IMG Performer or EWWW? The comparison for WordPress
EWWW can run locally – the basic difference falls away. IMG Performer stays entirely local, needs no account and covers AI labelling and alt text.
EWWW is one of the few optimizers that can run locally – so the basic “local vs. cloud” difference largely falls away. EWWW’s better compression and AVIF conversion, however, run through the cloud API (EU servers, DPA). IMG Performer runs entirely local, needs no account and additionally covers EU AI Act labelling and AI alt text. EWWW, in turn, offers very mature compression fine-tuning.
| IMG Performer | EWWW Image Optimizer | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Enfants Terribles digital GmbH (Hamburg) | – |
| Processing | local, on your own server | local possible, better compression + AVIF via cloud API (EU server) |
| Account required | no | no (local) / yes (cloud API) |
| AI model (alt text) | your choice – Mistral (France) recommended | – |
| Billing | license, no quota | cloud API by credits/bandwidth |
| Data protection | no image transfer to third parties; DPA only for the optional alt-text AI | – |
| EU AI Act Art. 50 | yes, already in the free version | no |
| WebP / AVIF | yes (AVIF in Pro) | yes (AVIF via cloud API) |
| AI alt text | yes (Pro, your own API key, no credit cap) | no |
| AI image detection | automatic (C2PA, EXIF, AI-tool signatures) | – |
| Marker in all image sizes | yes – machine-readable marker in every size incl. WebP/AVIF | – |
| Visible label | yes, customizable design (Pro) | – |
| Platforms | WordPress | – |
| Cost | Free · Pro €69/year or €9/month | local free · cloud API from $80/year |
Last verified: August 2026. The current vendor pages are authoritative.
Where EWWW is strong
- Detailed compression fine-tuning, many image formats, mature bulk tools.
- The local basic optimization runs without an account.
- The cloud API has a DPA and EU servers.
Where the difference is
- IMG Performer also processes WebP/AVIF and AI detection locally – without the detour through a cloud API.
- EU AI Act Art. 50 labelling and AI alt text are not provided for in EWWW.
- Annual licence instead of cloud credits/bandwidth.
When EWWW is the better choice
If maximum control over the compression parameters matters to you and you do not need AI labelling or alt text.
When IMG Performer fits
If you also want WebP/AVIF entirely local, do not want an account, and cover AI labelling and accessible alt text at the same time.
For an overview of further local and cloud alternatives, see the guide GDPR image optimization without the cloud.
Disclaimer
Note: Information on features and prices – including those of IMG Performer – reflects our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. We accept no liability for its accuracy. The current product and pricing pages of the respective providers are authoritative; information on IMG Performer is available at img-performer.enfants.de.
Frequently asked questions
Does EWWW run without the cloud API?
The basic optimization for JPG, PNG and GIF does. For stronger compression and AVIF, the paid cloud API is used.
Can I use EWWW and IMG Performer together?
Technically possible, usually not necessary – IMG Performer covers the conversion. Double conversion should be avoided.