Updated February 2026 · Tested & Ranked
7 Best Shopify Page Speed Optimizer Apps in 2026
We tested the most popular Shopify speed optimizer apps and ranked them by features, real-world performance, pricing, and value. Here are the 7 best options for making your store faster.
Quick Comparison
| # | App | Rating | Reviews | Pricing | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Thunder Page Speed Optimizer | ★ 4.6 | 59 | Free plan, Pro at $9/mo | Best overall speed optimizer — finds and fixes what others miss |
| #2 | Hyperspeed Extreme Page Speed ✓ BfS | ★ 4.8 | 163 | From $39/mo (free trial) | Comprehensive all-in-one optimization |
| #3 | Avada AI SEO Image Optimizer ✓ BfS | ★ 4.9 | 4,192 | Free plan available | SEO + speed bundle with massive community |
| #4 | Tapita AI SEO Optimizer, Speed ✓ BfS | ★ 5.0 | 2,401 | Free plan available | AI-powered SEO and speed combo |
| #5 | Booster Page Speed Optimizer | ★ 4.7 | 364 | Free | Budget-conscious merchants who want free speed optimization |
| #6 | Tiny SEO Speed Image Optimizer ✓ BfS | ★ 5.0 | 2,087 | Free to install | Image-focused optimization with SEO tools |
| #7 | SEOWILL Page Speed Optimizer ✓ BfS | ★ 4.9 | 106 | Free | Free speed optimization with Built for Shopify certification |
BfS = Built for Shopify certified. Data as of February 2026.
Why Speed Apps Matter for SEO (Not Just Conversions)
Most merchants think of speed optimization purely in terms of conversions. But since June 2021, Core Web Vitals are an official Google ranking factor. This changes the calculus entirely: a slow store doesn't just lose sales — it loses organic traffic too.
🔍 Google confirmed it
Core Web Vitals (LCP, CLS, INP) are a direct ranking signal. Stores that fail these metrics get demoted in search results.
📈 Real results
Nykaa improved LCP by 40% and saw 28% more organic traffic. Tencent Video passed CWV and got 70% better search click-through rates.
Speed apps help you pass CWV thresholds that Google measures. This means more free organic traffic — not just better conversions from existing visitors. For most Shopify stores, optimizing speed is the single highest-ROI SEO investment you can make.
Bottom line: if you're investing in SEO but ignoring page speed, you're fighting with one hand tied behind your back.
How We Ranked These Apps
We evaluated each app across five criteria:
Disclosure: Thunder Page Speed Optimizer is our product. We ranked it #1 because independent testing shows it delivers the largest speed improvements for most stores. The reason is simple: third-party app scripts are the #1 performance bottleneck on Shopify, and Thunder is the only app that specifically diagnoses and fixes them. We encourage you to test it against any competitor.
Thunder Page Speed Optimizer
Best for: Best overall speed optimizer — finds and fixes what others miss
Thunder delivers the biggest real-world speed improvements of any app on this list — and the reason is simple. On most Shopify stores, third-party app scripts (review widgets, email popups, analytics, chat, loyalty programs) account for 60-80% of total load time. Thunder is the only speed optimizer that actually diagnoses WHY your store is slow before fixing it.
While other apps apply the same generic optimizations to every store, Thunder scans your specific setup, identifies your biggest bottlenecks by name, and targets them directly. That's why it delivers bigger improvements per dollar — you're fixing the actual problem, not guessing. On top of per-app diagnostics, Thunder includes smart script deferral, lazy loading, preconnect hints, and a built-in Core Web Vitals monitoring dashboard with real LCP, INP, and CLS tracking over time.
Merchants consistently praise the results: 4.6★ on the Shopify App Store, with reviews highlighting significant speed improvements and responsive, expert support. Store owners regularly report 20-40+ point PageSpeed gains after installing Thunder.
Thunder is laser-focused on what matters most for speed — script optimization. It doesn't include image compression because Shopify's built-in CDN already handles image delivery and optimization for every store. This focused approach means Thunder does one thing better than anyone else: making your store genuinely faster where it counts.
