ShortPixel Image Optimizer vs Smush (October 2026)
Updated October 23, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Image Optimization Plugins top 10: ShortPixel Image Optimizer at #5 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.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF
Compress images & PDFs automatically, convert to WebP & AVIF, and generate SEO-friendly filenames with AI. Bulk optimization, smart crop & resize.
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 #5 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Smush has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 300,000+.
Smush is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 6,053 reviews, against 4.5 from 829 reviews.
Smush has more reviews behind its score: 6,053 against 829.
Smush was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; ShortPixel Image Optimizer on October 14, 2026.
Smush was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 975,194 times against 350,091.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
ShortPixel Image Optimizer 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.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer vs Smush side by side
| ShortPixel Image Optimizer | Smush | |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization Plugins ranking | #5 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 829 | 6,053 |
| Active installs | 300,000+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 20,369,139 | 70,536,407 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 350,091 | 975,194 |
| Last updated | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 5, 2014 | Dec 5, 2008 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
ShortPixel Image Optimizer 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 ShortPixel Image Optimizer nor Smush can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Image Optimization Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
ShortPixel Image Optimizer vs Smush: common questions
Is ShortPixel Image Optimizer 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 #5 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which has more users, ShortPixel Image Optimizer or Smush?
Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #5 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which is rated higher, ShortPixel Image Optimizer or Smush?
Smush has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 300,000+.
Are ShortPixel Image Optimizer and Smush free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. ShortPixel Image Optimizer may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Smush is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to ShortPixel Image Optimizer and Smush
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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