Using non optimized images may impact your WordPress website performance and speed. As a result users can face an increased load time due to the size of images.  Images usually  takes larger load time, as compared to text due their size and browser rendering. In order to reduce image sizes, please follow below steps as per  your ease.

1- The Manual Way – Use TinyPNG to optimize images:

This is the most effective and best way to optimize your  images. Only draw back of using this way is: it takes a lot of time in compressing images. How ever this way still can be adopted for optimizing images on small or medium scaled websites and blogs. By using this method, you can optimize images up-to 85% of their actual size. In some cases you can optimize images up to 90%. See below screen for results

You can compress images here for Free. By using this method, you can compress both JPG and PNG images. If you use a blog or magazine website with lot of content, then you can download and install TingPNG Plugin, which will automatically compress images on upload.  You will need to obtain API key from here. First 500 images will be optimized free. After first 500 images, you will be charged at $0.009/image.

Advantages of Using TinyPNG

• Its Free. If you use plugin then it allows you to optimize first 500 images for free.
• Optimization is carried out on TinyPNG Server. Which means, you do not need to be worry about server resource usage.
• TinyPNG optimizes images upto 90% of their actual size.
• You can use this on any platform. It is not just restricted for WordPress only.

Disadvantages of Using TinyPNG

• If you want to use it Free for always then you will need to use it the manual way.
• It is slower and will take you additional time while preparing contents for your website.
• You rely on TinyPNG service.

2- By Using Plugin – Smush Image Compression and Optimization

Optimize WordPress website images using a plugin is the best way for large scale websites who have a lot of content and traffic. But this method requires more server resources and as a result, this may incur you additional charges, if you are on a metered server. Another drawback with this method is that it is not the most effective way to optimize images. You can optimize images upto 40% of their original size. Smush Plugin can be downloaded here.

Advantages of using Smush plugin:

• It is automated. All images will be optimized automatically when you upload them to server.
• It requires less time in preparing content for  your website or blog.
• It is free (A premium version plugin is also available).
• Offers a lot of parameters in Admin dashboard. You can tweak them as per your needs.

Disadvantages of using Smush plugin:

• It uses a lot of server resources. If you are hosted on a metered cloud hosting plan, then it may incur you additional server costs.
• Optimization ratio is less as compared TinyPNG.

Verdict

When it comes to optimize images, both ways are good. You can adopt any way as per your needs. Most of times, people choose TinyPNG due their best performance and results.