Hello,
We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and I’m sorry for the confusion.
To clarify: our Image Optimizer plugin works independently and doesn’t require Elementor Pro to function. The core image optimization features are available in our free version, and you can upgrade to our Pro plan for additional features like bulk optimization, WebP conversion, and advanced compression settings. It’s possible you may have been asked to link your Elementor account, if so, it doesn’t require a Pro license, a free Elementor account is all that is needed.
If you’d like to discuss your experience further, please reach out to us at feedback@support.elementor.com and we’d be happy to continue assisting you there.