EWWW Image Optimizer
Image optimizer that compresses images on your own server for free with unlimited WebP, plus paid cloud compression and the Easy IO…
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Smush
Freemium image optimizer from WPMU DEV with free lossless and lossy compression, lazy load and Directory Smush; Pro adds WebP/AVIF and a CDN.
Free installs1M+WordPress.org, active
Est. Pro installs~220KLikely 140K–330K
Vendor claims1M+Vendor's own figure
Rating4.8/56,053 reviews
Price from$60/yrFreemium
Last updated2 Nov 2026Version 4.3.6
Overview
Smush is WPMU DEV’s long-running image optimization plugin. It sends images to WPMU DEV’s optimization servers, compresses them and writes the smaller files back to your media library, so the work does not load your own server. New uploads can be processed automatically and the existing library can be handled with Bulk Smush, which runs in the background.
The free version has become noticeably more generous. Since version 4.0 the old 50-image bulk cap is gone, background processing is free and the lossy Super compression level is available to free users once the site is connected to the WPMU DEV Hub. Free users also get lazy loading, metadata stripping, PNG-to-JPG conversion, backups of originals, a choice of which thumbnail sizes to compress and Directory Smush for images outside the uploads folder. The main limit is file size: images larger than 5MB are skipped in the free version.
What Smush Pro adds
- Ultra compression, a stronger lossy level than Super.
- Next-Gen Formats: WebP and AVIF conversion with automatic delivery.
- A 119-location image CDN with plan-based bandwidth (50GB to 500GB).
- Image Sizing tools: automatic resizing to fit containers, larger-image resize controls and missing width/height fixes.
- Preloading of the largest above-the-fold image and a 256MB per-image limit.
Pro is sold as standalone Smush plans (1, 3 or 10 sites) or as part of a full WPMU DEV membership, which also bundles hosting credit and the rest of WPMU DEV’s plugins.
Limitations: WebP and AVIF are paid features, which several rivals give away free. There is no PDF optimization and no fully local processing mode, so optimization always depends on WPMU DEV’s API. The free Super level also needs a Hub connection, which some site owners will not want.
Who should pick it: site owners who want a simple, well-supported optimizer with unlimited free compression for typical web-sized images, and WPMU DEV members who already have Pro included.
Best for: Site owners who want easy, unlimited free compression for normal-sized images, and WPMU DEV members who get Pro included.
Smush's free tier is now one of the more generous cloud-based options, with unlimited bulk runs and free lossy compression. The catch is that next-gen formats and the CDN are paid, and the 5MB cap can bite on photography sites. Worth it if you value simplicity or already pay for WPMU DEV.
Pros
- Free bulk optimization has no image-count cap since version 4.0
- Lossless and lossy (Super) compression available without paying
- Directory Smush handles theme, plugin and other folders for free
- Background processing so bulk jobs continue while you work
- Pro bundles a 119-location CDN with on-the-fly resizing
- Clean, guided interface with activity log and email reports
Cons
- Free version skips images larger than 5MB
- WebP and AVIF conversion are Pro-only
- No PDF optimization
- No local processing; depends on WPMU DEV's servers
- Free Super compression requires connecting to the WPMU DEV Hub
Key features
What Smush highlights on its WordPress.org page and its own website, split by version.
Free version WordPress.org
- Lossless and lossy compression
- Unlimited background bulk optimization
- Automatic optimization on upload
- Lazy loading for images and iframes
- Directory Smush for custom folders
- Backup and restore originals
- Metadata stripping
- PNG to JPG conversion
- Choose which thumbnail sizes compress
- WooCommerce and NextGEN compatible
- Multisite network controls
- Activity log and savings stats
Pro / paid adds From $60/yr
- Ultra compression level
- WebP and AVIF conversion
- Automatic next-gen delivery
- 119-location image CDN
- Up to 500GB CDN bandwidth
- Automatic image resizing to containers
- Adds missing width and height
- Preload largest above-fold image
- Optimize images up to 256MB
- Background image optimization
Feature checklist
22 of 25 features we track in Image Optimization, feature score 92/100
Compression 6/7
Lossy & lossless compression Key
Choose between lossless and one or more lossy compression levels.
Lossless and lossy Super levels free (Super needs Hub connection); Ultra level is Pro.
