8 Best Image Compression Tools: Ultimate List

Whether you're a web developer striving for faster page load times, a content creator aiming to optimise your media assets, or simply someone looking to save storage space on your devices, the right image compressor can be a game-changer.

So if you're trying to find one, look no further, as we've hand-picked 8 best image compressors just for you, from handy web-based solutions to solid desktop applications.

Why You Need an Image Compressor

As the name implies, these tools compress images. In fact, that's not the only thing they're capable of. Or rather, that's not the only thing they can help you with. Here are few reasons why an image compressor is a valuable asset in your setup, whether you're a social media creator or a web developer.

#1. Faster web page loading

Compressed images result in smaller file sizes, leading to faster loading times for web pages. Why it matters? This is essential for improving user experience and optimising website performance—images reduced with an image compressing tool use less bandwidth when loading on a website or app.

#2. Storage optimisation

If you need to save some storage space on your device, compressing files (including images) is a must, as it helps save disk space, whether it's for websites, content management systems, or other digital platforms.

When sharing images online or through messaging apps, compressed images transfer more quickly, providing a faster and more efficient sharing experience.

#3. Optimized mobile experience

Mobile devices often have slower internet connections compared to desktops. Compressed images improve the overall mobile experience by reducing data transfer and enhancing page loading on mobile devices.

#4. Improved SEO performance

Search engines take website loading speed into account when ranking pages. Faster-loading pages, facilitated by compressed images, can contribute to better search engine optimisation (SEO) rankings.

💡Suggested read: Instagram SEO & best practices to increase your account’s discoverability in 2024 (unlocked by Instagram)

#5. Better email marketing

Compressed images are useful when sending files via email or messaging platforms, reducing the time it takes to send and download images.

#6. Mobile app performance

Mobile applications often have size limitations, especially when distributed through app stores. Compressing images helps keep the overall app size within acceptable limits.

Now that you know how helpful image compressors can be, let's get straight to the list of the best we could find.

4K Image Compressor

4K Image Compressor is a free desktop application available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The tool lets you optimise PNG, JPEG, HEIC, and WEBP images quickly and without quality loss. You can upload images in lossless and lossy formats.

The app works super easily: just install it on your desktop and upload one or several images. Then select the desired optimisation settings, and the compressed images will be automatically saved on your computer.

Key features:

Reduce the size of an image by a desired number of percent or to a particular size in megabytes, kilobytes, or even bytes.
PNG, JPEG, HEIC, and WEBP are supported for optimisation and conversion, and more are coming soon.
Batch compression is available to save your time.

Pros:

Batch uploading is available which saves tons of daunting minutes of uploading images one by one.
Free plan is available.
Image compression to a certain amount of megabytes, kilobytes, or even bytes is supported.

Cons:

PDF isn't available but the developers claim it will be added in the upcoming releases.

PNGGauntlet

PNGGauntlet is a Windows-based image optimisation tool designed to compress PNG images. It's a free and open-source software that focuses specifically on optimising PNG images, which is a popular lossless image format. To use the tool, just drag and drop PNG files into the app's interface or select files through the file browser. The tool then applies the selected optimization algorithms to reduce the file size of the PNG images.

Key features:

PNGGauntlet is a front-end for multiple image optimisation tools, including PNGOUT, OptiPNG, and DeflOpt, allowing users to achieve a higher level of compression.
Converts JPG, GIF, TIFF, and BMP files to PNG.
Users can process multiple PNG files in a batch, streamlining the optimisation process for multiple images.
It provides a simple and easy-to-use graphical user interface.

Pros:

PNGGauntlet is free to use.
By integrating various optimisation tools, PNGGauntlet aims to achieve better compression results.

Cons:

PNGGauntlet is designed for Windows, so users of other operating systems may need to look for alternative tools.
As the name suggests, PNGGauntlet is specific to PNG images and does not support other image formats.

TinyPNG

TinyPNG is an online image compression tool that can reduce the files' size of PNG, WEBP, and JPG images. The service employs lossy compression techniques to achieve smaller file sizes while attempting to maintain good image quality. To compress images with TinyPNG, simply visit the TinyPNG website and upload images through the web interface.

Key features:

Three formats are available for compression—PNG, WEBP, and JPG.
The compression employed by TinyPNG is lossy, meaning that there is a trade-off between file size reduction and some loss of image detail.
You can upload and compress multiple images simultaneously, making it convenient for handling image collections.
TinyPNG offers an API for developers, allowing for integration into websites or applications.

