Head-to-head · October 2026
Image Optimizer vs Smart Image Editor
Image Optimizer comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Smart Image Editor.
Smart Image Editor
Smart Image Editor is a powerful yet user-friendly WordPress plugin that lets you resize, crop, and compress…
| Metric | Image Optimizer | Smart Image Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 1M+ | 50+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 618.9K | 82 |
| Download trend | +251.7% | +39% |
| Rating | 1.7/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 77 | 2 |
| Health score | 77/100 | 41/100 |
| Last updated | 2 weeks ago | 1 year ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.0.6 | WP 6.8.10 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Jan 2024 | Aug 2025 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Image OptimizerSmart Image Editor
Choose Image Optimizer if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- One of the most-used plugins on the web — 1M+ active sites
- Actively developed — last update 2 weeks ago
- Momentum — downloads up 251.7% vs the previous 30 days
- Mixed reviews — 1.7/5 from 77 ratings
Choose Smart Image Editor if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (50+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: image compression
FAQ
Image Optimizer vs Smart Image Editor: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 3, 2026
Which is better, Image Optimizer or Smart Image Editor?
Image Optimizer comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against Smart Image Editor. Choose Image Optimizer if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Image Optimizer more popular than Smart Image Editor?
Image Optimizer is the more popular of the two with 1M+ active installs, compared with 50+ for Smart Image Editor.
Can I use Image Optimizer and Smart Image Editor together?
Both plugins cover image compression, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are Image Optimizer and Smart Image Editor free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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