Best ImageOptim Alternatives for Mac in 2026: Matched to What You Actually Need

TL;DR: Don't pick an ImageOptim alternative from a ranked list. Pick it by the thing ImageOptim won't do for you. Need WebP or AVIF output or resizing? Zipic, Compresto, and ImageCrush all handle both. Need to crop a whole batch to an aspect ratio or watermark it? ImageCrush. Want automation? Zipic. Compressing video and PDFs too? Compresto. Only need compression? Keep ImageOptim. It's free and still good at that.

What is the best ImageOptim alternative for Mac? It depends on which gap you're filling. For a full export pipeline (crop, resize, convert to WebP/HEIC/AVIF, compress, rename, and watermark in one batch), ImageCrush ($14.99 one-time) is the most complete. For automatic compression with folder watching and Shortcuts, Zipic ($29.99 one-time) is the best fit. For images plus video and PDFs, Compresto ($49). For the closest thing to ImageOptim's compression-only approach with a stronger engine, Optimage ($15), though it hasn't been updated since 2021. Facts below were checked against each app's official site on October 8, 2026.

Disclosure: we make ImageCrush. For the full eight-tool comparison with every feature, see our roundup of the best image optimizers for Mac.

First: should you switch at all?

ImageOptim is free, open source, and very good at one job: making existing JPEG, PNG, GIF, and SVG files smaller with no configuration. If that's all you do, keep using it.

The reasons people leave are specific, and they're worth naming because each points to a different replacement:

You want to…	ImageOptim	Alternatives that do it
Output WebP or AVIF	—	ImageCrush, Zipic (AVIF in Pro), Compresto, TinyPNG
Output HEIC	—	ImageCrush, Zipic
Resize a batch	—	ImageCrush, Zipic, Optimage, Squash, Compresto
Crop a batch to an aspect ratio	—	ImageCrush
Keep originals where they are	Replaces files, originals go to Trash	ImageCrush (always writes new files)
Save presets	—	ImageCrush, Zipic, Squash, Compresto
Rename in the same pass	—	ImageCrush, Optimage, Squash, Compresto
Watermark	—	ImageCrush, Squash
Automate (folder watch, Shortcuts, Raycast)	—	Zipic, Compresto (folder watch + Raycast), Squash (Shortcuts)
Compress video or PDF	—	Compresto, Zipic (PDF, Pro), Optimage (video)
Run on an actively maintained app	Last release Oct 2023	Zipic, Compresto, ImageCrush

Find your row, then jump to the matching section.

If you need WebP, AVIF, or HEIC output

This is the most common reason to switch, and it's a big one. In our format benchmark at 75% quality, WebP averaged 245 KB vs 618 KB for JPEG on screenshots, and AVIF went further (224 KB). That's a much bigger saving than any amount of extra JPEG recompression can give you, and ImageOptim can't produce either format.

• ImageCrush converts between JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, and AVIF in any direction, and can export several formats from one batch with a Preset Sequence (for example, AVIF plus a WebP fallback).
• Zipic converts to WebP and HEIC on the free tier, with AVIF and JPEG XL in Pro.
• Compresto converts to PNG, JPG, WebP, and AVIF.
• TinyPNG converts in the browser (a few free conversions per session) if uploading is acceptable.

If you need to resize or crop

ImageOptim compresses whatever dimensions you give it. If your 4000 px photos display at 1200 px, you're shipping roughly 10× the pixels you need.

• Resize only: Zipic, Optimage, Squash, and Compresto all resize in batches now. Any of them closes this gap.
• Resize and crop to a shape: ImageCrush is the only app here with a batch crop editor. Choose one of 17 aspect ratios (1:1, 4:5, 16:9, 1.91:1 and more) to center-crop every image, or step through the queue and adjust each crop, with a rule-of-thirds grid. Then resize, convert, and compress in the same export. Here's how batch resizing works in ImageCrush.

If you want to keep your originals

ImageOptim's own help page says it plainly: files are overwritten with smaller versions, and the unoptimized versions are moved to the Trash. That's recoverable until you empty the Trash, but it means your working folder only ever contains the compressed copy. Dragging a master asset in by mistake replaces it.

ImageCrush never modifies source files. It always writes new files to a folder you choose, and if a filename already exists it adds a number rather than replacing it. Most other alternatives also write separate output; check each app's settings.

