The strongest WebP Express alternative for most sites is Smush, a full image optimizer from WPMU DEV that handles compression, resizing, and lazy loading rather than WebP conversion alone. For free WebP and AVIF work closest to WebP Express, Converter for Media stays lightweight, while Imagify offers the simplest hands-off compression. We ranked these from our index of 55,000+ WordPress plugins.

Why people switch from WebP Express

• WebP Express only converts to WebP and AVIF; it does not compress or resize your original files, so people move to Smush or EWWW Image Optimizer for full optimization.
• WebP Express relies on server rewrite rules that can be fiddly on some hosts, so people move to Imagify or ShortPixel, which serve converted images without that setup.
• WebP Express has a technical, developer-oriented interface, so beginners move to Smush for a simpler dashboard.
• Sites that want AVIF support with a free tier move to Converter for Media.

Smush – Overall replacement, beginners

Smush is an all-in-one image optimizer from WPMU DEV that compresses, resizes, and lazy loads images alongside WebP conversion. Against WebP Express, it covers the whole optimization job in one plugin with a friendly dashboard instead of only generating WebP files. What it does not do: its free tier processes bulk images in small batches and reserves the CDN and some WebP delivery options for Pro.

Choose Smush if you want one plugin to handle compression, resizing, and WebP with a simple interface.

EWWW Image Optimizer – Local optimization, control

EWWW Image Optimizer is a long-running optimizer that can compress images locally on your own server with no per-image cloud fees. Against WebP Express, it adds genuine lossless and lossy compression on top of WebP and AVIF conversion. What it does not do: its settings screen is dense and technical, and the newer cloud features push you toward a paid API plan.

Choose EWWW Image Optimizer if you want local optimization without sending images to a third-party service.

Imagify – Hands-off compression

Imagify comes from WP Media, the team behind WP Rocket, and takes a hands-off cloud approach to compression and next-gen formats. Against WebP Express, it optimizes and serves WebP or AVIF automatically without touching server rewrite rules. What it does not do: it works through Imagify’s cloud, so the free plan has a monthly data quota and every image is processed off-site.

Choose Imagify if you want automatic cloud optimization with the least configuration.

ShortPixel – Quality and formats

ShortPixel is a cloud optimizer known for strong compression quality and flexible control over lossy, glossy, and lossless levels. Against WebP Express, it compresses originals and delivers WebP and AVIF instead of only converting formats. What it does not do: it runs on a monthly credit allowance, so high-volume sites hit the free limit quickly and need a credit plan.

Choose ShortPixel if you want fine control over compression quality across WebP and AVIF.

Converter for Media – Free WebP and AVIF

Converter for Media is the closest free match to WebP Express, converting your library to WebP and AVIF and serving the smaller files automatically. Against WebP Express, it supports AVIF out of the box and has a cleaner setup flow. What it does not do: it also depends on server rewrite rules that can misbehave on some hosts, and deeper features sit in the Pro version.

Choose Converter for Media if you want a free, WebP Express style converter with AVIF support.

When to stay on WebP Express

Stay on WebP Express if it already serves WebP reliably on your host and you only need format conversion, not compression. It is free, converts your whole library, and its per-image quality controls are genuinely good. If your originals are already reasonably sized and the rewrite rules work on your server, switching to a heavier all-in-one optimizer adds little you will notice.

How we ranked these

Every plugin here is scored by the WPS Score, a single 0 to 10 rating built from 21 signals covering maintenance, support responsiveness, compatibility, performance, and ratings quality across our index of 55,000+ plugins. Rankings are derived from that data, not editorial preference, and no plugin author can pay to change a score. How the WPS Score works.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free alternative to WebP Express?

Converter for Media is the closest free alternative to WebP Express, converting your images to WebP and AVIF and serving them automatically. Smush and Imagify also offer free tiers that add compression and lazy loading, though they cap volume and reserve some features for paid plans.

Does WebP Express compress images or only convert them?

WebP Express only converts images to WebP and AVIF; it does not compress or resize the original JPEG and PNG files. If you want real compression as well, optimizers like Smush, EWWW Image Optimizer, or ShortPixel handle both compression and next-gen formats in one plugin.

Do I need a cloud service to optimize images in WordPress?

No. EWWW Image Optimizer can compress images locally on your own server, and WebP Express and Converter for Media convert formats on-site. Cloud-based tools like Imagify and ShortPixel process images off-site, which simplifies setup but adds monthly quotas.

The verdict

For most sites the best all-round WebP Express upgrade is Smush, which turns format conversion into a complete optimization workflow. Imagify suits anyone who wants hands-off cloud processing, and Converter for Media is the pick if you want to stay free and close to WebP Express. If WebP Express already serves next-gen images cleanly on your host, staying put is perfectly valid.