ImageOptim does one thing well: drag in JPEGs and PNGs, get smaller files back. For a free, open-source tool that hasn’t changed much since 2016, that’s fair enough.

But most image workflows have moved on. Here’s where ImageOptim hasn’t:

  • No AVIF, WebP, HEIC, or JPEG XL. Four formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, SVG. If your designer hands you HEIC files or your build pipeline needs WebP, you’re opening a second app.
  • No format conversion. You can compress a PNG. You can’t turn it into a WebP.
  • No resizing. That 4000px photo from your iPhone? You need a separate app to get it to 1200px.
  • No compression control. ImageOptim picks the quality level for you. No slider, no say.
  • No video or audio. Images only.
  • Overwrites originals by default. There’s a setting to change this, but the default has bitten people.

If any of that sounds familiar, here are seven tools worth looking at.

Quick comparison

ToolFormatsConvertsResizesCompression controlOfflinePrice
Picmal40+ (images, video, audio)YesYesYesYes$15.99 once
Zipic12 image formatsYesYes6 levelsYesFree / $19.99 Pro
OptimageJPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, GIF, SVG, PDFLimitedYesYesYesFree / $15
SquashJPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, TIFFYesYesYesYes$29
ComprestoImages + video + PDFLimitedNoYesYes$19.99+
SquooshMost web formatsYesYesYesBrowser-basedFree
TinyPNGJPEG, PNG, WebPNoYes (paid)NoNo (uploads files)Free / paid tiers

1. Picmal

Best for: People juggling multiple formats who don’t want three apps open.

Picmal started as an image converter and quietly grew into something broader. It handles images, video, and audio across 40+ formats. Where ImageOptim compresses 4 formats, Picmal converts between JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, HEIC, TIFF, JPEG XL, PSD, RAW files (Canon CR2, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW, Adobe DNG), SVG, PDF, ICO, EXR, and more.

What it does that ImageOptim doesn’t

  • Format conversion. Drag in HEIC files, get JPEGs back. Drag in PNGs, get WebP. Any direction, any combination.
  • Compression with control. Quality slider per format. You decide whether 60% is sharp enough or if you need 95%.
  • Batch processing. Drag a folder with 500 images. Picmal preserves the folder structure in the output.
  • Resizing. Set a max width or height. Images scale down during conversion.
  • Video and audio. MP4, MOV, MKV, MP3, FLAC, WAV. Same drag-and-drop.
  • Offline. Nothing leaves your Mac. No account, no server, no telemetry.

Limitations

  • Mac only
  • No Shortcuts or Automator integration yet
  • No folder monitoring (watched folders are on the roadmap)

Pricing

$15.99, once. No subscription.

Try Picmal →

2. Zipic

Best for: People who want to set up a folder and forget about compression entirely.

Zipic is the automation-first tool on this list. It supports 12 image formats, including AVIF and JPEG XL (which most competitors still skip), and offers 6 compression levels instead of a slider. The real draw is folder monitoring: drop files into a watched folder, Zipic compresses them in the background. You never think about it again.

Strengths

  • Folder monitoring with automatic compression
  • Shortcuts, Automator, and Raycast integration
  • 12 formats including AVIF and JPEG XL
  • Notch Drop (drag to the MacBook notch to compress)
  • Native macOS app, runs offline

Limitations

  • Images only, no video or audio
  • Free tier caps at 25 images/day
  • Compression levels are presets, not a continuous slider

Pricing

Free with limits. Zipic Pro: $19.99 one-time.

3. Optimage

Best for: Photographers who pixel-peep at 100% zoom.

Optimage uses perceptual quality metrics instead of a simple percentage slider. It finds the point where file size drops sharply but the image still looks identical to the human eye. If you’ve ever spent ten minutes toggling between 82% and 84% quality in Photoshop, Optimage just does that math for you.

Strengths

  • Perceptual quality compression, finds the sweet spot automatically
  • HEIC to JPEG/PNG/WebP conversion
  • Animated GIF to MP4/WebP/AV1 conversion
  • Strips EXIF metadata
  • PDF/PSD/AI previews
  • Runs on macOS 10.13+ (unusually wide compatibility)

Limitations

  • No folder monitoring or automation beyond drag-and-drop
  • Narrower format support than Picmal or Zipic
  • No AVIF or JPEG XL output
  • Small team, updates are infrequent

Pricing

Free (24 images/day). Full license: $15.

4. Squash

Best for: Web designers who want light editing baked into the compression step.

Squash by Realmac Software bleeds into editing territory. Filters, sharpening, vibrance, watermarks, metadata editing, all in the same batch workflow. Think of it as a batch photo editor that happens to compress well.