If you want it to happen automatically

ImageOptim is drag-and-drop only. If you'd rather never think about compression:

• Zipic has the deepest automation: folder watching, clipboard auto-compression, Notch Drop (all Pro), plus Shortcuts, Raycast, Finder integration, and a Homebrew-installable CLI.
• Compresto watches folders and has a Raycast extension.
• Squash supports Shortcuts.

ImageCrush has no automation. It's built for batches you set up and check, not background processing.

If you also compress video and PDFs

Compresto handles images, video, PDFs, and EPUBs in one app, and it's the most actively updated tool in this space (version 1.31.1 shipped in October 2026). Zipic Pro adds PDF, and Optimage handles video formats too.

If you just want better compression than ImageOptim

Optimage is the closest in spirit: focused, compression-first, with perceptual metrics that model human vision. Its published benchmark rates 100% of its outputs as visually lossless vs 44% for ImageOptim. It also resizes, converts, and renames. The catch: its last dated release was November 2021. It's $15, with a free tier of 24 images a day.

If you want filters and watermarks for client work

• ImageCrush adds text or logo watermarks (single, tiled, or diagonal) to a whole batch, alongside resizing to proof size. See how to batch watermark photos on a Mac.
• Squash adds photo filters and layered watermarks, sold as an annual subscription.

The alternatives at a glance

App	Fills which gaps	Price	Status (Oct 2026)
ImageCrush	WebP/AVIF/HEIC, resize, crop, presets + sequences, rename, watermarks, keeps originals	$14.99 one-time (2 Macs), 7-day trial	Active
Zipic	WebP/HEIC (AVIF Pro), resize, presets, automation, CLI	Free tier; $29.99 one-time	Active
Compresto	WebP/AVIF, resize, rename, folder watch, video/PDF/EPUB	$49 one-time (1 Mac)	Very active
Optimage	Perceptual compression, resize, convert, rename, CLI	$15; free 24/day	Last release 2021
Squash	Resize, filters, watermarks, rename, Shortcuts	Annual subscription	Unverified
TinyPNG	WebP/AVIF/JPEG XL, API, WordPress (uploads required)	Free tier; paid plans	Active service

Keep ImageOptim if…

• Your images are already the right size and format and you just want them smaller.
• You optimize SVGs or GIFs. ImageOptim handles both, and ImageCrush doesn't.
• You want something free, forever, with zero settings.

Plenty of people use both: an export tool for resizing and conversion, then ImageOptim for SVGs and the odd GIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is ImageOptim still being updated?

ImageOptim's last release, version 1.9.3, came out in October 2023. Its source code still receives occasional small commits, but no new version has shipped since. It runs on macOS 11 and later and still compresses JPEG, PNG, GIF, and SVG well. It doesn't resize or convert formats.

Why can't ImageOptim convert to WebP?

ImageOptim is a compression tool: it re-optimizes files in their existing format and never changes the file type. Converting to WebP, AVIF, or HEIC means re-encoding to a different format, which it was never designed to do. For batch WebP conversion on a Mac, use ImageCrush, Zipic, or Compresto.

Does ImageOptim delete my original files?

Not permanently. It overwrites each file with the optimized version and moves the original to the Trash, so you can recover originals until the Trash is emptied. ImageCrush works differently: it never touches source files and always exports new files to a separate folder.

What is the best free ImageOptim alternative?

For format conversion one image at a time, Squoosh is free and runs in your browser. For batches, Zipic's free tier allows 25 compressions a day (including WebP and HEIC output) and Optimage's allows 24. ImageCrush has a 7-day free trial with every feature.

Can I use ImageOptim alongside another tool?

Yes. A common setup is to resize, crop, and convert in an export tool, then use ImageOptim for SVGs and GIFs. Running already-optimized WebP or AVIF files through a second compressor rarely saves much, so most people don't bother for those.

Which ImageOptim alternative is closest to how ImageOptim works?

Optimage. It's compression-first and minimal, with a stronger perceptual engine. Zipic is the closest if you liked ImageOptim's drag-and-forget feel and want it to run automatically.

Further reading

• Best Image Optimizers for Mac in 2026: 8 Tools Compared: every tool, full feature matrix, and maintenance status
• ImageCrush vs ImageOptim: the detailed head-to-head
• WebP vs AVIF vs HEIC vs JPEG vs PNG: the benchmark behind the format numbers
• Official sites: ImageOptim · Zipic · Optimage · Squash · Compresto · TinyPNG