Imagify vs Smush (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Image Optimization Plugins top 10: Imagify at #2 and Smush at #4. Smush leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Imagify
Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF
Image optimization in 1‑click: compress, resize & convert to WebP/AVIF – free up to 20MB/month. Enjoy the easiest WordPress image optimizer to set up.
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 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Imagify ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #4 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Both report 1 million+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Smush is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 6,051 reviews, against 4.3 from 1,653 reviews.
Smush has more reviews behind its score: 6,051 against 1,653.
Smush was updated more recently, on August 24, 2026; Imagify on August 19, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Imagify
Pick Imagify if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them.
Smush
Pick Smush if the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Imagify vs Smush side by side
| Imagify | Smush | |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization Plugins ranking | #2 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 1,653 | 6,051 |
| Active installs | 1 million+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 20,612,762 | 69,096,921 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 19, 2026 | Aug 24, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 27, 2016 | Dec 5, 2008 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Imagify 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 Imagify nor Smush can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Image Optimization Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Imagify vs Smush: common questions
Is Imagify better than Smush?
Smush leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Imagify ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #4 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which has more users, Imagify or Smush?
Imagify ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #4 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Imagify or Smush?
Both report 1 million+ active installs on WordPress.org.
Are Imagify and Smush free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Imagify may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Smush is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Imagify and Smush
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Converter for Media
500,000+ installs · 4.9 from 1,099 reviews
-
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
300,000+ installs · 4.5 from 819 reviews
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Optimole
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 638 reviews
-
Robin Image Optimizer
100,000+ installs · 4.4 from 129 reviews
-
Image Optimization
1 million+ installs · 1.7 from 77 reviews
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.