Divi Image Compressor vs Smush

Smush is one of the most recognised image optimisation plugins in the WordPress ecosystem, with over a million active installations and a well-known name. If you have been researching image compression for your Divi website, you have almost certainly come across it.

But popularity does not always mean it is the right tool for the job — especially for Divi users. In this article we compare Smush and Divi Image Compressor side by side, so you can make an informed decision about which plugin is actually worth installing on your Divi site.

What Is Smush?

Smush (officially WP Smush, by WPMU DEV) is a free WordPress plugin that compresses images automatically on upload. It has a large user base, a polished interface with an onboarding wizard, and a Pro version that unlocks more advanced features.

At first glance it looks like everything you need. But once you look past the branding, a number of important limitations emerge.

The Problems with Smush for Divi Sites

1. The Free Version Uses Lossless Compression Only

This is the single biggest issue with Smush's free tier. Lossless compression preserves every single pixel of the original image — which sounds ideal, but it means the file size savings are minimal. Independent testing by WPBeginner found the free version of Smush compressed a 97KB image down to just 94KB — a 3% reduction. Another image went from 118KB to 114KB, a saving of 4%.

For comparison, lossy compression (which preserves quality to the human eye while reducing file size significantly) can reduce the same images by 40–70%.

On a Divi site full of hero images, gallery images, and full-width section backgrounds, a 3% saving is barely worth the plugin install.

2. WebP Conversion Is a Pro-Only Feature

Converting images to WebP format is one of the highest-impact things you can do for your PageSpeed score. WebP images are typically 25–35% smaller than the equivalent JPEG or PNG, and Google PageSpeed Insights specifically recommends serving next-generation formats.

With Smush, WebP conversion is locked behind the Pro version. The free version does not offer it. To get WebP on a Smush-powered site, you need to pay.

3. The Pro Version Requires a WPMU DEV Subscription

Here is where Smush becomes expensive: you cannot buy Smush Pro on its own as a standalone plugin. To access the Pro features — including WebP conversion, higher compression levels, and CDN delivery — you must subscribe to the full WPMU DEV suite.

That suite starts at approximately $30 per year for a single site. But you are paying for an entire platform of tools you may not need, just to unlock WebP for your images.

4. Images Are Processed on External Servers

Smush sends images to WPMU DEV's own servers for processing. For agencies managing client sites with sensitive content, or anyone concerned about privacy and data sovereignty, this is a meaningful consideration. Your images leave your server, get processed externally, and are returned. If WPMU DEV's servers are unavailable, compression does not happen.

5. Bulk Optimisation is Capped in the Free Version

The free version of Smush limits bulk optimisation to 50 images per batch. If you are inheriting a client site with 500 images in the media library, you are running the bulk process ten times over. For agencies doing site migrations or taking over legacy Divi builds, this is a frustrating restriction.

6. The Interface Has Become Noticeably Complex

Recent reviews on WordPress.org (April 2026) note that the Smush 4.x interface overhaul has made simple tasks harder to find. One reviewer describes it as making "simple tasks like performing a new scan or optimizing images seem impossible." A plugin that gets in the way of the task it is supposed to automate defeats its own purpose.

How Divi Image Compressor Compares

Divi Image Compressor was built specifically for Divi websites. Rather than a generic WordPress tool retrofitted for Divi, it is designed from the ground up with Divi 4 and Divi 5's image pipeline in mind.

Here is what you get out of the box, with no subscription or API key required:

Lossy compression from day one. Every image is compressed using configurable lossy compression (quality 1–100, default 80) the moment it is uploaded. Typical reductions are 40–70% without visible quality loss.

WebP conversion included. Convert JPEGs, PNGs, and GIFs to WebP automatically on upload — no Pro tier required. This alone improves your Google PageSpeed score immediately.

100% server-side processing. All compression happens on your own server using PHP's GD Library or ImageMagick. Your images never leave your hosting environment. No external API. No third-party servers. No privacy concerns.

No API key. No limits. Install it, activate it, set your quality level, and it works. No account registration. No monthly credit allowance. No throttling. You can upload and bulk compress as many images as your server can handle.

Bulk compress your entire library in one go. The bulk compress tool processes your whole media library in a single operation — no batches of 50, no pausing, no subscription required.

Designed for Divi 4 and Divi 5. The plugin hooks into WordPress's upload pipeline at the correct priority for Divi's image handling, and has been tested specifically for compatibility with both Divi 4's classic builder and Divi 5's React-based Visual Builder.

Feature Comparison

The Verdict

If you are running a Divi site and want genuinely useful image compression — not the 3% lossless savings that Smush free delivers — Divi Image Compressor is the stronger choice. It gives you lossy compression and WebP conversion from the moment you install it, with no external servers, no API keys, and no credit limits.

Smush Pro is a capable plugin, but it forces you into a WPMU DEV subscription to access the features that Divi Image Compressor includes as standard. For Divi users who want a focused tool that handles one job exceptionally well, Divi Image Compressor is the cleaner, more cost-effective solution.

How to Get Started

Divi Image Compressor is available as a one-time purchase on the Elegant Themes Divi Marketplace. There are no subscriptions, no API keys, and no limits on how many images you can compress.

Divi Image Compressor is developed by DiviPerfect — a suite of Divi 5 plugins built for freelancers, agencies, and businesses. Questions? Email us at hello@diviperfect.com or visit diviperfect.com.