Optimole vs reSmush.it (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: Optimole at #6 and reSmush.it at #9. Optimole leads on all 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Optimole
Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization
Automatically optimize images with bulk compression, lazy loading, WebP/AVIF conversion & CloudFront image CDN. Boost Core Web Vitals & conversions.
reSmush.it
reSmush.it : The original free image compressor and optimizer plugin
reSmush.it is the FREE image compressor and optimizer plugin - use it to optimize your images and improve the SEO and performance of your website.
Who leads on what
Optimole leads on all 5 measures we track.
Optimole ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Optimole has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Optimole is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 638 reviews, against 4.3 from 165 reviews.
Optimole has more reviews behind its score: 638 against 165.
Optimole was updated more recently, on August 26, 2026; reSmush.it on August 20, 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.
Optimole
Pick Optimole 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 or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
reSmush.it
reSmush.it does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Optimole vs reSmush.it side by side
| Optimole | reSmush.it | |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization Plugins ranking | #6 | #9 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 638 | 165 |
| Active installs | 200,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 8,754,804 | 3,586,737 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 26, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| First published | Sep 23, 2018 | Jul 1, 2016 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Optimole ratings
reSmush.it 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 Optimole nor reSmush.it can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Image Optimization Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Optimole vs reSmush.it: common questions
Is Optimole better than reSmush.it?
Optimole leads on all 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Optimole ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which has more users, Optimole or reSmush.it?
Optimole ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Optimole or reSmush.it?
Optimole has more users: 200,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Optimole and reSmush.it free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Optimole may also sell a paid version or add-ons. reSmush.it may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Optimole and reSmush.it
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.