couic or ShortPixel: unlimited, simpler and cheaper
ShortPixel is thorough: credits consumed image by image, or an unlimited plan from around $8.33/month, WebP and AVIF included. couic plays it simple, one price, €4.99/month, unlimited, with no credits to watch and no cloud that keeps your images.
ShortPixel is one of the most settings-rich optimizers out there: compression levels, formats, resizing, lifetime credit packs. That richness has a flip side, you have to choose between two pricing logics, credits or unlimited, and keep an eye on your usage.
couic does the opposite: a single plan, no credits, no tier. You optimize, that's it. The result, WebP, AVIF, recompressed original, is the same on every image.
| Criterion | couic | ShortPixel |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | €4.99/month | Free 100/mo, then from ~$8.33/mo |
| Model | Unlimited (fair-use) | Per-image credits or monthly unlimited |
| WebP | Included | Included |
| AVIF | Included | Included |
| Where your images live | None, stateless, never kept | Processed on ShortPixel's cloud |
| Shared hosting | Yes (no exec() needed) | Yes (cloud) |
| WordPress plugin | Yes, dedicated plugin | Yes |
| API / automation | Yes, REST + MCP | API (no MCP) |
Why pick couic
- Cheaper than ShortPixel's unlimited, with no credits to watch.
- WebP and AVIF included, like ShortPixel, but with no count or tier.
- Stateless: your images don't sit on a third-party server.
- REST API and MCP server for workflows and agents.
- One price, one quality level, nothing to ration.
Credits or unlimited: one decision fewer
ShortPixel's credit model is clever for a fixed volume: buy a pack, spend it at your pace. But on a site that publishes continuously, you have to plan ahead, top up, and sometimes weigh quality against credits left.
couic removes that juggling. Unlimited is the only option, so there's nothing to ration: the same quality applies to every image, all the time.
Price, stripped to the essentials
ShortPixel's unlimited starts around $8.33/month; couic is €4.99. For a simple need, lightening the images of one or more WordPress sites without thinking about it, couic covers the essentials for less.
Where ShortPixel charges for finesse, couic charges for peace of mind: a fixed amount, no end-of-month surprise.
Stateless by design
ShortPixel optimizes on its cloud. couic keeps nothing: the image is processed then cleared from memory, only the optimized bytes come back to you. That's a concrete argument when your visuals are confidential or bound by retention rules.
Automate with no hidden cost
couic exposes a REST API and an MCP server on top of the WordPress plugin. Enough to fold optimization into a deployment, a migration script or an agent, without burning credits on every call.
Lossy or lossless: where to set the dial
ShortPixel is known for its lossy, glossy and lossless modes. couic simplifies the choice into three clear levels: "normal" (visually lossless), "aggressive" and "ultra". No jargon to decode, a safe default.
The result stays reversible: the original is kept plugin-side, and nothing is overwritten if the optimized version isn't smaller.
Optimize with no settings or credits to track
Many people just want to compress their WordPress images without spending the day on it. couic starts from that goal: drop a file or enable the plugin, and the rest is automatic, on upload and in bulk.
No credits to top up, no quota to watch: the only paid plan is unlimited, so nothing stops mid-month.
Frequently asked questions
Is ShortPixel unlimited?+
ShortPixel offers credits per image or an unlimited plan from around $8.33/month. couic is unlimited at €4.99/month, with no option to weigh up.
Does ShortPixel do AVIF?+
Yes. So does couic, included on every image.
A cheaper ShortPixel alternative?+
couic, at €4.99/month, unlimited, with no credits and no cloud storing your files.
Do you manage credits with couic?+
No. couic has neither credits nor a megabyte quota: unlimited in fair-use is the only paid plan.
Should I compress images before uploading?+
Not necessary with couic: the plugin optimizes on upload and can catch up your whole library in bulk. Upload as usual, couic handles the weight.
What's the best lossless compression?+
The "normal" level: it lightens with no visible difference. ShortPixel offers an equivalent lossless mode; with couic it's the default, with no credit to spend.