David Degner

Built by a <a href="https://www.daviddegner.com" rel="nofollow ugc">Boston photographer</a> for site owners who care about visual quality and full control. This plugin prioritizes image quality over everything else — no subscriptions, no external services.
<h3>Features</h3>
<ul>
<li>Local Processing — All conversion happens on your server. No subscriptions or external API calls. Works great on a shared CPU with 2GB RAM.</li>
<li>Quality First — Uses LANCZOS resizing, preserves ICC color profiles, and keeps EXIF/XMP/IPTC metadata intact.</li>
<li>Fully Tunable — Control quality (0–100), speed (0–10), chroma subsampling (4:2:0, 4:2:2, 4:4:4), and bit depth (8/10/12-bit).</li>
<li>Smart Fallback — Serves AVIF to supported browsers, JPEG to everyone else via picture elements.</li>
<li>Automatic Conversion — Convert on upload or via daily scheduled background scans.</li>
<li>LQIP Placeholders — Generate ThumbHash-based low-quality image placeholders for smooth loading.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How It Works</h3>
Front end: The plugin wraps your img tags in picture elements with an AVIF source. Browsers that support AVIF load the smaller, higher-quality file — others gracefully fall back to JPEG.
Conversion: Uses ImageMagick CLI (fastest), Imagick PHP extension (high quality), or GD Library (fallback) to convert JPEGs to AVIF on upload or via background jobs.
LQIP: Generates compact (~30 byte) ThumbHash placeholders that display instantly while images load.
<h3>Server Setup</h3>
The plugin supports three conversion engines, in order of preference:
<h4>ImageMagick CLI (Fastest, Recommended)</h4>
Uses the ImageMagick command-line binary directly:
<ul>
<li>System binary: ImageMagick 7.x built with HEIF/AVIF support (via libheif)</li>
<li>No PHP extension required</li>
<li>Benefits: Fastest performance, LANCZOS resizing, full metadata preservation (EXIF, XMP, IPTC, ICC)</li>
<li>Typical paths: <code>/usr/bin/magick</code>, <code>/usr/local/bin/magick</code>, or Homebrew on macOS</li>
</ul>
To verify AVIF support:
<pre><code>magick -list format | grep -i avif
</code></pre>
<h4>Imagick PHP Extension (High Quality)</h4>
Uses the PHP Imagick extension:
<ul>
<li>PHP extension: imagick</li>
<li>System libraries: ImageMagick built with HEIF/AVIF support (via libheif)</li>
<li>Benefits: LANCZOS resizing, full metadata preservation (EXIF, XMP, IPTC, ICC), color profile handling</li>
</ul>
To install on Ubuntu/Debian:
<pre><code>apt install php-imagick imagemagick libheif-dev
</code></pre>
<h4>GD Library (Fallback)</h4>
Uses PHP’s built-in GD library:
<ul>
<li>PHP extension: gd built with AVIF support (provides imageavif on PHP 8.1+)</li>
<li>Note: Some distro builds omit AVIF support; limited metadata preservation</li>
</ul>
<h4>MIME Type Configuration</h4>
Ensure your web server is configured to serve .avif files as image/avif.
