Accelerating websites is extremely important. Faster websites mean satisfied customers. PageSpeed becomes significant for rankings.

Matt Cutts, Google Search Quality Team
Transparent pricing
1 year of usage for a fair fixed price. No hidden costs.
    • Optimus HQ PRO
    • Allowed image formats

    • JPEG, PNG

    • Maximal file size

    • 10 MB

    • HTTPS connection

    • WebP conversion

    • Unlimited amount of images

    • Progressive JPEGs

    • Hosting in Germany

    • Scope

    • One license for all
      customer projects

    • $149 / year One-time charge

    • FAQ / Rules

    • Buy

    • Optimus HQ
    • Allowed image formats

    • JPEG, PNG

    • Maximal file size

    • 10 MB

    • HTTPS connection

    • WebP conversion

    • Unlimited amount of images

    • Progressive JPEGs

    • Hosting in Germany

    • Scope

    • One license for all
      own projects

    • $29 / year One-time charge

    • FAQ / Rules

    • Buy

    • Optimus
Clever functionality
Huge file size compression while maintaining image quality. That is our goal at Optimus.

Optimus targets a lossless compression of PNG images and a slightly lossy compression of JPEG images of media uploaded to WordPress — while focusing on protecting your data. In plain terms: the visual appearance of treated images does not change in any way.

The plugin slims down the original image and all preview images of an uploaded image. An important difference to desktop and online optimization tools: Photoshop, ImageOptim, JPEGmin and TinyPNG only treat the original images, since thumbnails are only generated when that image is uploaded to WordPress. Optimus compresses all preview images as well (=thumbnails).

Find out more: what makes Optimus one of a kind

Instead of only altering the quality of the photos, the plugin goes even further by removing unnecessary metadata from JPEG or PNG files. This includes EXIF and IPTC data that are saved in image files by image processing programs. That metadata is not however necessary to display the graphics in a browser.

Eliminating superfluous information allows for generous file size reductions: depending on the structure and size of the initial images, reductions of up to 70% are possible – while maintaining similar quality. Even images exported with the "Save for Web" function in Photoshop can be reduced by several percent using Optimus. Another advantage: Optimus generates progressive JPEGs and WebP images.


If you use the plugin option "No deletion of image metadata", Optimus keeps all metadata in the image or leaves the original image completely untreated, see "No optimization of original images".

Since the reduction process cannot be conducted directly in WordPress for technical reasons, the plugin transfers each image uploaded to the media library to the Optimus server — discreetly in the background, while ensuring privacy.

Convincing advantages
Competing products are slow and unreliable. Optimus scores thanks to efficiency and speed.
  • Reduction of file size with no change in visible image quality
  • Automatic optimization of original and preview images
  • Optional: no removal of EXIF and IPTC files
  • Quick image loading thanks to progressive compression
  • Compatible with WordPress Multisite and WooCommerce
  • Several years of experience in the area of "image optimization"
  • Transparent data privacy policy
  • Minimization of traffic thanks to smaller images
  • No source code and template changes necessary whatsoever
  • Increased PageSpeed score thanks to reduced file sizes
  • For SEO & readers: improved page loading times
  • Support of WordPress Mobile Apps and Windows Live Writer
  • Software developed in Switzerland and hosted in Germany
  • Continued development & updates
Optimus HQ
  • Usage of license key for all private projects
  • PDF invoicing
  • Hosting in Germany
  • Optional HTTPS connection
Optimus HQ PRO
  • In addition to Optimus HQ: use in customer projects
Transparent data privacy policy
The Optimus plugin transfers images uploaded to WordPress to the Optimus server to optimize them.
  • The Optimus server does not keep any images: every compression is followed by an immediate deletion of the files.
  • The Optimus servers are located in Germany.
  • Connection uses SSL encryption.
Fair rules
Relevant parts of the Optimus HQ Term of Service (ToS) and conditions are briefly summarized here in clearly understandable language.
  • The purchased Optimus HQ license is only intended for private projects. Optimus HQ PRO allows usage in projects for customers.
  • Multiplication and resale of the license key are not permitted.
  • No abuse of the service; no alterations on the plugin.
Simple Installation
You do not need to change any settings in Optimus: install it and use it! Getting started is easy and straightforward.

