Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer vs Smush
Two WordPress plugins head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
These aren’t all alternatives to each other — they do different jobs — so this page compares popularity only, not features.
Smush Image optimization
by WPMU DEV - Your All-in-One WordPress Platform
At a glance
Smush leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #65, ahead of Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer at #1,061. Over the last 7 days Smush held its place and Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer climbed 2 places. Smush has the largest install base, roughly 33× the next: 1M+ active installs against 30K+ for Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer. Ratings: Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer 4.2★ from 69 and Smush 4.8★ from 6,051 reviews.
| Metric | Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer | Smush |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,061 ▲ 2 | #65 ▬ |
| Active installs | 30K+ | 1M+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | — | 44,173 |
| Rating | 4.2★ (69) | 4.8★ (6,051) |
| Last updated | Mar 2, 2026 | Aug 24, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.6.3 | 4.3.2 |
| Best rank on record | #1,051 | #64 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Oct 2012 | Dec 2008 |
| Sites detected by our detector | 0 | 20 |
Highlighted cells mark the strongest figure in each row. Rank and installs are from the latest WordPress.org capture; downloads are the last seven captured days.
Ranking history Lower is better
Active installs
Downloads per day
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer or Smush?
By active installs, Smush: 1M+ sites run it against 30K+ for Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer, according to WordPress.org figures captured on September 14, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer or Smush?
Smush, at #65 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer at #1,061. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Optimus – WordPress Image Optimizer or Smush alternatives to each other?
Not all of them. Some of these plugins do different jobs and many sites run more than one. This page compares their popularity, not their features.
Where do these numbers come from?
WordPress.org publishes each plugin’s active install count and its position on the popular list. This site records both every day, along with per-day downloads and ratings, so the charts above show how the plugins have moved over time rather than a single day.