By Rebecca Albert 
The #1 image optimization plugin for WordPress
Smush is the leading image optimization plugin – optimize, resize and compress images, as well as convert images to WebP format for faster web page loading.
Brought to you by the WPMU DEV team – founded in 2007 and trusted by web professionals from freelancers to agencies worldwide ever since.
Whether you write ‘optimize’ or ‘optimize’ – with Smush’s image optimizer you can compress images and serve images in next-generation formats (convert to WebP), all with no noticeable quality loss.
Enjoy uninterrupted batch image optimization with Smush Pro.
Level up instantly with exclusive Pro benefits like continuous image optimization, 5x higher image compression, and a 123-point global image CDN. Learn more about Pro.
Award-winning image optimization tool
Smush has been tested as number one for speed and quality. Plus, it’s also an award-winning, time-proven, crowd-favorite WordPress image optimizer trusted by over 1 million worldwide to:
- Optimize images
- Compress images
- Lazy loading of images
- Resize images
- Convert to WebP
- And more…
Why Use Smush for Image Optimization (The Smush Difference)
Smush was built from the ground up to make it easy for WordPress users to optimize images, enable delay loading, compress media files and more – whether they’re beginners or seasoned professionals who’ve developed thousands of websites.
Improve website performance (along with Google PageSpeed Insights scores) with compressed and optimized images and delayed loading – all while providing a better user experience because the introduction of Core Web Vitals proved one thing: performance is much more than only achieving good results on performance testing tools. The visitor experience is important.
Discover the features that set Smush apart from other image optimization plugins:
- Lossless compression (Basic Smush) – Remove unused data and compress images without affecting image quality.
- Lossy Compression (Super Smush) – Optimize images up to 2x more than lossless compression with our premium multi-pass lossy image compression.
- Ultra Smush (Pro only) – Take your performance to the next level with 5x more image compression power! Your images will be as easy and fast as possible, while maintaining excellent image quality.
- Built-in Lazy Loading – Lazy image loading to delay off-screen image loading by pressing a switch.
- Convert to WebP (Pro only) – Use the Local WebP feature to convert and automatically serve images in the next generation WebP format.
- Bulk Smush – Batch optimize and compress images with one click.
- Background optimization (Pro only) – Smush’s powerful image optimization features will continue to run in the background even when the plugin is closed.
- Resize images – Set maximum width and height and large images will be scaled down during optimization.
- 123 point global CDN (Pro only) – Ensure lightning-fast image delivery anywhere in the world. Includes automatic WebP conversion and image resizing, plus GIF / Rest API support.
- Incorrect image size detection – Quickly locate images that are slowing down your site.
- Smush directory – Optimize images even if they are not in the default WordPress media library.
- Automated optimization – Asynchronously automatically smush your attachments for super-fast compression on load.
- No monthly limits – Optimize all your images (up to 5MB in size) for free forever (no daily, monthly or yearly limits).
- Gutenberg block integration – View image compression information directly in image blocks.
- Compatible with multiple sites – Flexible global and subsite settings for multi-site installations.
- Optimize all image files – Smush supports optimization for all your PNG and JPEG files.
- No impact on your server performance – Image optimization is not performed on your website’s server to prevent wasting server resources (which you pay for) and is instead performed using the fast, reliable WPMU DEV Smush API.
- Configurations – Set your desired Smush settings, save them as a configuration and instantly transfer them to any other location.
- And much, much, more!
Learn more with these handy guides to image and performance optimization
Local WebP – serve images in next-generation formats
With Smush, you can take advantage of next-generation image formats by converting all your images to WebP. WebP is a file format that provides superior image compression and quality retention. All major performance testing solutions, including Google PageSpeed Insights, assess your site’s ability to serve images in these next-generation formats due to the significant impact on visitor experience.
Lossless WebP images are 26% smaller compared to PNGs. Lossy WebP images are 25-34% smaller than comparable JPG images. More information can be found at this article by Google developers.
The best part: Smush’s Local WebP feature makes this incredibly easy to set up with the ability to host all images locally (without the need to use a CDN). Our local WebP feature includes automatic replacement of PNG and JPEG images in your website interface to serve WebP images – with replacements required for browsers that do not yet support WebP.
Learn more: How to convert images to WebP in WordPress
Note: Yes, Smush supports WebP conversion for all image formats, including JPEG to WebP and PNG to WebP.
With the best image optimization plugin for WordPress – you can finally stop worrying about the performance impact of using the images you want on your website.