Strengths

  • Batch compression + editing (filters, watermarks, sharpening)
  • WebP and AVIF output
  • Reusable presets for repeated workflows
  • Apple Shortcuts integration
  • Polished native Mac UI (Realmac knows how to build those)

Limitations

  • No HEIC input unless macOS handles it natively
  • No video or audio
  • At $29, the most expensive image-only option here
  • No JPEG XL support

Pricing

$29 (standard) or $50 (with filters bundle). Also available via Setapp.

5. Compresto

Best for: People who export from Final Cut and Figma and want one compressor for both.

Compresto’s pitch is multimedia compression. Most tools here are image-only. Compresto handles video, images, and PDFs in the same window. If you’re regularly shrinking screen recordings and hero images for the same blog post, this saves a step.

Strengths

  • Video compression (MP4, WebM output)
  • PDF compression
  • Hardware-accelerated encoding
  • Watched folder automation
  • Offline processing

Limitations

  • No AVIF or JPEG XL support
  • Can’t convert between image formats (compression only)
  • No image resizing
  • Heavy on the content marketing (they run a lot of “alternatives” blogs, which is a bit rich)

Pricing

$19.99 one-time, or $49 lifetime. Also available on Setapp.

6. Squoosh

Best for: Figuring out what AVIF at quality 60 actually looks like before you commit.

Squoosh is Google’s browser-based image compressor. The best thing about it is the side-by-side slider: drag it across the image and see exactly where compression artifacts start showing up, while the file size updates in real time. If you’ve never really understood what “lossy” means, five minutes in Squoosh will fix that.

Strengths

  • Real-time before/after comparison slider
  • Supports AVIF, WebP, JPEG XL, and most web formats
  • Runs locally in the browser, nothing uploaded
  • Completely free, no limits
  • Genuinely educational

Limitations

  • One image at a time. No batch processing whatsoever.
  • Browser-based, not a native app
  • No automation, no folder monitoring
  • Chokes on large files on slower machines

Pricing

Free. No paid tier.

7. TinyPNG

Best for: WordPress sites where images should just get smaller on upload, no questions asked.

TinyPNG is a web service first. Upload images, get smaller files back, download. The real value is the WordPress plugin: it compresses images the moment you add them to the media library. If your whole world is WordPress, it’s nearly invisible.

Strengths

  • WordPress plugin compresses on upload
  • API for build pipelines and CI/CD
  • Zero decisions required
  • Handles JPEG, PNG, and WebP

Limitations

  • Uploads your images to their servers. If you work with client files, medical images, or anything under NDA, this is a non-starter.
  • Free tier: 500 images/month
  • No desktop app, browser or API only
  • No AVIF, HEIC, or TIFF support
  • No resizing on the free plan

Pricing

Free (500/month). Pro plans start at $25/year.

What about ImageOptim CLI?

ImageOptim has a command-line version that some people wire into Gulp or Webpack pipelines. If that’s working for you, there’s no reason to rip it out. But the CLI has the same format limitations as the GUI, so if you need WebP or AVIF output in your build, you’ll still need something else.

How to choose

Most formats, least fuss: Picmal. 40+ formats, images + video + audio, $15.99 once.

Set-and-forget automation: Zipic. Watched folders mean you stop thinking about compression.

Best visual quality per byte: Optimage. Perceptual compression finds the sweet spot without a slider.

Video and images together: Compresto or Picmal. Compresto compresses video; Picmal converts and compresses it.

Free, one image at a time: Squoosh. The comparison slider alone is worth bookmarking.

WordPress: TinyPNG. The plugin is hard to beat for that specific workflow.

FAQ

Is ImageOptim still worth using in 2026?

For shrinking JPEGs and PNGs, sure. It’s free, fast, and gets the job done. But most web projects now need at least WebP output, and ImageOptim can’t produce that. If you need modern formats, conversion, resizing, or any say in compression quality, you’ve outgrown it.

Which ImageOptim alternative is completely free?

Squoosh, but it only does one image at a time. ImageOptim itself is still free for basic compression. Optimage and Zipic have free tiers with daily caps (24 and 25 images).

Do any of these upload my files to the internet?

TinyPNG uploads files to their servers. Picmal, Zipic, Optimage, Squash, and Compresto process everything locally on your Mac. Squoosh runs in the browser but processes locally too.

Can I convert HEIC to JPG with these tools?

Picmal, Zipic, Optimage, and Squash all handle HEIC to JPG. ImageOptim can’t; it doesn’t recognize HEIC at all. If you have a camera roll full of HEIC files, see our guide on how to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac.

What’s the best ImageOptim alternative for batch processing?

Picmal handles the largest batches. Drag entire folders with hundreds of files and it preserves the structure. Zipic and Squash handle batches well too. Squoosh is single-image only.