Perxel Image Optimizer
Local WebP conversion for your media library. No third-party CDN or service, free, and it runs in the background.
Solid choice
Perxel Image Optimizer is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. Was last updated 1 week ago, and scores 64/100 on our health check.
- Actively developed — last update 1 week ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Perxel Image Optimizer stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| convert to webp | >100 |
| image optimization | >100 |
| media library | >100 |
| webp | >100 |
| webp images | >100 |
About Perxel Image Optimizer
From the official readme · v1.0.2Description
Perxel Image Optimizer converts your WordPress media library to WebP locally,
on your own server, and serves it – entirely from an admin page, built for shared
hosting.
- No third party. Conversion runs in PHP via WP_Image_Editor (GD/Imagick).
Nothing is uploaded to a CDN or an external optimization service, and there is
no API key, account or paid tier. Your images never leave your host. - Free. The whole plugin, no upsell.
- Runs in the background. A light scan estimates the work, then a background
job (Action Scheduler) converts the library newest-to-oldest, one calendar
month at a time. Pause, resume, cancel, close the tab – progress is durable.
Optional email report when a run finishes. - Or run it Fast. An opt-in mode that drives the conversion from the open
admin tab, so the server works continuously – much quicker on shared hosting
with no cron. It throttles itself if the host pushes back, and stopping never
loses work. - Originals are untouched.
foo.jpggets afoo.jpg.webpsibling; the
source file is never modified. - Serving through a managed
.htaccessblock on Apache/LiteSpeed, with an
to<picture>fallback on nginx or when.htaccessis not writable. - Per-attachment Convert / Reconvert / Remove buttons in the Media library.
- New uploads are converted automatically, shortly after upload.
The admin area is two screens under Media > Optimization: an Optimization page (scan
→ prepare → live monitor) and a separate Settings page (environment,
conversion options, serving, notifications, cleanup).
Installation
- Upload the
perxel-image-optimizerfolder to/wp-content/plugins/. - Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen.
- Go to Media > Optimization.
Frequently asked questions
Does it modify my original images?
No. Every converted file is written as a new .webp sibling next to the original.
What happens on nginx?
The .htaccess swap is Apache-only. On nginx the plugin rewrites tags to with a WebP source instead.
Changelog
1.0.2
- Housekeeping only, no behaviour change. Plugin URI now points to the product page on perxel.com instead of the GitHub repo.
1.0.1
- Tightened output-escaping suppressions in the admin views to per-file
targeted ignores, addressing the plugin review’s escaping feedback. - Media Library scripts/styles now load only on the Media list and the
single-attachment edit screen.
1.0.0
- First public release.
- Local WebP conversion via WP_Image_Editor – no CDN, no external service, free.
- Month-scoped bulk run with two drivers: a background run on Action Scheduler
(pause, resume, cancel, durable progress, optional completion email) and an
opt-in Fast mode where the browser tab drives the encode loop directly, for
shared hosting with no working WP-Cron loopback. Fast mode self-pauses when
the host throttles and resumes after an escalating cooldown; a live Gentle /
Balanced / Turbo control sits on the running monitor. - Closing the tab, Stop, or Cancel never reverts converted files – the run
parks and resumes from where it left off. - Per-attachment Convert / Reconvert / Remove buttons in the Media library, and
automatic conversion of new uploads. - Serving via a managed
.htaccessblock on Apache/LiteSpeed, with an<img>to
fallback elsewhere. - Two admin screens under Media > Optimization – Optimization (prepare + live monitor)
and Settings – in a shared sidebar layout, server-rendered.
Screenshots
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Perxel Image Optimizer alternatives
All convert to webp plugins →FAQ
Perxel Image Optimizer: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 6, 2026
Is Perxel Image Optimizer free?
Yes. Perxel Image Optimizer is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Perxel Image Optimizer safe to use in 2026?
Perxel Image Optimizer is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. Was last updated 1 week ago, and scores 64/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Perxel Image Optimizer?
Perxel Image Optimizer is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 149 times since it launched in September 2026. It was downloaded 153 times in the last 30 days.
Does Perxel Image Optimizer work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested Perxel Image Optimizer up to WordPress 7.1.3, the latest release. It requires WordPress 6.5 or newer.
What PHP version does Perxel Image Optimizer need?
Perxel Image Optimizer requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Perxel Image Optimizer last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.2, was released on September 27, 2026 (1 week ago).
Who makes Perxel Image Optimizer?
Perxel Image Optimizer is developed and maintained by Phuc Bui (PERXEL).
What are the best alternatives to Perxel Image Optimizer?
The most popular alternatives to Perxel Image Optimizer are WebP Image Converter & Repl… (100+ installs), PrinterFlo Image Optimizer (<10 installs) and HoatzinMedia (<10 installs).
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