
Please report security bugs found in the source code of the ShortPixel Image Optimizer plugin through the Patchstack Vulnerability Disclosure Program . The Patchstack team will assist you with verification, CVE assignment, and notify the developers of this plugin.
Does the plugin use any external services
This plugin integrates with Chatbase ( https://www.chatbase.co ) to provide AI-powered chat support directly within the plugin interface. This integration allows plugin users to ask questions and receive automated assistance. The only data collected is the Country(no city and no exact location) and the message itself.
Chatbase ToS .
I’m stuck. What do I do?
The ShortPixel team is here to help. Contact us !
How do I compress images without losing quality in WordPress?
Select Lossless compression in ShortPixel’s settings to reduce file sizes without changing image quality. You can apply it to existing images in bulk and automatically compress new uploads. The reduction in file size depends on the original image.
What is image optimization?
Image optimization is reducing the file size of images without compromising their quality, to improve website performance. This can be done using tools like ShortPixel, which compresses images, converts them to more efficient formats like WebP, and ensures they are properly sized for faster loading times. Optimized images help improve website speed, enhance user experience, and boost SEO rankings by reducing page load time and bandwidth usage.
How to optimize a WordPress image?
Install ShortPixel, connect your API key, and choose your compression settings. Run Bulk ShortPixel to optimize existing images, or enable automatic optimization for new uploads. You can also generate WebP and AVIF versions and resize large images.
How do I optimize images for SEO?
To SEO optimize images in wordpress, use the ShortPixel plugin to compress and convert them without losing quality, reducing load times—a key SEO factor. Add descriptive file names and alt text with relevant keywords to help search engines understand your images. Additionally, resize images to appropriate dimensions and consider converting them to WebP for faster performance. ShortPixel makes this entire process easy, helping improve both your SEO rankings and site speed.
How do you optimize images for performance?
To optimize images for performance in WordPress, use the ShortPixel plugin to compress images without sacrificing quality, reducing file sizes for faster load times. Conv
