Smush vs WPvivid Image Optimization (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: Smush at #4 and WPvivid Image Optimization at #10. Smush leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
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.
WPvivid Image Optimization
Compress, Resize & Lazy Load Images – WPvivid Image Optimization
Optimize, compress and resize images in WordPress in bulk. Lazy load images. Auto resize and optimize images upon upload.
Who leads on what
Smush leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Smush has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 10,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Smush has 6,051, WPvivid Image Optimization has 7. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Smush has more reviews behind its score: 6,051 against 7.
Smush was updated more recently, on August 24, 2026; WPvivid Image Optimization on June 1, 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.
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 or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WPvivid Image Optimization
WPvivid Image Optimization 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 vs WPvivid Image Optimization side by side
| Smush | WPvivid Image Optimization | |
|---|---|---|
| Image Optimization Plugins ranking | #4 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 6,051 | 7 |
| Active installs | 1 million+ | 10,000+ |
| Total downloads | 69,096,921 | 218,180 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 24, 2026 | Jun 1, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 5, 2008 | Mar 18, 2021 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 5.3 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Smush ratings
WPvivid Image Optimization 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 Smush nor WPvivid Image Optimization can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Image Optimization Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Smush vs WPvivid Image Optimization: common questions
Is Smush better than WPvivid Image Optimization?
Smush leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which has more users, Smush or WPvivid Image Optimization?
Smush ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in Image Optimization Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Smush or WPvivid Image Optimization?
Smush has more users: 1 million+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are Smush and WPvivid Image Optimization free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Smush is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. WPvivid Image Optimization may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Smush and WPvivid Image Optimization
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.