Remember: Optimus only compresses images that are uploaded to the WordPress media folder after the plugin has been installed. See FAQ for details.


Through the coloring of the circles in the media library list (careful, not the grid view of the WordPress media library), the plugin signalizes its correct functioning. There is one circle per file. If the circle is missing, the file size was not reduced.

If a circle is filled out completely in green, all thumbnails as well as the original image could be optimized without exception – the ideal case.

Different scenario. The circle is only partially coloured in. This mean: not all variants of the current image were optimized by Optimus. This can be caused by the size of the file as well as the format. See Optimus vs. Optimus HQ.

The percent value in the circle displays the achieved optimization rate.

  • 38%

    ¼ of image variants optimized
  • 38%

    ½ of image variants optimized
  • 38%

    ¾ of image variants optimized
  • 38%

    all image variants optimized
Minimum system requirements
Optimus runs perfectly on all WordPress websites. Certain server features are required.
  • Allow outgoing connection
  • cURL (usually pre-installed)
  • PHP version 5.6 or higher
  • WordPress version 4.6 or higher
Frequently asked questions
What is the advantage of reducing the image file size?

There is no doubt that the loading speed of a website factors into the ranking. Optimizing is worth it just to ensure a better customer experience. The goal is to deliver elements of a website to the browser as quickly as possible. Optimus takes care of "reducing" the uploaded images and preview images.

Even for analytics tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights, the reduction of image size is an important factor that is mentioned in the analysis of website: "By optimizing the following images, you can reduce your size by XY kilobytes."

Furthermore, the traffic savings achieved by reducing file sizes can be enormous and should also be considered.

Is copyright and EXIF information removed?

Optimus removes all types of metadata from images by default. That way the maximum possible compression can be achieved. In the settings you can however find an option called "No deletion of image metadata" which disables the extraction of EXIF and IPTC information.

While the reduction of file sizes is minimal when this option is activated, the stored image information will not be removed.

Why is the optimization value only at XY percent?

Since Optimus only employs slight lossy image optimization, the optimization value depends on the amount of (unnecessary) metadata saved in the image. The more metadata can be removed from an image, the higher the reduction that can be achieved through optimization—this could for example be 16%, but also as high as 60% or more. For more information see "Optimizing images always makes sense, no matter how little…"

Bonus: even when the optimization rate ends up being low, JPEG images are automatically converted to advantageous progressive JPEGs.

Is it possible to optimize existing images?

Yes, that is possible via the Bulk Optimizer (Tools -> Optimize all images).

Note: Optimizing existing images (file name, file size, etc.) can influence the ranking and the position within the google image search.

Can I try Optimus HQ before buying it?

The only difference between Optimus HQ, Optimus HQ PRO and the free version of Optimus are additional file formats and increased limits. If the free Optimus Plugin runs in WordPress without any errors, but does not optimize all types of images (see installation), you can purchase Optimus HQ (PRO) without thinking twice in order to get rid of the limitations of the free version.

Where do I enter my Optimus HQ key?

After the payment process is completed successfully, the customer receives his license key over e-mail.

Activation in WordPress: in the list of active plugins in the Optimus area (same line as "deactivate") you can find the link "Activate Optimus HQ". Clicking it opens a field for entering and saving the Optimus HQ key.

In the same spot a new Optimus HQ key can also be entered, for example if a new license was ordered after a year of usage. The field for entering the license key will be labeled "Enter other Optimus HQ key" in this case. The expiry date of your license will also be displayed here.

Using Optimus HQ in customer projects?

Optimus HQ = private projects. Optimus HQ PRO was introduced so that you can use the Optimus plugin on customer websites. This license also expires automatically after a year. It can be—but does not have to be—renewed and entered in the WordPress instances.

More information on the support page: Which license is right for you?

Fast websites lead to satisfied customers.
Start optimizing your WordPress images now.