Title: Patu Optimizer
Author: gheop
Published: July 23, 2026
Last modified: July 23, 2026
---
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# Patu Optimizer
By [gheop](https://profiles.wordpress.org/gheop/)
[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/patu-optimizer.0.2.0.zip)
* [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/patu-optimizer/#description)
* [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/patu-optimizer/#reviews)
* [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/patu-optimizer/#installation)
* [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/patu-optimizer/#developers)
[Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/patu-optimizer/)
## Description
Patu shrinks the images in your WordPress media library by re-encoding them
through
the [Patu](https://patu.dev) optimization API. It works in place and keeps the same
format and dimensions, so your URLs never change and it works with every theme and
page builder.
* **Automatic**: new uploads are optimized as they come in, across every
generated
size (thumbnail, medium, large, full).
* **Bulk**: optimize your entire existing library from one screen, with a live
progress bar.
* **Safe**: a file is only replaced when the optimized version is strictly
smaller(
never bigger), a failed optimization never blocks an upload or breaks your site(
never broken), and originals are backed up so you can restore any image with
one click.
* **Private**: your API key is only ever sent to patu.dev in a request header.
Get a free API key at [patu.dev](https://patu.dev).
**Two modes:**
* **Optimize in place** (default): re-encodes JPEG and WebP images to a smaller
version of the same format. URLs never change, so it works with every theme and
page builder. JPEG is the bulk of most libraries’ weight, and this saves roughly
a quarter of its size with no visible quality change.
* **Serve next-gen formats** (AVIF/WebP): generates modern versions of your
images(
JPEG, PNG and WebP) and serves them through a `` tag, keeping the original
as a fallback for older browsers. The biggest savings, and it covers PNG too.
### External service
This plugin relies on the Patu image-optimization API to do the actual
compression.
It is the core function of the plugin and it cannot work without it.
* **What is sent, and when:** the image files you optimize (on upload if
auto-
optimize is on, or when you run a bulk optimize / next-gen generate), plus your
API key in the `X-Api-Key` header. A small built-in sample image is also sent
when you click “Test connection”. Everything goes over HTTPS to https://patu.
dev.
* **What comes back:** the optimized image bytes. Nothing else about your site
(
its content, users, or any personal data) is sent, only the image itself.
The service is operated by Patu (https://patu.dev). By using it you agree to its
terms and privacy policy:
* Terms of service: https://patu.dev/terms
* Privacy policy: https://patu.dev/privacy
## Installation
1. Upload the `patu-optimizer` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/`, or install the
plugin
through the Plugins screen.
2. Activate it through the Plugins screen.
3. Go to **Patu Settings**, paste your API key from
[patu.dev](https://patu.dev),
and click **Test connection**.
4. New uploads are optimized automatically. To optimize existing images, open
**Patu
Bulk Optimize** and click **Optimize all**.
You can also set the key in `wp-config.php` instead of the database:
```
define( 'PATU_API_KEY', 'your_key_here' );
```
## FAQ
### Does it change my image URLs?
No. v1 optimizes JPEG and WebP in place, keeping the same file, format and
dimensions,
so every URL stays exactly as it was.
### Can I undo it?
Yes. Keep “Keep originals” on (the default) and every optimized image can be
restored
to its exact original from the media library or the Bulk Optimize screen.
### Will it ever make a file bigger or break an image?
No. A file is only replaced when the optimized version is strictly smaller, the
write is atomic, and any API or network error is skipped without touching the original
or interrupting your upload.
### What about PNG, and AVIF/WebP delivery?
Switch to the “Serve next-gen formats” mode. It generates AVIF (and WebP)
versions
of your JPEG, PNG and WebP images and serves them through a `` tag, with
the original kept as a fallback. GIF is not covered yet.
### Where does my API key go?
Only to patu.dev, and only in the `X-Api-Key` request header. It is never
logged;
on the settings page only an administrator can see it, in a masked password field.
## Reviews
There are no reviews for this plugin.
## Contributors & Developers
“Patu Optimizer” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.
Contributors
* [ gheop ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/gheop/)
[Translate “Patu Optimizer” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/patu-optimizer)
### Interested in development?
[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/patu-optimizer/), check
out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/patu-optimizer/), or
subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/patu-optimizer/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/patu-optimizer/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).
## Changelog
#### 0.2.0
* New “Serve next-gen formats” mode: generates AVIF (and WebP) versions of your
images and serves them through a tag, keeping the original as a fallback. Covers
PNG too. The in-place mode stays the default.
* All file operations now go through WP_Filesystem.
* Licensed GPLv2 or later.
#### 0.1.0
* First release: in-place JPEG and WebP optimization, optimize-on-upload, bulk
optimize with progress, per-image and bulk restore, media library column, settings
with a connection test, and stats.
## Meta
* Version **0.2.0**
* Last updated **2 days ago**
* Active installations **Fewer than 10**
* WordPress version ** 6.0 or higher **
* Tested up to **7.0.2**
* PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
* Tags
* [compress images](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/compress-images/)[image optimization](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/image-optimization/)
[optimize images](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/optimize-images/)[performance](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/performance/)
[webp](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/webp/)
* [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/patu-optimizer/advanced/)
## Ratings
No reviews have been submitted yet.
[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/patu-optimizer/reviews/#new-post)
[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/patu-optimizer/reviews/)
## Contributors
* [ gheop ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/gheop/)
## Support
Got something to say? Need help?
[View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/patu-optimizer/)