<h4>Documentation</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://imagemagick.org/script/download.php" rel="nofollow ugc">ImageMagick installation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.php.net/imagick" rel="nofollow ugc">PHP Imagick installation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.php.net/manual/en/image.installation.php" rel="nofollow ugc">PHP GD installation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://imagemagick.org/script/formats.php" rel="nofollow ugc">ImageMagick format support</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>Need help with setup?</h4>
If you’re not sure what to install or upgrade, copy your Server Diagnostics from the plugin status/tools screen (or run <code>wp avif status --format=json</code>) and paste it into an LLM.
Example prompt:
<pre><code>I need AVIF support for WordPress. Based on this diagnostics output, give me step-by-step commands to install or upgrade ImageMagick, libheif, and PHP Imagick on my server.
</code></pre>
After applying changes, verify with:
<pre><code>wp avif status
magick -list format | grep -i avif<h3>WP-CLI Commands</h3>
</code></pre>
Manage AVIF conversions from the command line.
<h4>Status</h4>
Show system status and AVIF support diagnostics:
<pre><code>wp avif status
wp avif status --format=json
</code></pre>
<h4>Convert</h4>
Convert JPEG images to AVIF format:
<pre><code>wp avif convert --all
wp avif convert 123
wp avif convert --all --dry-run
</code></pre>
Options:
<ul>
<li><code><attachment-id></code> — Specific attachment ID to convert</li>
<li><code>--all</code> — Convert all attachments missing AVIF versions</li>
<li><code>--dry-run</code> — Show what would be converted without actually converting</li>
</ul>
<h4>Statistics</h4>
Show AVIF conversion statistics:
<pre><code>wp avif stats
wp avif stats --format=json
</code></pre>
<h4>Logs</h4>
View or clear conversion logs:
<pre><code>wp avif logs
wp avif logs --limit=50
wp avif logs --clear
</code></pre>
Options:
<ul>
<li><code>--clear</code> — Clear all logs</li>
<li><code>--limit=<number></code> — Number of logs to show (default: 20)</li>
</ul>
<h4>Delete</h4>
Delete AVIF files for an attachment or all attachments:
<pre><code>wp avif delete 123
wp avif delete --all --yes
</code></pre>
Options:
<ul>
<li><code><attachment-id></code> — Attachment ID to delete AVIF files for</li>
<li><code>--all</code> — Delete all AVIF files in the media library</li>
<li><code>--yes</code> — Skip confirmation prompt when using –all</li>
</ul>
<h4>LQIP Commands</h4>
Manage LQIP (ThumbHash) placeholders:
<pre><code>wp lqip stats
wp lqip generate --all --force
wp lqip generate 123
wp lqip delete --all --yes
</code></pre>
For more information, visit <a href="https://wp-cli.org/" rel="nofollow ugc">wp-cli.org</a>.
<h3>Contributing</h3>
Contributions welcome! Please submit issues and pull requests on <a href="https://github.com/ddegner/avif-local-support" rel="nofollow ugc">GitHub</a>.
<h3>License</h3>
GPL v2 or later — <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html" rel="nofollow ugc">View License</a>

