About this plugin
ITBoffins Image Scout is a local image optimisation plugin for sites whose images are scattered across the Media Library, page-builder templates, theme output, and raw uploads folders.
Unlike most image plugins, there is no external service, no API key, no monthly quota, and no account to create. Your images never leave your server. Because it relies only on PHP’s built-in image tools, it works on practically any WordPress host, including cheap shared hosting where shell access is disabled.
The Image Scout difference
Most optimisers focus on Media Library attachments. Image Scout adds a disk-level uploads scout: it walks /uploads in batches, finds JPEG/PNG files that builders and themes use outside the Library, and creates validated WebP siblings. That gives small and shared-host sites a practical no-cloud way to modernise hidden images without rewriting the entire front-end response.
What it does
- Compress on upload — every new JPEG and PNG is optimised automatically.
- Bulk optimise — compress your entire existing Media Library with a one-click batch tool that runs in the background and shows you each file as it works.
- Scan entire uploads folder — generate WebP for every JPEG/PNG in your uploads folder, including page-builder and theme images that are not in the Media Library.
- WebP conversion — generates WebP copies of your images (where your server supports it).
- Automatic WebP delivery — serves WebP to browsers that support it using the standard <picture> element, so it works on Apache, Nginx, LiteSpeed and IIS without any server config or.htaccess edits. Browsers that don’t support WebP get the original automatically.
- Builder/theme image scout — the uploads-folder scanner creates WebP copies for images that page builders, themes, or imports placed outside the Media Library.
- Safe & reversible — optionally keeps protected untouched backups so you can restore originals with one click.
- Honest about your server — a settings panel shows exactly what your host can do (GD, Imagick, WebP support) so there are no surprises.
Why “local”?
Everything happens on your own server:
- No external API or third-party service.
- No exec() / shell access required (so it works where cwebp, jpegoptim, etc. are blocked).
- No data sent anywhere. Good for privacy and for sites behind a firewall.
Privacy
This plugin does not send your images or any data to any external service. All processing happens locally on your server.