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YoOhw Media Optimizer

Free WebP and AVIF sidecars, modern image delivery tests, and safe WordPress media optimization with backups.
Version
1.0.0
Last updated
Jul 7, 2026

YoOhw Media Optimizer is a WordPress image optimization and modern image delivery plugin for WebP and AVIF sidecars. It helps you generate modern image files locally, verify delivery before switching frontend URLs, and keep original JPEG/PNG uploads safe by default.

Unlike image optimization services that send media to a remote API, YoOhw Media Optimizer is local-first. It uses the active WordPress image editor, GD/Imagick when available, and optional server binaries such as cwebp, avifenc, jpegoptim, jpegtran, pngquant, oxipng, and optipng.

The default mode is conservative: the plugin creates sidecar files but does not replace original media files or frontend image URLs until you enable those options. All current plugin features are free and run without a paid image optimization API.

Key Features

  • Generate .webp sidecars for original images and WordPress-generated image sizes.
  • Generate .avif sidecars when avifenc or the active WordPress image editor supports AVIF.
  • Optional HTML delivery: serve AVIF first, WebP second, and fall back to the original JPEG/PNG.
  • Delivery Assistant to test direct AVIF/WebP file access and server/CDN rewrite behavior.
  • Optional JPEG/PNG original-file optimization with mandatory backups.
  • Resize oversized uploads with max width and max height settings.
  • Compression modes for lossless, balanced, aggressive, and custom JPEG quality workflows.
  • Metadata policy controls for removing or preserving image metadata where supported.
  • Media Library Savings column with per-attachment status and restore links.
  • Overview dashboard with bandwidth savings, storage impact, coverage, and failure status.
  • Queue-based processing for larger media libraries.
  • Cleanup tools for generated sidecars and restore tools for backed-up originals.
  • WP-CLI helpers for analyze, optimize, restore, and queue workflows.

Safe Modern Image Delivery

YoOhw Media Optimizer is designed for sites that want a clear modern image workflow without immediately changing originals or relying on a third-party image CDN.

When HTML delivery is enabled, the plugin checks the browser Accept header and available sidecars:

  • Browser accepts AVIF and a fresh .avif sidecar exists: serve AVIF.
  • Otherwise, browser accepts WebP and a fresh .webp sidecar exists: serve WebP.
  • Otherwise: keep the original JPEG/PNG URL.

This keeps frontend delivery compatible while still allowing modern image formats where they are supported.

Optional Original Optimization

Original-file optimization is disabled by default. When enabled, YoOhw Media Optimizer can resize and recompress JPEG/PNG files after creating backups under wp-content/uploads/yoohw-media-backups/.

Backups are required before replacing originals, and restore controls are available per image and in bulk.

External Binaries

The plugin can detect and use supported server binaries when available:

  • JPEG: jpegoptim, cjpeg/djpeg, jpegtran
  • PNG: pngquant, oxipng, optipng
  • WebP: cwebp
  • AVIF: avifenc

If a binary is not available, the plugin falls back to WordPress/GD/Imagick where possible. External binaries are optional and are not bundled with the plugin.

Privacy

YoOhw Media Optimizer does not collect personal data, does not create tracking cookies, and does not send media files to external optimization services.

The Delivery Assistant performs HTTP HEAD checks against URLs on the same WordPress site to verify whether generated AVIF/WebP files can be reached.

Freeon paid plans
Tested up to
WordPress 7.0
This plugin is available for download for your site.