AVIF Local Support

High-quality AVIF image conversion for WordPress — local, quality-first.

Dropavif

DropAvif Image Optimizer, the comprehensive, all-in-one solution designed to modernize your WordPress media delivery instantly. We don’t just compress images; we transform your entire media stack into a high-performance engine that Google loves.
Unlike many popular plugins that limit you with small monthly quotas, rely on external cloud processing, or charge extra for basic features, <a href="https://dropavif.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">DropAvif.com</a> gives you full control through True Unlimited Local Optimization. Zero limits. Zero tokens. Zero hidden fees.
Everything is powered by our proprietary Quad-Engine — four independent, high-performance optimization processors working in parallel to deliver the fastest AVIF/WebP processing in the entire WordPress ecosystem. 
 It doesn’t matter whether you run: 
 a dynamic news portal with millions of monthly views, 
 a large WooCommerce store with 50,000 products, 
 a photography portfolio where quality and watermarking are absolute priorities, 
 an agency managing 50+ sites via WP-CLI, 
 or a massive eCommerce platform where every millisecond of load time translates into real revenue. 
DropAvif scales automatically — from your very first upload to your millionth pageview. Built for professionals, engineered for speed, and fully optimized for SEO.
<h3>🏆 WHY DROPAVIF IS THE NEW STANDARD (2025 and 2026 EDITION)</h3>
<h4>1. ⚡ The World’s First “Quad-Engine” Local Converter (FREE & UNLIMITED)</h4>
Stop relying on slow, outdated PHP conversion methods that time out your server. DropAvif introduces a revolutionary intelligent detection system that hunts for the fastest image processing tools available on your hosting environment.
We automatically prioritize speed and quality in this order: 
1. 🥇 Libvips (The Speed Demon): If available, we use this enterprise-grade library for memory-efficient, lightning-fast conversion. 
2. 🥈 Cwebp (Google CLI): Direct access to Google’s official binary for the highest possible WebP quality. 
3. 🥉 Imagick: A robust, high-fidelity fallback. 
4. running GD: Universal compatibility ensuring DropAvif works on 99.9% of servers.
The Result: You can convert thousands of images to WebP directly on your server, completely free, without timeouts, and without spending a single API credit.
<h4>🧠 Exclusive “Smart Format Selection” Technology</h4>
Stop guessing between WebP and AVIF. Our cloud engine generates both next-gen formats, analyzes them in real-time against the original, and automatically serves the absolute smallest file to your visitor. 
* Result: You get the extreme compression of AVIF where it shines, and the efficiency of WebP where it’s better. You never leave performance gains on the table.
<h4>☁️ Zero-Load Cloud Architecture</h4>
Traditional plugins use your server’s CPU (GD/Imagick) to compress images. This causes timeouts, failed uploads, and slows down your dashboard. 
DropAvif is different. We send your images to our powerful API. Your server stays fast, and we handle the heavy lifting. 
 Process 50,000+ images in the background without slowing down your site. 
 No timeouts on shared hosting. 
 Resume capability automatically handles interruptions.
<h4>👁️ Perceptual “Smart Optimization” (AI)</h4>
Our flagship compression engine uses perceptual analysis (SSIM) to understand what the human eye actually sees. It intelligently removes invisible data while preserving critical edges, textures, and colors. 
 Result: Images are up to 80% lighter than originals but look virtually identical.
<h3>🛡️ Professional Image Protection: Watermarking</h3>
Protect your intellectual property automatically without touching your original files. 
* Non-Destructive: The watermark is applied only to the optimized WebP and AVIF versions served to visitors. Your original source file remains clean and safe. 
* Cloud-Powered: Watermarking happens in the cloud during conversion, ensuring perfect quality and transparency handling. 
* Flexible Control: Position the watermark anywhere (9 anchor points), adjust opacity, scale, and padding.
<h3>📸 Comprehensive Image Features</h3>
Next-Generation Format Conversion 
* AVIF Conversion: The future of images. Offers superior compression (often 50% smaller than WebP) and HDR color support. 
* WebP Conversion: The modern standard. Fully supported by all browsers. 
* Automatic Fallbacks: We use advanced server rules (.htaccess / Nginx). If a browser doesn’t support AVIF, we serve WebP. If it doesn’t support WebP, we serve the original. Zero broken images.
Massive Bulk Optimization 
* Asynchronous Engine: Optimize your entire library in the background. You can close the browser tab and let DropAvif work its magic. 
* Directory Scanning: DropAvif optimizes everything, not just the Media Library. 
 /wp-content/uploads/ 
 /wp-content/themes/ (Optimize theme assets!) 
 /wp-content/plugins/ (Optimize images from other plugins!) 
 Any custom folder you define.
