ThumbPress vs Smush (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Image Optimization Plugins top 10: ThumbPress at #13 and Smush at #1. Smush leads on all 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
ThumbPress
ThumbPress – Compress Images, Manage Thumbnails, Detect Image Issues, WebP/AVIF, Lazy Loading, Hotlinking & More
All-in-one WordPress image optimization: disable thumbnails, compress, convert to WebP & AVIF, clean your media library, and offload images to a CDN.
Smush
Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN
Compress and optimize images, enable lazy load, serve WebP & AVIF, and speed up your site with a global image CDN.
Who leads on what
Smush leads on all 6 measures we track.
Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #13 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Smush has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 20,000+.
Smush is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 6,053 reviews, against 3.6 from 115 reviews.
Smush has more reviews behind its score: 6,053 against 115.
Smush was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; ThumbPress on October 20, 2026.
Smush was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 975,194 times against 44,874.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
ThumbPress
ThumbPress does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Smush
Pick Smush if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
ThumbPress vs Smush side by side
| ThumbPress | Smush | |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization Plugins ranking | #13 | #1 |
| Rating | 3.6 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 115 | 6,053 |
| Active installs | 20,000+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 1,441,520 | 70,536,407 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 44,874 | 975,194 |
| Last updated | Oct 20, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 2, 2016 | Dec 5, 2008 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.7 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
ThumbPress ratings
Smush ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither ThumbPress nor Smush can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Image Optimization Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
ThumbPress vs Smush: common questions
Is ThumbPress better than Smush?
Smush leads on all 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #13 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which has more users, ThumbPress or Smush?
Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #13 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which is rated higher, ThumbPress or Smush?
Smush has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are ThumbPress and Smush free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. ThumbPress may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Smush is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to ThumbPress and Smush
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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