Converter for Media 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: Converter for Media at #7 and Smush at #1. Smush leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Converter for Media
Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF
Speed up your website by using our WebP & AVIF Converter. Optimize images and serve WebP and AVIF images instead of standard formats!
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 5 of the 6 measures we track.
Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Smush has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 500,000+.
Converter for Media is rated higher: 4.9 out of 5 from 1,105 reviews, against 4.8 from 6,053 reviews.
Smush has more reviews behind its score: 6,053 against 1,105.
Smush was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; Converter for Media on October 14, 2026.
Smush was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 975,194 times against 262,832.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Converter for Media
Pick Converter for Media if the review score matters most to you.
Smush
Pick Smush if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, 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.
Converter for Media vs Smush side by side
| Converter for Media | Smush | |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization Plugins ranking | #7 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 1,105 | 6,053 |
| Active installs | 500,000+ | 1 million+ |
| Total downloads | 17,327,563 | 70,536,407 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 262,832 | 975,194 |
| Last updated | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| First published | Jun 16, 2019 | 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
Converter for Media 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 Converter for Media nor Smush can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Image Optimization Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Converter for Media vs Smush: common questions
Is Converter for Media better than Smush?
Smush leads on 5 of the 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 #7 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which has more users, Converter for Media or Smush?
Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #7 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Converter for Media or Smush?
Smush has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 500,000+.
Are Converter for Media and Smush free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Converter for Media may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Smush is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Converter for Media and Smush
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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