At a glance
AMP
An easier path to great Page Experience for everyone. Powered by AMP.
WP Compress – Instant Performance & Speed Optimization
Everything you need for a faster website – smart optimization, advanced caching, adaptive images, WebP creation, script improvements, optional CDN del …
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | AMP | WP Compress |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 6.5+ | 6.5+ |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.4+ |
| Tested up to WP | 6.8.5 | 7.0.1 |
| Plugin age | 11 yrs | 8 yrs |
Quick Verdict
WP Compress wins this comparison for most WordPress sites. Its 84% five-star rating from 155 reviews signals strong user satisfaction across caching, image optimization, and CDN features. AMP serves a narrow purpose: it creates stripped-down mobile pages for news and content sites. For a general speed boost that touches every page, WP Compress is the better investment.
Feature Comparison: AMP vs WP Compress
| Feature | AMP | WP Compress |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Accelerated Mobile Pages framework | All-in-one performance and speed optimization |
| Image optimization | Not included | Smart optimization, adaptive images, WebP creation |
| Caching | Not included | Advanced caching included |
| CDN | Not included | Optional CDN available |
| Script improvements | Not included | Script improvements included |
| Mobile-only output | Yes, creates separate AMP versions of pages | No, optimizes the existing site for all devices |
| Page Experience focus | Built around AMP standards for page experience | Performance optimization targeting speed metrics |
Who Should Use AMP
- News publishers and content-heavy sites that want Google's instant-loading carousel placement, 61% of reviewers gave it 5 stars, suggesting the framework works well for its intended audience.
- Teams building content-first sites where a separate, stripped-down mobile version is acceptable and the full desktop site remains untouched.
- Developers who need a standardized AMP framework rather than a general performance plugin, especially for sites where AMP has 40x more installs than WP Compress and the AMP ecosystem already has broad adoption.
Who Should Use WP Compress
- Site owners who want one plugin to handle caching, image optimization, WebP conversion, and script improvements, 84% of reviewers gave it 5 stars, reflecting strong all-around satisfaction.
- Anyone running an ecommerce store or membership site where every page needs to load fast, not just mobile versions. The optional CDN and adaptive images serve real-time traffic spikes.
- Users who need a simple way to enable WebP conversion on their WordPress site, a feature built directly into WP Compress that AMP does not offer.
Community & Support
WP Compress holds a strong advantage in user satisfaction. 84% of its 155 reviews are five-star, while only 10% are one-star. AMP's rating distribution is more polarized: 61% five-star versus 21% one-star from 367 reviews. That gap suggests WP Compress users are consistently happier with the results, while AMP leaves a larger minority frustrated.
Verdict: AMP or WP Compress for WordPress sites?
Pick AMP if you run a news site or content blog where Google's AMP carousel placement drives traffic, and you're willing to maintain a separate mobile framework. 61% of reviewers give it 5 stars, and its install base dwarfs most competitors.
Pick WP Compress for everything else. It covers caching, image optimization, WebP conversion, script improvements, and an optional CDN in one package. With 84% five-star ratings from 155 reviews, it delivers the broadest speed improvement with the least friction. For most WordPress users asking how to speed up their WordPress site, WP Compress is the clear answer.
This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Q How many people use AMP compared to WP Compress?
AMP has 400K+ active installs while WP Compress has 10K+, meaning AMP is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — AMP or WP Compress?
WP Compress averages 4.5/5 from 155 reviews, while AMP averages 3.8/5 from 367 reviews — WP Compress has the higher average rating.
Q Which is more actively maintained — AMP or WP Compress?
WP Compress was last updated on Jun 30, 2026 and AMP on Apr 10, 2025, so WP Compress received the more recent update.
Q Are AMP and WP Compress both free?
Yes — both AMP and WP Compress are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.
Q Is AMP or WP Compress better for WordPress sites?
For most WordPress sites, WP Compress is the better choice because it focuses on image optimization and caching without forcing you to use a stripped-down mobile framework. AMP is better only if your top priority is achieving perfect Google Page Experience scores for mobile visitors, but it comes with design limitations. WP Compress works with your existing theme and content, making it a more flexible performance solution.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — AMP or WP Compress?
WP Compress is significantly easier for a beginner because it activates with minimal configuration and immediately starts optimizing your images and cache. AMP requires you to understand how its framework changes your site's mobile appearance, often needing theme adjustments or a dedicated AMP-compatible theme. Most beginners find WP Compress works out of the box without needing to learn new technical concepts.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between AMP and WP Compress?
The biggest difference is that AMP forces your mobile pages into a restricted framework designed for Google's page experience standards, while WP Compress focuses purely on image compression and caching without changing your site's structure. AMP is a mobile framework that alters how your content is served, whereas WP Compress is a performance plugin that optimizes your existing assets. If you want to keep full control over your design, WP Compress is the more straightforward tool.
Q Can you switch from AMP to WP Compress (or the other way) without losing data?
Yes, you can switch between them without losing your core WordPress content like posts, pages, and media files. However, AMP stores some settings related to its mobile framework that won't carry over to WP Compress, and vice versa. You should deactivate one plugin before activating the other, and be prepared to reconfigure performance settings after the switch.
Q Which type of site should choose AMP, and which should choose WP Compress?
AMP is best for news sites, blogs, or content-heavy pages where fast mobile loading is critical and you can accept a simplified design. WP Compress suits ecommerce stores, portfolio sites, or any site where you need to keep your full theme design and layout intact while improving speed. If you want to optimize images without changing how your site looks, choose WP Compress.
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