Elementor Image Optimizer Review: 1.6 Stars — What Went Wrong? (2026)

What Is It?

Image compression and WebP/AVIF conversion by Elementor. Cloud-processed. 13M+ downloads, 1.6/5 stars (72 reviews). One of the lowest-rated popular plugins on WordPress.org.

Features

• Auto-optimization on upload
• WebP and AVIF conversion
• Bulk optimization
• Lossless and lossy modes
• Cloud-based processing

Free vs Premium

Free: 200 images/month — but each upload creates 5-8 sizes, each counting separately. 50 photos = cap reached. Premium requires Elementor Pro.

Why 1.6 Stars?

• Misleading free limit — counts ALL image sizes
• Poor compression quality reported
• Ecosystem lock-in to Elementor
• Better free alternatives exist

Pros and Cons

Pros: WebP/AVIF, auto-optimize, simple UI

Cons: 1.6 rating, 200 images counts thumbnails, cloud-dependent, poor compression, Elementor lock-in

Who Should Use It?

Almost nobody. Better alternatives at every price point.

What to Use Instead

• ShortPixel — Better compression, counts originals only. Our comparison
• EWWW — Processes locally, unlimited free, privacy-focused
• Smush — Beginner-friendly, auto-compression, lazy loading
• Imagify — By WP Rocket team, strong compression

FAQ

Why so low-rated?

200 images/mo counts every thumbnail size. Users hit cap after 25-40 uploads.

Safe to send images to cloud?

For sensitive images, use EWWW (processes locally).

Does it improve speed?

In theory yes, but reviewers report poor compression quality.

Worth it with Elementor Pro?

No — ShortPixel or EWWW still give better results.

Sources: WordPress.org, WPBeginner