Cost Comparison for Optimizing 10K, 100K, and 1M Images With ShortPixel, Imagify, and Smush

Image optimization is one of the most effective ways to improve website performance, reduce bandwidth usage, and pass Core Web Vitals. But as websites grow and image libraries reach tens or hundreds of thousands of files, compression quality alone is no longer enough.

At that scale, pricing models, time constraints, and processing methods start to matter just as much.

In this article, we compare the real cost and flexibility of optimizing 10K, 100K, and 1M images using ShortPixel, Imagify, and Smush, focusing on:

• how pricing scales with volume
• how long optimization realistically takes
• what you actually get for the money you pay

Why image volume and time frame matter

Optimizing 10K images is very different from optimizing 1M images.

Some websites:

• need a one-time cleanup of a large existing library
• upload images in batches, not every month
• want to optimize everything quickly, then stop paying
  

In these cases, being locked into a recurring subscription can significantly increase the total cost, even after the optimization work is already done.

That’s why both image volume and the time period in which you want to optimize are critical when choosing an image optimization solution.

ShortPixel: flexible pricing for both one-time and massive optimization jobs

ShortPixel was built to support a wide range of usage patterns, from small blogs to large ecommerce and media platforms with hundreds of thousands or even millions of images.

What ShortPixel plans include

Before comparing prices, it’s important to understand that ShortPixel plans include more than basic compression:

• Advanced image optimization using the best algorithms on the market
• Lossy, Glossy, and Lossless compression modes
• Automatic WebP and AVIF generation
• WebP and AVIF delivery locally or via ShortPixel Global CDN
• Image processing done entirely on ShortPixel’s own servers
  → no resource usage on your hosting
  

Built-in AI-powered features, including:

• AI Background Removal
• AI Image SEO
• AI Image Upscaling
  

These features are included across plans, without separate add-ons.

What sets ShortPixel apart: one-time credits that never expire

ShortPixel is the only major image optimization service that offers one-time credits with no expiration date.

Buy them once, and use them whenever you need, this week, next month, or even three years from now.

This model is ideal if you:

• need to optimize a large existing image library
• don’t upload images every month
• want full cost control without ongoing subscriptions
  

Once your images are optimized, there is no pressure to keep paying just to maintain access.

Handling extremely large image libraries (up to 1M images)

When speed matters more than long-term cost, for example, when optimizing very large libraries, ShortPixel also offers Unlimited plans:

• $9.99 / month (monthly)
• $8.33 / month (billed yearly, 2 months free)
  

A common and cost-efficient strategy is:

• Activate Unlimited for a short period
• Optimize the entire image library quickly
• Switch back to non-expiring one-time credits if a subscription is no longer needed
  

This hybrid approach offers flexibility that subscription-only tools simply don’t provide.

Annual ShortPixel plans also include 6 months of free access to FastPixel, covering caching, CDN, and Core Web Vitals optimization.

Imagify: subscription-based pricing

Imagify uses a monthly subscription model, primarily based on file size limits rather than image count.

Current pricing

Infinite plan

• $11.99 / month
• $9.99 / month (billed yearly)
  

Important considerations for large optimization jobs

For websites with large existing image libraries:

• there are no one-time credits
• subscriptions must remain active even after bulk optimization is complete
• CDN delivery is not included
• no AI-based image features are available
  

Imagify processes images on its own servers, but according to Imagify’s FAQ, users running “out of the ordinary usage”, such as very heavy or unusually large optimization loads, may be contacted.

This makes Imagify suitable for smaller or steady monthly workloads, but less flexible for very large, time-limited optimization projects.

Smush: bundled pricing

Smush Pro is available through the WPMU DEV membership and is billed yearly.

Pricing tiers

• Basic: $30 / year
• Standard: $60 / year
• Plus: $100 / year
• Premium: $1000 / year
  

Key limitations for large image libraries

• pricing is based on site licenses, not image volume
• CDN traffic is capped (5GB–50GB depending on plan)
• bulk optimization relies heavily on your own server’s resources
• large optimization jobs can be slow or unstable, especially on shared hosting
  

Smush works well for smaller sites, but it is not specifically designed for very large one-time image optimization projects.

Final cost comparison by image volume

ShortPixel

• 10K images: one-time credits, no subscription
• 100K images: one-time credits, non-expiring, or one month subscription
• 1M images: Unlimited plan for $9.99 (one month), then optional return to credits
  

Imagify

• 10K images: Infinite plan subscription
• 100K images: Infinite plan subscription for multiple months
• 1M images: Infinite plan for multiple months, ongoing subscription required
  

Smush

• 10K images: lower-tier yearly plan
• 100K images: higher-tier yearly plan recommended
• 1M images: Premium plan ($1000/year), with CDN limits and heavy server usage
  

Final thoughts

Choosing an image optimization solution isn’t just about compression quality, it’s about pricing flexibility, scalability, and how long you actually need the service.

ShortPixel’s combination of:

• non-expiring one-time credits
• optional short-term Unlimited plans
• server-side processing
• CDN and AI features included
  

Makes it especially well suited for websites that need to optimize 10K, 100K, or even 1M images, without being locked into ongoing subscriptions long after the job is done.