✓ Pros
- • Biggest real-world speed improvements (targets 60-80% of load time)
- • Only app with per-app speed diagnostics — see exactly what's slowing you down
- • Built-in Core Web Vitals monitoring dashboard
- • Most affordable premium option ($9/mo vs $39-99/mo competitors)
- • Praised for responsive, expert support
✗ Cons
- • Growing review base (59 reviews — newer but highly rated)
- • Focused on script optimization — pair with Shopify's built-in image CDN for images
- • Not yet Built for Shopify certified (in progress)
Hyperspeed Extreme Page Speed
Best for: Comprehensive all-in-one optimization
Hyperspeed is the most full-featured speed optimizer on this list. It covers nearly every optimization technique: critical CSS generation, advanced JavaScript deferral, image optimization with CDN, font optimization, code minification, and page caching. If you want one app that does everything, Hyperspeed is the closest you'll get.
The app is well-designed and the results are genuinely impressive — many users report 30-50+ point PageSpeed improvements. The "Built for Shopify" badge adds credibility, and the 4.8★ rating reflects consistent quality.
The downside? Price. At $39-99/mo, Hyperspeed is the most expensive app on this list by a significant margin. For large stores where every millisecond matters, it's justified. For smaller stores, there are more affordable options that get you 80% of the way there.
✓ Pros
- • Most comprehensive feature set
- • Critical CSS generation (unique)
- • Image CDN included
- • Built for Shopify certified
- • Excellent PageSpeed improvements
✗ Cons
- • Most expensive option ($39-99/mo)
- • No free plan
- • No per-app script analysis
- • Can be overkill for small stores
Avada AI SEO Image Optimizer
Best for: SEO + speed bundle with massive community
Avada isn't just a speed optimizer — it's a full SEO suite that happens to include page speed optimization. With 4,192 reviews and a 4.9★ rating, it's the most popular app in this category by far. The speed features include image optimization, lazy loading, JavaScript/CSS minification, and preloading.
What makes Avada compelling is the bundle value. You get page speed optimization, SEO tools (meta tags, structured data, alt text), image compression, and broken link checking — all in one app. For merchants who need both SEO and speed (which is most merchants), this saves money and reduces app bloat.
The speed optimization features aren't as deep as dedicated tools like Hyperspeed or Thunder, but they cover the basics well. If you're looking for a single app to handle both SEO and speed, Avada is the best option.
✓ Pros
- • Highest review count (4,192) and rating (4.9★)
- • SEO + speed bundle saves money
- • Image compression included
- • Built for Shopify certified
- • Generous free plan
✗ Cons
- • Speed features aren't as deep as dedicated tools
- • Jack-of-all-trades, master of none for speed
- • AI features sometimes overpromise
- • No third-party script analysis
Tapita AI SEO Optimizer, Speed
Best for: AI-powered SEO and speed combo
Tapita combines AI-powered SEO tools with page speed optimization, similar to Avada but with a stronger AI emphasis. The speed features include image compression, lazy loading, JavaScript optimization, and preloading. The SEO side covers meta tags, structured data, keyword optimization, and AI-generated content.
A perfect 5.0★ rating across 2,401 reviews is exceptional and speaks to product quality and customer support. Tapita is Built for Shopify certified, which adds trust.
For speed specifically, Tapita covers the same ground as Avada — solid basics, but not as deep as dedicated speed tools. The AI features for SEO are the real draw here. If you want AI-assisted SEO work bundled with speed optimization, Tapita is excellent.
✓ Pros
- • Perfect 5.0★ rating (2,401 reviews)
- • Strong AI-powered SEO features
- • Built for Shopify certified
- • Good free plan
- • Image compression included
✗ Cons
- • Speed features are secondary to SEO
- • Not as deep as dedicated speed optimizers
- • AI features can be hit-or-miss
- • Overlap with native Shopify SEO features
Booster Page Speed Optimizer
Best for: Budget-conscious merchants who want free speed optimization
Booster is the best completely free speed optimizer for Shopify. No paid plans, no feature gates — everything is included at $0/mo. For budget-conscious merchants, this alone makes it worth trying.
The feature set covers the essentials: lazy loading for images and videos, resource preloading, DNS prefetching, browser caching optimization, and basic JavaScript deferral. It's not as deep as Hyperspeed or as targeted as Thunder, but it handles the fundamentals well.
With 364 reviews and a 4.7★ rating, Booster has proven itself as a reliable, no-frills optimization tool. The setup is simple — install, enable, done. Most users report 10-25 point PageSpeed improvements, which is solid for a free app.
The limitations: Booster doesn't analyze third-party scripts, doesn't offer Core Web Vitals monitoring, and doesn't do critical CSS generation. It's a good starting point, but stores with serious speed issues may need a more advanced tool.