Compress images while preserving image quality
Image compression plugins don’t have to destroy images with a visible quality loss of 30%. Smush removes hidden information from your images (which can often be unwieldy) and reduces the size of image files without noticeably affecting the appearance.
Smush carefully scans every image you upload – or have already added to your site – cutting out any unnecessary data and scaling it for you before you add it to your media library. And it can serve images in WebP format.
Compress images while you sleep with background image optimization
Have a large number of images to compress? Smush’s powerful optimization features will continue to work their magic in the background, even when you’ve closed the plugin completely. You will receive an email when the image optimization is complete – with a full report.
Compress any image in any directory
In addition to destroying your media uploads, you may want to compress images stored in other folders. Smush now allows you to compress any image in any directory – so you can optimize all images on your website – including NextGEN images, images stored on Amazon S3 using WP Offload Media, and images in EVERY WordPress plugin and theme pack!
Compatible with your favorite themes, page builders, and media library plugins
No matter what theme or plugins you use to manage your WordPress media library, Smush has you covered. Check out just a few of the popular products that Smush works with to make your website faster and more efficient:
Incorrect image size detection
Smush includes a wrong-sized image finder. Activate this feature and your images will be highlighted with smart tips that will allow you to easily resize images. Quickly locate the images that are preventing you from getting a perfect 100 on your Google PageSpeed test.
Defer off-screen images (lazy loading)
Smush includes built-in lazy loading. If your page has a bunch of images at the bottom of the page, lazy loading will speed up your page drastically by serving only the images that are being viewed and deferring the others further down the page.
Save time with Smush Configs
Configurations allow you to save your desired Smush configuration settings and apply them to other pages in a few clicks. You can create an unlimited number of configurations.
Here’s what our users say
★★★★★
“I had no idea that my page load time was being shortened by images. The plugin almost cut the time it took in half.” – karlcw
★★★★★
“I optimize my photos in Photoshop, but Smush makes it so easy – it does it automatically. I can just sit back and enjoy the speed.” – helen432
★★★★★
“Smush has helped reduce the overall file size of my website and increased browsing speed. Well done guys!” – pdci
★★★★★
“It’s very discreet and doesn’t bother me with an API key or other extra installation steps. The main dashboard of the plugin gives me a good insight. Overall, it really suits my needs and I’ll be willing to upgrade to pro if my needs change. I would recommend him to clients/friends without hesitation. Keep it up!” – tarkan_
What about Multisite?
Smush can be used to optimize all images across your entire network! Use global settings or configure each page separately.
Smush is super easy to use – no confusing image compression software settings. Smush allows you to optimize all the images in your library, one by one or all together. Additionally, configure auto-smush to asynchronously scale and compress some or all of your images as they load – it’s incredibly fast.
The faster your page loads, the more Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines will like it. Your site will load faster and rank better.
Shameless additions
- Hummingbird – Page Speed Optimization
- SmartCrawl – SEO optimizer
- Forminator – a tool for creating forms, surveys and quizzes
- Defender – Security, monitoring and protection against hacking
- Hustle – Popups, Slides and Email Signups
- Beehive – Customizable Google Analytics Dashboards
Smush can take care of all your image compression needs… all for free!
However, if you want fast CDN image delivery, WebP conversion, automatic image resizing, ability to optimize (or optimize) images up to 256MB, bulk smush optimization for all your images in just one click, automatic PNG to JPEG conversion, the ability to make a full size copy of your images (so you can restore them at any time), you can always take the next step with WP Smush Pro. And achieve even more with a whole team of WordPress optimization hero friends (security, SEO, performance, support and maintenance automation) – trusted by thousands of agencies and freelancers offering site maintenance services.
Privacy
Smush does not communicate with end users on your website. The only input option Smush has is a newsletter subscription for site admins only.
Smush uses a third-party email service (Mailchimp) to send informational emails (opt-ins) to the site administrator. The administrator’s email address is sent to Mailchimp and the service sets a cookie. Mailchimp only collects admin data.
Smush sends images to the WPMU DEV servers to optimize them for web use. This includes transferring EXIF data. EXIF data will be removed or returned as is. Not stored on WPMU DEV servers.
About us
WPMU DEV is a premier supplier of quality WordPress plugins, services and support. Learn more here:
https://wpmudev.com/
Don’t forget to stay up to date with all WordPress information from the number one source on the Internet:
WPMU DEV blog
Hey, one more thing… we hope you enjoy our freebies as much as we enjoyed making them for you!
Contact and credits
Originally written by Alex Dunae on Dialect (dialect.cae-mail ‘alex’ to ‘dialect point ca’), 2008-11