Compress images with ShortPixel before offloading to cloud storage
ShortPixel compresses your images using lossy, glossy, or lossless algorithms and converts them to WebP or AVIF. WP Media Cloud then offloads the optimised files to your cloud storage provider. Free plan included. Unlimited plan from $9.99/month.
Three compression algorithms. WebP and AVIF. All in the free plugin.
ShortPixel compresses images using its cloud API, which means the work happens on ShortPixel's servers rather than yours. Your hosting resources are not affected regardless of how many images you optimise.
Three compression modes
Lossy compression gives the smallest possible file sizes and is the right choice for most sites. Glossy is ShortPixel's middle setting, offering strong compression while preserving more fine detail, making it well suited for photographer portfolios. Lossless keeps every pixel identical to the original and is the largest of the three.
Automatic WebP and AVIF conversion
ShortPixel creates WebP and AVIF versions of every image alongside the original. The plugin serves the modern format to browsers that support it and falls back to the original for those that do not. Both versions are available on the free plan.
Bulk optimisation
The bulk optimiser processes your entire existing media library in one go, including all WordPress thumbnail sizes and next-gen WebP or AVIF versions. Run it once after installation to bring existing images up to the same standard as new uploads.
Per-thumbnail control
ShortPixel lets you choose exactly which WordPress-registered image sizes are optimised. If you have sizes that are rarely served to visitors and do not need credits spent on them, you can exclude them individually from the optimisation queue.
EXIF data management
Choose whether to strip or keep image metadata on optimisation. Stripping EXIF data reduces file size further and removes potentially sensitive information such as GPS coordinates from photos. Keeping it is useful for photographers whose workflows depend on metadata.
Animated GIF to WebP or MP4
Animated GIF files are significantly larger than their modern equivalents. ShortPixel can automatically convert animated GIFs to animated WebP or MP4, keeping the motion while dramatically reducing file size. This is particularly effective for sites using animated product images or banner animations.
100 credits free per month. Unlimited from $9.99.
The free plan gives you 100 image optimisation credits per month. One credit covers one image size, so a single upload that generates four thumbnail sizes uses four credits. The free plan includes all compression algorithms, WebP and AVIF conversion, bulk optimisation, EXIF management, multisite support, and 24/7 support. The full feature set is available at every tier.
The Unlimited plan at $9.99 per month (or $99.90 per year) removes the credit cap entirely. Optimise as many images as you need across as many domains as you have, with no per-image charges and no monthly ceiling. For agencies or sites with large media libraries the Unlimited plan is the practical choice. One-time credit packages are also available for sites that need occasional top-ups without a subscription.
- Free: 100 credits/month, all algorithms, WebP and AVIF
- Free: bulk optimise, EXIF control, multisite, 24/7 support
- Unlimited: $9.99/month or $99.90/year, no credit cap
- Unlimited: unlimited domains, API key aliases for agencies
- One-time credit packages available without a subscription
Free vs Unlimited at a glance
Free for 100 images per month. Unlimited from $9.99.
ShortPixel's free plan gives you 100 optimisation credits per month with access to the full feature set. One credit equals one image size, so a standard WordPress upload generating four sizes uses four credits. For small sites with infrequent uploads, the free plan may be sufficient.
The Unlimited plan removes the credit limit entirely for $9.99 per month or $99.90 per year. It covers unlimited domains and image optimisations, making it practical for agencies managing multiple client sites or any site with a large or frequently updated media library. One-time credit packs are also available for purchase without a subscription for sites that only occasionally need extra credits.
View ShortPixel pricingShortPixel compresses. WP Media Cloud offloads.
Both plugins activate independently on the same WordPress site. They solve different problems and work together without conflict.
Install both plugins
Install WP Media Cloud and configure your storage provider. Install ShortPixel Image Optimizer from WordPress.org and add your ShortPixel API key. Both plugins activate on the same WordPress installation without any shared configuration needed.
ShortPixel compresses on upload
When a file is uploaded to WordPress, ShortPixel sends it to the ShortPixel cloud API for compression and conversion. The compressed file, along with its WebP and AVIF variants, is returned to WordPress before WP Media Cloud takes over.
WP Media Cloud offloads the compressed file
WP Media Cloud offloads the already-compressed image to your cloud storage provider. The file that leaves your server and lands in your storage bucket has already been optimised by ShortPixel. Storage and bandwidth savings stack on top of compression savings.
Visitors receive compressed, offloaded files
Media URLs on your WordPress site point at your storage bucket or CDN. Each visitor receives a compressed, format-optimised file served from cloud storage rather than your origin server, reducing load on your host and improving delivery speed.
ShortPixel + WP Media Cloud + your existing stack
WP Media Cloud with ShortPixel works alongside every major page builder, storage provider, and plugin integration from day one.
Compress with ShortPixel. Offload with WP Media Cloud.
WP Media Cloud has a 30-day money-back guarantee. ShortPixel has a free plan with no credit card required.
