CompressX is a free and lightweight plugin for WordPress that converts JPEG and PNG images to modern formats like WebP and AVIF, then compresses those WebP/AVIF images on your own server.
The conversion and compression take place locally, using either PHP’s GD or Imagick modules, which often come standard on most WordPress hosting setups.
You can download the CompressX plugin for free from the WordPress repository. A Pro version with additional features is also available on their official website: CompressX.io.
The AVIF format is a modern image file format designed for high compression efficiency and excellent image quality. The new format is supported by following browsers – Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari 16+ (macOS/iOS).
How to Install CompressX Plugin?
- Log into your WordPress dashboard
- Go to Plugins → Add New
- Search for “CompressX” (plugin name: AVIF & WebP Converter)
- Click Install Now, then Activate
Configure Settings
Core Settings
Activate CompressX Plugin
- To start converting images, toggle the ‘Enable conversion for newly uploaded images’ option.
- Make sure to select both “Webp” and “AVIF” output formats.
- For compression level, let’s go with the default setting.
Bulk Processing
To optimize all images in your media library, click the ‘Start Bulk Processing’ button. Be sure to enable the ‘Force all images to be re-processed’ checkbox before starting.
General Settings
Browser Compatibility
- Choose the first option “Use rewrite rule”.
- So if the browser supports AVIF, AVIF images will be loaded.
- If AVIF is not supported, WebP images will be loaded.
- If both formats are not supported, the original .jpg and .png images will be loaded.
Do not convert PNG images
- Check the version of ImageMagick library on your Web Server.
- If the version of ImageMagick library is 6.x then PNG images may lose transparent background when being converted to AVIF.
- In that case you can enable the check boxes above to choose not to convert PNG to AVIF.
- A higher ImageMagick version like 7 does not have this transparent issue.
- Similarly, if you don’t want to convert PNG to WebP select the first option.
Remove EXIF Data
Enable this checkbox if you wish to remove metadata stored in images, including geo-location, timestamps, authorship information, and image summaries.
Parameters of Processing Images
- This value defines how many WordPress image attachments (including the original image and its thumbnails) are processed in a single AJAX cycle.
- For example, if set to 1, the plugin will process one attachment, which may consist of one original image and up to 20 thumbnails.
- Go with default value which is “5”.
Automatic removal of files in output formats larger than the original ones
Automatically delete AVIF/WebP images when they are larger than the original images. Make sure it is always checked.
Auto-resizing large images
This option lets you set a width and height so that large images are automatically resized proportionally upon upload. Enter your ideal height and width in the boxes.
Choose the thumbnail sizes you want to process
Select the thumbnail sizes you want to process. If your theme generates new thumbnail sizes, you will need to reprocess them using the Bulk Processing function. After selection, hit the “Save Changes” button.
Exclude Folders
You can select folders in the Uploads folder (media library) and exclude them from the processing.
Custom Folders
You can also select custom folders in the /wp-content folder and process all the images inside them.
Delete Images Generated by CompressX Plugin
Type Delete in the field and click Go to confirm. This will remove all WebP and AVIF images, along with related data in the database generated by CompressX. Please proceed with caution. Original images will remain unaffected.
Cloudflare CDN Integration
CompressX plugin allows CDN integration with CloudFare. You need to add following details to integrate CompressX with CloudFare CDN –
- Cloudflare E-mail (Email address associated to your Cloudflare account)
- Global API Key (A key for granting access to Cloudflare API)
- Zone ID (A zone ID is generated automatically when a domain is added to Cloudflare)
After entering the above fields, click the ‘Save Changes’ button.
Is CompressX right for you?
Yes, if you need:
- A free, lightweight solution
- Local control over image conversion
- Image format support without external dependencies
- Faster site loading times
- A plugin backed by positive user reviews and robust support
Minimum Requirements to use CompressX
- PHP version 7.4+
- MySQL version 4.1
- WordPress 5.8
Conclusion
CompressX is one of the most effective and user-friendly plugin for speeding up your WordPress site through modern image optimization technique.
By converting your images into WebP and AVIF formats, it ensures faster load times, better SEO rankings, and an improved user experience — all without relying on third-party APIs or paid subscriptions.
If you want a lightweight, reliable, and free plugin to boost your site’s speed by optimizing images, CompressX is a must-have plugin for any WordPress site owner.
Have you tried CompressX plugin to optimize images on your WordPress website? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.