Overview

Instead of keeping separate stored copies for each size or format, teams can have images processed when requested. Resizing, cropping or trimming, orientation changes, quality adjustments and format conversion are controlled through query parameters and configuration. This is a practical fit for sites with varied image placements, but less compelling when a fixed set of prepared assets already meets the need.

Optimized results are cached and reused, which can reduce latency on later requests. The service works with existing asset pipelines and CMS platforms, allowing teams to retain their current image sources. Fastly was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California; Image Optimizer is deployed in the cloud.

Key features

Supported output formats are WebP, AVIF, JPEG and PNG. Configurable defaults cover WebP and JPEG quality, resizing filters, upscaling, animated GIF-to-video handling and the file types to process. Those defaults give teams control over routine behavior, while query parameters and configuration allow more specific choices for dimensions, quality, format and cropping.

Image Optimizer can be enabled in the Fastly control panel or through the API. Compute SDK access is available through a beta program. The billing rule deserves particular attention: any request sent to Image Optimizer, including one made through the SDK, counts as a billable image request. Caching helps subsequent delivery, but teams should account for the request meter when estimating usage.

Fastly states that it is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, audited against SOC 2 Type 2 and key GDPR requirements, PCI DSS Level 1 compliant, and audited against relevant HIPAA sections. These credentials may matter to teams evaluating a delivery provider, but they do not remove the need to assess the service against an organization’s own requirements.

Pricing

Pricing is request-based, with a free allowance of 100,000 image requests per month. Above that, the tiers are billed per 10,000 Image Requests per month:

Plan	Price	Monthly request range
Image Optimizer — 0–100,000 image requests	0.00 USD per free	100,000 image requests per month
Image Optimizer — 100,000–10 Million image requests	0.50 USD per month	100,000–10 Million image requests
Image Optimizer — 10 Million–50 Million image requests	0.15 USD per month	10 Million–50 Million image requests
Image Optimizer — 50 Million–150 Million image requests	0.07 USD per month	50 Million–150 Million image requests
Image Optimizer — 150 Million–500 Million image requests	0.03 USD per month	150 Million–500 Million image requests
Image Optimizer — 500 Million–1 Billion image requests	0.02 USD per month	500 Million–1 Billion image requests
Image Optimizer — 1 Billion–5 Billion image requests	0.02 USD per month	1 Billion–5 Billion image requests
Image Optimizer — Beyond 5 Billion image requests	0.01 USD per month	Beyond 5 Billion image requests

The free tier is a useful way to start, but its 100,000-request monthly cap is modest for a busy image-heavy property. The listed per-10,000 rate falls as volume rises, so the lower tiers are a better fit for smaller traffic while large deployments benefit from the reduced rate. The paid-from amount is 1500 /mo, and pricing is on request; teams should confirm how their expected volume maps to a bill before committing.

Platforms

Fastly Image Optimizer is available through API, Linux and web platforms. The broader Fastly offering also identifies deployment through the Fastly CLI, control panel, GitHub Actions, Terraform and APIs, with runtime support for Rust, JavaScript, Go, C++, Python and other WASI-supporting languages. Those broader edge capabilities should not be confused with image transformation features themselves.

Who it's for

Image-heavy media sites, ecommerce platforms and SaaS applications are the clearest fit, particularly when they need multiple on-demand sizes or formats and can forecast request volume. Teams already using Fastly’s asset delivery workflows may value keeping existing sources and controlling transformations through configuration. It is a weaker choice for teams seeking a flat, predictable price regardless of traffic or for workloads that do not benefit from dynamic variants.

Pros and cons

Pro: On-demand variants. Teams can create sizes and formats from request parameters instead of storing every version ahead of time.
Pro: Reuse through caching. Cached optimized images can serve repeat requests with minimal latency.
Pro: Fits existing workflows. Integration with asset pipelines and CMS platforms lets teams keep their current image sources.
Con: Every request is billable. SDK requests count too, so request volume needs to be part of cost planning.
Con: Free usage is capped. The free tier covers 100,000 image requests per month, which may not suit high-traffic properties.
Con: Compute SDK access is beta. Teams depending on that route should account for its beta status.

Alternatives

Image Compression Software is a useful category to compare when the priority is image compression rather than an edge service for request-time transformations and cached delivery.
CDN Software is worth comparing for teams choosing a broader content-delivery platform.
Cloudflare DDoS Protection is a freemium alternative with a free plan that includes unmetered DDoS protection, a web application firewall and a free managed ruleset; choose it when those protections are the priority rather than image optimization.
AWS Shield is a freemium alternative whose Standard plan provides common network- and transport-layer DDoS protection automatically for AWS customers; choose it for that AWS-focused protection rather than image transformation.
Gcore DDoS Protection offers a free PAYG option; consider it when comparing DDoS protection services rather than an image optimization product.
F5 BIG-IP APM is a paid alternative with a free trial; compare it when evaluating access management rather than image processing.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Secret Management is a free alternative for teams comparing secret management rather than image delivery.
A10 Thunder ADC is a paid alternative with a free trial; consider it when evaluating application delivery control rather than image optimization.
Andrisoft Wanguard is a paid alternative with a free trial; it is another option to compare in the DDoS protection space.
StormWall DDoS Protection is a paid alternative with a free trial for teams comparing DDoS protection services.
DDoS Protection Software is a category to explore if protection from DDoS attacks is the requirement.
Web Application Firewall Software is a category to compare when application-layer firewall capabilities are the priority.

Verdict

Fastly Image Optimizer is a strong fit for image-heavy teams that want dynamic variants, configurable processing and cached edge delivery without managing every asset copy themselves. Choose it when those workflow gains justify metered requests and you can plan around the monthly tiers. Look elsewhere if you need predictable flat-rate billing or a tool focused on a different security or delivery job.

	Fastly Image Optimizer	Leaseweb CDN
Free plan	Yes	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	$0.01/mo	€0.55/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	api, Linux, Web	api, Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Paid from	1,500 /mo	—
Image optimization	Yes	—
Origin shield	Yes	Yes

Fastly Image Optimizer vs Leaseweb CDN

Fastly Image Optimizer

Leaseweb CDN