We recommendation using API or cloud-based plugins where all the image processing happens on remote servers, and doesn’t require any local executables to be installed (we disapprove enabling the exec() function for security reasons).

Below is a short list of plugins we recommend our users explore that abide by this approach:

• Smush.it plugin (see this blog for a deeper rundown)
• EWWW Image Optimizer plugin
• Kraken Image Optimizer plugin
• ShortPixel Image Optimizer plugin

As an alternative, our VPS plans offer a bit more flexibility with a specialized image processing service called PressThumb we can apply by request.