Description
MeloTools Image Optimizer makes your Media Library lighter without putting your originals at risk. Everything runs on your own server: there is no image limit, no account and no external service.
- Convert JPEG and PNG images to WebP and AVIF, including every thumbnail size.
- Optimise images one at a time from the Media Library list or the image details, with no limit on how many.
- Optionally recompress the original files. A backup of every file is kept and a Restore button puts it back.
- Serves lighter files with picture tags, so older browsers, feeds and social scrapers still get the original.
- No database rewriting. Image URLs in your posts never change.
- Animated images and images too large for your server are skipped safely.
Processed on your own server
The plugin uses Imagick or GD on your web server. Images never leave your site. Which formats can be written depends on your host; the settings page shows whether WebP and AVIF are available. If one is missing, ask your host to enable Imagick or GD with that format.
Privacy
The plugin does not contact any external service, does not track usage and loads nothing for visitors except the image files themselves.
This plugin is made by MeloTools, the maker of free online image tools.
Screenshots
Installation
- In WordPress, go to Plugins > Add New Plugin, search for “MeloTools Image Optimizer”, then click Install Now and Activate. Or upload the plugin zip in Plugins > Add New Plugin > Upload Plugin.
- Go to Media > MeloTools Optimizer. Choose formats and quality, and save.
- Open Media > Library in list view and click Optimise next to an image, or use the MeloTools panel in an image’s details.
FAQ
-
Is there a limit on the number of images?
-
No. There are no credits or monthly limits, and every thumbnail size is included.
-
Can it optimise my whole library at once, or new uploads automatically?
-
Not in this plugin: images are optimised one at a time, when you choose. Bulk and automatic optimisation are planned for MeloTools Premium; the settings page has a link if you would like to tell us you would use them.
-
Are my original images deleted?
-
No. Converted files are saved next to the original, for example photo.jpg.webp. If you turn on original recompression, a backup of each file is kept in a private folder inside your uploads directory and can be restored from the Media Library.
-
Will my image URLs change?
-
No. Nothing is rewritten in posts, pages or the database. Visitors get lighter files through picture tags.
-
My server cannot write AVIF. What can I do?
-
AVIF needs Imagick or GD with AVIF support on your host. Ask your host to enable it. WebP is supported on most hosts.
-
What happens if I uninstall?
-
Settings are removed. Converted files and backups stay unless you ticked the delete-on-uninstall option. Your site keeps working either way.
-
Does it work with a CDN or page cache?
-
Yes. Picture tags are part of the page HTML, so no server rewrite rules or special CDN setup are needed. The plugin purges LiteSpeed Cache automatically after each change; with other page caches, purge after optimising.
Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
Contributors & Developers
“MeloTools Image Optimizer” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.
Contributors
Translate “MeloTools Image Optimizer” into your language.
Interested in development?
Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.
Changelog
1.2.1
- Clearer settings page: a “How to optimise” section explains how to optimise images one at a time from the Media Library.
1.2.0
- Removed the optional cloud engine. All processing now happens on your own server, and the plugin makes no external connections.
- Uses the WordPress file system class to remove folders.
- Tested with WordPress 7.1.
- Page caches (LiteSpeed Cache) are purged after optimising, restoring or removing converted files, so visitors get the new picture tags at once.
- Fix: when a stale lock was taken over, two background jobs could process the same image at once. The takeover is now atomic.
- Fix: the settings page now shows “Settings saved.” after saving.
- Fix: after “Remove converted”, an image no longer shows “Done”; it says there are no converted copies.
- When the server cannot create AVIF or WebP, the settings page shows a link to the waitlist for an optional MeloTools Cloud engine (a plain link; nothing is sent from your site).
1.1.2
- Fix: the attachment details panel in the media modal showed an out-of-date status after closing and reopening an image. It now refreshes itself after every action.
1.1.1
- Security and safety hardening after an independent review: backups are found from the live file path and never from stored data, backups are written atomically and verified, replaced or edited files invalidate old converted copies, animated images and oversized images are skipped, restore reports failures instead of hiding them, duplicate media items sharing a file are protected, and the backup folder name is now private to each site.
1.1.0
- New: MeloTools panel in the attachment details sidebar, the editor media modal and the attachment edit screen, with Optimise, Restore and Remove converted buttons.
1.0.0
- First release.