Comprehensive image optimization with WebP, AVIF, Lazy Load, and more. Optimize images automatically for Faste...
Free
1M+ installs 4.8★ (1,838)
Modern Image Formats
Converts images to more modern formats such as WebP or AVIF during upload.
The facts
- Rating
- 3.5★ from 25
- Active installs
- 100k+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 26 Aug 2026
- Added
- Apr 2023
- Requires WP
- 6.9
- Tested up to
- WP 7.1
- Requires PHP
- 7.4
- Downloads
- 1,166,208
Our analysis
AI-assistedModern Image Formats is a WordPress plugin that adds support for WebP and AVIF image formats during media uploads. It generates modern image formats for new uploads, while pre-existing images require regeneration to convert to these formats. Users can select the output format and control settings through the WordPress media settings interface.
This plugin is suitable for WordPress users looking to optimise their images for better performance and speed. It is particularly useful for those who want to take advantage of modern image formats to reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality.
Best for: WordPress users seeking to optimise image formats for improved site performance.
What it does well
- ✓Adds WebP and AVIF support for media uploads
- ✓Allows selection of output format under media settings
- ✓Can regenerate pre-existing images with additional plugins
- ✓Free to use from the WordPress.org directory
- ✓Active installation count of 100,000
Where it falls short
- •Only affects new uploads unless images are regenerated
- •Limited to JPEG and PNG uploads for original files
Verdict
Modern Image Formats provides essential functionality for enhancing image performance in WordPress. It is a practical choice for users focused on optimising their media library.
From the developer
WordPress Performance Team's own description of Modern Image Formats, lightly tidied.
This plugin adds WebP and AVIF support for media uploads within the WordPress application. By default, AVIF images will be generated if supported on the hosting server, otherwise WebP will be used as the output format. When both formats are available, the output format can be selected under Settings > Media. Modern images will be generated only for new uploads, pre-existing images will only converted to a modern format if images are regenerated. Images can be regenerated with a plugin like Regenerate Thumbnails or via WP-CLI with the wp media regenerate command.
By default, only modern image format sub-sizes will be generated for JPEG or PNG uploads – only the original uploaded file will still exist as a JPEG/PNG image, generated image sizes will be WebP or AVIF files. To change this behavior, there is a checkbox in Settings > Media “Output fallback images” that – when checked – will result in the plugin generating both the original format as well as WebP or AVIF images for every sub-size (noting again that this will only affect newly uploaded images, i.e. after making said change).
This plugin was formerly known as WebP Uploads.
Tagged as
purpose
Image Optimisation
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