Pros:

The TinyPNG website provides a simple and user-friendly interface, making it easy for both beginners and experienced users to compress images.
TinyPNG often achieves significant file size reduction without a noticeable loss in image quality, particularly for PNG images.

Cons:

There are file size limits for free users, and larger images may require a paid subscription for processing.

JPEGoptim

JPEGoptim is a command-line utility, which means it is used through the command prompt or terminal on various operating systems. JPEGoptim is a free and open-source software primarily designed for optimising JPEG images.

Key features:

JPEGoptim provides options for both lossless and lossy optimisation of JPEG images. Users can choose the level of compression based on their preferences.
Users can configure various parameters, such as the quality level and the amount of compression applied to the images.
JPEGoptim supports batch processing, allowing users to optimise multiple JPEG files in one go.
The tool can preserve or remove Exif data (metadata) from JPEG images during optimisation.

Pros:

Users have control over optimisation settings, allowing them to balance between file size reduction and image quality.

Cons:

The command-line interface may be less user-friendly for those who prefer graphical user interfaces.
JPEGoptim is designed specifically for JPEG images and does not support other image formats.

ImageOptim

ImageOptim is a free open-source desktop application designed for macOS reduces the file size of various image formats. Just drag and drop images into the ImageOptim interface or use the file menu to open images, and the app will process the images using its integrated optimisation tools. You can then save the optimised files.

Key features:

ImageOptim integrates multiple optimisation tools, including PNGOUT, Zopfli, Pngcrush, AdvPNG, and others, to achieve efficient compression.
ImageOptim can optimise images in various formats, including PNG, JPEG, GIF, and SVG.
Users can simply drag and drop images into the ImageOptim interface for quick and easy optimisation.
The application supports batch processing, allowing users to optimise multiple images simultaneously.

Pros:

ImageOptim provides a simple and user-friendly interface.
Ability to process multiple images in a batch.

Cons:

ImageOptim is specifically designed for macOS, and there is no official version for Windows or other operating systems.
While it supports various formats, it may not have as extensive format support as some online tools.

Compressor.io

Compressor.io is an online image compression tool that can help you reduce the file size of both JPEG and PNG images. You can upload and compress images directly from your web browser. The compression process can be either lossy or lossless, depending on user preferences.

Key features:

Users can choose between lossy and lossless compression options based on their requirements for image quality.
The service provides a real-time preview of the compressed image, allowing users to compare the original and compressed versions before downloading.

Pros:

The ability to compress both JPEG and PNG images in one tool can be convenient for users dealing with different image formats.

Cons:

As a web-based tool, users need an internet connection to access and use Compressor.io.
There may be limitations on the file size of images that can be processed for free users.

Kraken.io

Kraken.io is an online image optimisation platform that provides services for compressing and optimising images. It's available as both a web interface for manual image processing and an API for developers to integrate into their applications or workflows. All you have to do to compress an image with Kraken.io is visit its website, upload your images through the web interface, and customise compression settings.

Key features:

Kraken.io offers a user-friendly web interface where users can upload images for compression and download the optimised versions.
Developers can use the Kraken.io API to automate the image optimisation process in their applications or websites.
Kraken.io supports various image formats, including JPEG, PNG, GIF, and SVG.
Users can choose between lossy and lossless compression options, depending on their priorities for image quality and file size reduction.

Pros:

The availability of an API allows developers to seamlessly integrate image optimization into their workflows.
Kraken.io supports a range of image formats, making it versatile for different types of images.

Cons:

While Kraken.io offers free plans, some advanced features may require a subscription.

Squoosh

Squoosh is a web application developed that allows you to compress and compare images in various formats. It has a simple interface for users to upload, compress, and compare images using different compression settings.

Key features:

Squoosh supports a variety of image formats, including JPEG, PNG, WebP, and others.
Users can adjust compression settings, such as quality and format, to see the impact on image quality and file size.
Squoosh provides a side-by-side comparison of the original and compressed images, allowing users to visually assess the impact of compression.

Pros:

As a web application, Squoosh doesn't require users to download or install any software.

Cons:

While it can be used offline after the initial loading, Squoosh primarily relies on an internet connection.

Best Image Compressor Tools: Bottom Line

As you can see, there's plenty of tools that can help you optimise an image if you need to add a photo to your website, social media, or simply send it via email as an attachment.

When choosing an image compressor, pay attention to the formats it offers, if it has lossless compression, if it allows you to compress images in a batch, and if it has at least free trial for you to check the compression quality. Surely, you can find a tool that suits all your needs in our list!