Included
Bulk optimisation Key
Optimise every existing image in the media library.
Bulk Smush runs in the background; 50-image cap removed for free users in 4.0.
Included
Optimise on upload
New uploads are optimised automatically.
New uploads can be compressed automatically.
Included
Keep & restore originals Key
Backs up originals so you can restore them.
Optional backup of originals (on by default for new installs) with restore.
Included
Resize large images
Scales down oversized uploads to a maximum size.
Resize-large-images thresholds sit in the Pro-only Image Sizing settings.
Paid version Pro
Strip EXIF metadata
Removes camera and location metadata.
Setting to strip EXIF and other unneeded metadata.
Included
PDF compression
Compresses PDF files in the media library.
Only JPEG, PNG and GIF images are covered; PDFs are not optimized.
Not included
Next-gen formats 4/4
WebP conversion Key
Creates WebP versions of images.
WebP conversion is part of Pro Next-Gen Formats.
Paid version Pro
AVIF conversion Key
Creates AVIF versions of images.
AVIF conversion added in 3.18 as part of Pro Next-Gen Formats.
Paid version Pro
Automatic next-gen delivery
Serves WebP/AVIF to supporting browsers via picture tags, rewrites or CDN.
Pro serves WebP/AVIF automatically via server config, direct serving or the CDN.
Paid version Pro
PNG to JPG conversion
Converts photos saved as PNG to smaller JPGs.
Converts non-transparent PNGs to JPEG; no Pro label in the docs.
Included
Delivery 4/4
Image CDN Key
Serves images from a CDN, often with on-the-fly optimisation.
119-location CDN, 50GB–500GB bandwidth depending on plan.
Paid version Pro
Adaptive image sizes
Serves the right size for each screen or device.
Automatic resizing serves images sized to their containers.
Paid version Pro
Lazy loading
Defers off-screen images.
Lazy loading for images, iframes and background images in the free plugin.
Included
CSS background images
Also optimises or converts images used in CSS backgrounds.
CDN and Next-Gen modules handle CSS background images; listed as a Pro capability.
Paid version Pro
Processing & limits 3/5
Local processing
Optimises on your own server with no external API.
Compression always runs through WPMU DEV's API.
Not included
Cloud processing
Optimisation runs on the vendor's servers, saving your server's CPU.
Images are optimized on WPMU DEV servers and returned to your site.
Included
Generous free tier
Free version optimises unlimited images, or a large monthly quota.
Unlimited images in the free version, subject to the 5MB per-image cap.
Included
No small file-size cap
No restrictive per-image size limit in the free version.
Free version skips images over 5MB; Pro raises the limit to 256MB.
Not included
Thumbnail control
Choose which thumbnail sizes are optimised.
Choose which registered image sizes are compressed.
Included
Extras & compatibility 5/5
Optimise other folders
Optimise theme, plugin or custom folders outside the media library.
Directory Smush optimizes images outside the uploads folder.
Included
WooCommerce & gallery plugins
Optimises WooCommerce product and gallery-plugin images.
Works with WooCommerce product images and integrates with NextGEN Gallery.
Included
Multisite support
Works across a WordPress multisite network.
Network permissions screen controls subsite settings.
Included
WP-CLI
Run bulk optimisation from the command line.
WP-CLI commands are documented for optimization tasks.
Included
Savings reports
Shows space saved and optimisation statistics.
Dashboard savings stats plus an activity log of optimizations.
Included
Pricing
Free
$0On WordPress.org
Free
Freeper yearUnlimited
Unlimited bulk optimization; images over 5MB skipped; Super compression needs a free Hub connection.
Pro Basic
$60per year1 site
Ultra compression, WebP/AVIF, 50GB CDN, preload. Currently promoted at $36/yr (40% off 'forever').
Pro Standard
$100per year3 sites
100GB CDN bandwidth. Currently promoted at $60/yr.
Pro Plus
$200per year10 sites
250GB CDN bandwidth. Currently promoted at $120/yr.
WPMU DEV Premium
$1,200per yearUnlimited
Full WPMU DEV membership incl. Smush Pro with 500GB CDN; first year heavily discounted on the pricing page.
Prices are list prices from the vendor's site, checked 14 Oct 2026. Many vendors discount the first year.
How many sites use Smush?