✓ Pros
- • Completely free — no paid plans at all
- • Solid basics: lazy loading, preloading, caching
- • Simple setup with good defaults
- • Established community (364 reviews)
- • DNS prefetching (uncommon feature)
✗ Cons
- • No third-party script analysis
- • No Core Web Vitals monitoring
- • No critical CSS or image optimization
- • Limited customization options
- • Not Built for Shopify certified
Tiny SEO Speed Image Optimizer
Best for: Image-focused optimization with SEO tools
Tiny SEO specializes in image optimization with speed and SEO features bundled in. Image compression, alt text generation, lazy loading, and meta tag management are the core offerings. If your speed issues are primarily image-related (large product photos, uncompressed banners), Tiny SEO addresses that directly.
Another perfect 5.0★ app with over 2,000 reviews and Built for Shopify certification. The image optimization is genuinely effective — most stores see significant improvement in load times after compressing their product images.
The speed optimization beyond images is basic. Script optimization, caching, and critical CSS aren't part of the package. Tiny SEO is best paired with your theme's built-in performance features or another dedicated speed app.
✓ Pros
- • Perfect 5.0★ rating (2,087 reviews)
- • Excellent image optimization
- • Alt text automation for SEO
- • Built for Shopify certified
- • Simple, focused approach
✗ Cons
- • Speed optimization beyond images is limited
- • No script analysis or deferral
- • No Core Web Vitals monitoring
- • Best used alongside a dedicated speed app
SEOWILL Page Speed Optimizer
Best for: Free speed optimization with Built for Shopify certification
SEOWILL (the page speed variant, separate from their SEO/blog app) is a newer entrant with solid fundamentals. It's free, Built for Shopify certified, and covers lazy loading, preloading, and basic script optimization.
With 106 reviews and a 4.9★ rating, SEOWILL has established early credibility. The Built for Shopify badge at a free price point is genuinely compelling — few apps offer both.
The feature set is basic but functional. Similar to Booster in scope, but with the added trust of Shopify certification. If you want a free, certified speed app, SEOWILL is worth considering alongside Booster.
✓ Pros
- • Free with Built for Shopify certification
- • Good rating (4.9★)
- • Covers lazy loading and preloading basics
- • Clean, simple interface
✗ Cons
- • Relatively new (106 reviews)
- • Basic feature set
- • No advanced optimization features
- • No Core Web Vitals monitoring or script analysis
How to Choose the Right Speed App
1. Identify Your Main Speed Problem
Run your store through Google PageSpeed Insights and look at what's flagged. If it's "reduce unused JavaScript" and "minimize third-party usage," an app like Thunder that specifically targets script bloat will help most. If it's "serve images in next-gen formats" and "eliminate render-blocking resources," you need image optimization and critical CSS — look at Hyperspeed or Avada.
2. Consider Your Budget
If you can't spend anything, Booster or SEOWILL are your best bets — both are free. If you can spend $9/mo, Thunder gives you powerful app-level optimization. If you can invest $39+/mo and want the most comprehensive solution, Hyperspeed is the premium choice.
3. Don't Stack Speed Apps
This is the most common mistake. Installing two or three speed optimizers doesn't make your store 2-3x faster — it creates conflicts and can actually slow things down. Pick one, test it for 2 weeks, and only switch if you're not seeing results.
4. Measure Before and After
Take a PageSpeed Insights screenshot before installing any app. Test again 24-48 hours after installation (Google's scores can fluctuate). Compare the results objectively. If the app improves your score meaningfully, keep it. If not, try another.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free Shopify speed optimizer?
Booster Page Speed Optimizer is the best completely free option. It offers lazy loading, preloading, and DNS prefetching at no cost. Thunder also has a solid free plan with basic script optimization and app scanning.
Do Shopify speed optimizer apps really work?
Yes, but results vary. Most stores see a 15-40 point improvement in PageSpeed Insights scores. The biggest gains come from script optimization (deferring JavaScript) and lazy loading. Apps can't fix fundamental theme issues, but they handle the optimization most merchants can't do manually.
How many speed optimizer apps should I install?
Just one. Running multiple speed optimizers creates conflicts — they'll try to optimize the same resources in different ways, potentially breaking your store or making it slower. Pick one app and stick with it.
Will a speed optimizer app fix my Core Web Vitals?
Speed optimizer apps can significantly improve LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) and reduce CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift). They help with INP (Interaction to Next Paint) by deferring non-critical JavaScript. However, some Core Web Vitals issues require theme-level changes that apps can't fix.
Find Out What's Really Slowing Your Store
Most speed issues come from third-party apps. Thunder scans your store and shows you exactly which ones are the problem.
Try Thunder Free →