Before & After Comparison 
* Visual Proof: Use our built-in comparison tool in the Media Library to see the quality difference and file size savings for any specific image side-by-side.
<h3>⚡ Core Web Vitals & Performance Suite</h3>
It’s not just about file size—it’s about how the browser loads the page.
Advanced Lazy Loading 
* Smart Loading: Only load images, iframes, and videos when they enter the viewport. 
* Native Support: Utilizes browser-native lazy loading attributes for maximum performance. 
* Video Placeholders: Replaces heavy YouTube/Vimeo iframes with a lightweight preview image. The video resource only loads when the user clicks “Play.”
Critical Image Preloading (LCP) 
* LCP Optimization: Automatically identifies and preloads the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) image (usually the hero banner) to instantly boost your Google Lighthouse score.
Layout Shift (CLS) Fixes 
* Missing Dimensions: Automatically scans your HTML and adds missing <code>width</code> and <code>height</code> attributes to <code><img></code> tags to prevent content jumping as images load.
<h3>🔌 Deep Ecosystem Integration</h3>
DropAvif is engineered to work seamlessly with the tools you already use.
Smart SEO Sitemaps 
* Yoast SEO & Rank Math: We automatically update the image URLs in your XML sitemaps. This ensures Google bots index your optimized WebP/AVIF versions instead of the heavy originals, boosting your SEO rankings.
Page Builders & Galleries 
* Full Compatibility: Automatically detects and optimizes images added by Elementor, WPBakery, Divi, Beaver Builder, and Gutenberg. 
* Gallery Support: Native support for NextGen Gallery, Modula, and FooGallery.
eCommerce Ready 
 WooCommerce: Optimize thousands of product variations without slowing down the checkout flow.
CDN Support 
* Cloudflare API: Connect your Cloudflare account directly. The plugin will automatically purge the Cloudflare cache for specific images whenever they are optimized, ensuring users always see the latest version.
<h3>💻 Full WP-CLI Integration (For Developers)</h3>
Manage optimization entirely from the command line. Perfect for agencies, cron jobs, and automated deployment pipelines.
<ul>
<li>Regenerate: Run bulk conversions or force re-optimization. 
 $ wp media-optimizer regenerate 
 $ wp media-optimizer regenerate –force</li>
<li>Automate: Script the optimization process across multiple sites without ever logging into the WordPress dashboard.</li>
</ul>
<h3>🔧 Advanced Control for Agencies</h3>
Role-Based Upload Policies 
Stop clients or editors from uploading massive, unoptimized photos that kill your server storage. 
* Set Max File Size (e.g., 5MB) limits per user role. 
* Set Max Image Dimensions (e.g., 2000px width) limits per user role.
Granular Exclusions 
Complete control over what gets optimized. Exclude by: 
* Path/URL: e.g., <code>/sensitive-documents/</code> 
* Filename Pattern: e.g., <code>banner-hq-*.jpg</code> 
* Thumbnail Size: Keep your full-resolution originals untouched while optimizing only the thumbnails.
<h3>🛡️ Safety, Backup & Privacy</h3>
<ul>
<li>Originals are Read-Only: We never overwrite your original files. We create optimized copies in a separate folder.</li>
<li>One-Click Restore: Don’t like the result? Revert to the original image instantly.</li>
<li>Backup Friendly: Option to exclude the <code>media-optimizer-files</code> directory from backup plugins (UpdraftPlus, etc.) to save massive amounts of backup storage space (since optimized files can always be regenerated).</li>
</ul>
<h3>💸 Pricing Model</h3>
DropAvif Free: 
* Unlimited Local WebP Conversion. 
* Unlimited Lazy Load, Preload, and Watermarking. 
* Quad-Engine Speed (libvips/cwebp support). 
* 200 Free Cloud Credits (one-time) to test AVIF.
DropAvif API: 
* Cloud AVIF Conversion: Unlock the smallest file sizes. 
* Smart Format Selection: The “Best of Both Worlds” engine. 
* Smart Optimization: Perceptual AI compression (SSIM). 
* Zero-Load Processing: Offload CPU usage to our cloud infrastructure.
<a href="https://dropavif.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">Check out our plans and get started for free!</a>
Additionally, if you enable the optional CDN feature, the plugin will connect to the Cloudflare API (<code>https://api.cloudflare.com/client/v4/</code>) to purge the cache. This requires you to provide your own Cloudflare API credentials. 
 Cloudflare Terms of Service: https://www.cloudflare.com/website-terms/
The service processes the image on its servers and returns the optimized version to your website. No personal user data is sent.
You can review the service’s terms and privacy policy here: 
 Terms of Service: https://dropavif.com/terms-of-service 
 Privacy Policy: https://dropavif.com/privacy-policy

DropAvif Image Optimizer – Convert WebP & AVIF | Compress Images

The Ultimate Image Optimization Suite for WordPress. WebP & AVIF conversion, Smart Format Selection, Watermarking, and Lazy Load. Zero server load.

AVIF Local Support vs DropAvif Image Optimizer – Convert WebP & AVIF | Compress Images