Free installs from WordPress.org, the vendor's own claim, and our estimate of paid installs.
Free version (WordPress.org)
1M+
Active installations reported by WordPress.org.
Vendor claim
1M+
Sites/users claimed on the vendor's website. source
Estimated Pro / paid installs
~220K
Our estimate, see method below.
How we estimated this: The vendor figure (1M+) is within WordPress.org's rounding of the free installs, so it says nothing about paid sites. Website scans by WPoptic find the paid plugin (folder wp-smush-pro) on 89,136 live sites; they find the free version on 575,404 sites against about 1.5M WordPress.org installs, so each site found stands for about 2.6, giving 230K. About 1.5M free installs x 11.2% (the usual share of free sites that also run the paid version when some key features are paid, and Pro is included in a wider membership, lower for very large free bases) gives 170K. Combining these (weighted average) gives about 220K. Likely range: 140K to 330K. This counts sites running the paid version, including sites whose licence has lapsed. Estimates are rough and based on public figures as of 14 Oct 2026.
Stats & health
Weekly downloads
109,856 downloads last week, 70.7M all time
Rating breakdown
| Version | 4.3.6 |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2 Nov 2026 (1 days ago) |
| Tested up to | WordPress 7.1.4 |
| Requires | WordPress 6.4+, PHP 7.4+ |
| Support threads (2 months) | 7 of 8 resolved |
| On WordPress.org since | 5 Dec 2008 |
Company & policy
| Refund policy | 30-day money-back (source, 6 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| G2 rating | 4.8 (source, 6 Oct 2026) WPMU DEV rating (862 reviews) shown on the Smush Pro page. |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.8 (source, 6 Oct 2026) WPMU DEV company rating (3,102 reviews) shown on the Smush Pro page. |
Smush compared
Alternatives to Smush
ShortPixel Image Optimizer
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Optimole
Cloud image optimisation service for WordPress that compresses, resizes and converts images on the fly and serves them from a CloudFront CDN.
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Converter for Media
Converts JPEG, PNG and GIF images to WebP (free) or AVIF (PRO) and serves them via server rewrites, leaving originals untouched.
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Imagify
Cloud image optimizer from WP Media (WP Rocket) with Smart Compression and free WebP/AVIF, billed by monthly data quota.
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TinyPNG
Official TinyPNG plugin that compresses JPEG, PNG and WebP uploads through the Tinify API and can convert them to WebP or AVIF.
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FAQ
Is Smush free?
Yes. Smush has a free version on WordPress.org. Paid plans start at $60/yr.
How many sites use Smush?
WordPress.org reports 1M+ active installations of the free version. The vendor claims 1M+ sites in total. We estimate around 220K sites run the paid version.
Does Smush have lossy & lossless compression?
Yes: included. Lossless and lossy Super levels free (Super needs Hub connection); Ultra level is Pro.
Does Smush have bulk optimisation?
Yes: included. Bulk Smush runs in the background; 50-image cap removed for free users in 4.0.
Does Smush have keep & restore originals?
Yes: included. Optional backup of originals (on by default for new installs) with restore.
Does Smush have webp conversion?
Yes: paid version (Pro). WebP conversion is part of Pro Next-Gen Formats.
Does Smush have avif conversion?
Yes: paid version (Pro). AVIF conversion added in 3.18 as part of Pro Next-Gen Formats.
Does Smush have image cdn?
Yes: paid version (Pro). 119-location CDN, 50GB–500GB bandwidth depending on plan.
Is bulk optimization limited in the free version of Smush?
Not any more. Smush 4.0 removed the old 50-image limit, so free users can bulk optimize the whole library in the background. Images over 5MB are still skipped unless you upgrade.
Does free Smush convert images to WebP or AVIF?
No. Next-Gen Formats (WebP and AVIF conversion and delivery) are part of Smush Pro. The free version compresses the original formats.
How much does Smush Pro cost?
Standalone Smush Pro plans list at $60/year for 1 site, $100 for 3 and $200 for 10, and were being promoted at 40% off. Smush Pro is also included in WPMU DEV memberships.
Does Smush process images on my server?
No. Compression runs on WPMU DEV's API servers and the optimized file is returned to your site, which saves CPU but means there is no offline or local mode.
Last updated 6 Oct 2026. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit.