7 Best JPGmini Alternatives for Image Compression in 2026

JPGmini is excellent at JPEG compression but costs $59-$349. Here are 7 alternatives — free and paid — that cover more formats, more platforms, and more use cases.

February 22, 2026

JPGmini has built a strong reputation for JPEG compression quality. Its perceptual optimization algorithm genuinely preserves visual quality while cutting file sizes by 60-80%, and professional photographers trust it for delivering client galleries without sacrificing fidelity. But JPGmini has a significant limitation: it only compresses JPEGs, and its pricing — $59 for the standard version, $349 for the Pro — is steep for users who need broader format support or more flexible licensing.

If you're evaluating JPGmini alternatives, this guide compares seven tools across the dimensions that actually matter: supported formats, batch processing capability, pricing model, platform availability, and quality preservation. Whether you're a photographer, web developer, content creator, or running a WordPress site, one of these tools fits your workflow better than JPGmini.

What JPGmini Does Well (And Where It Falls Short)

Before looking at alternatives, it's worth understanding what makes JPGmini good — and what pushes users toward alternatives.

JPGmini strengths:

Best-in-class JPEG quality preservation at high compression ratios
Professional-grade output trusted by photographers and stock agencies
Simple drag-and-drop interface
Lightroom and Photoshop plugin integration (Pro version)
Fast processing using native macOS APIs

JPGmini limitations:

JPEG only — no PNG, WebP, GIF, HEIC, or video compression
Mac and Windows only (no web version for quick one-off compressions)
$59 base price, $349 for Pro with Lightroom plugin
No free tier (only a limited trial)
No PDF compression
No WordPress or CMS integration

If your workflow includes PNG files, WebP output, batch processing of mixed formats, or any video compression alongside images, JPGmini's format limitation alone forces you to use a second tool.

7 Best JPGmini Alternatives

1. Compresto — Best for Mac Users Needing Multi-Format Compression

Compresto is a native macOS app that compresses images, videos, and PDFs — all in one drag-and-drop interface. Where JPGmini handles only JPEGs, Compresto covers the formats Mac users actually work with: JPEG, PNG, GIF, HEIC, WebP, MP4, MOV, and PDF.

Key advantages over JPGmini:

Supports images, videos, and PDFs — not just JPEGs
True batch processing: drop an entire folder and compress everything at once
Hardware acceleration using Apple Silicon and Metal GPU — significantly faster than software-only tools
Automatic quality optimization — Compresto analyzes each file and applies appropriate compression settings
Folder watching: set a watch folder and Compresto automatically compresses new files as they're added
One-time purchase pricing, no subscription

Supported formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, HEIC, WebP, TIFF, MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, PDF

Pricing: Free trial available; paid version at compresto.app

Platform: macOS only

Best for: Mac users who compress mixed file types (images, video, PDFs) and want a single tool that handles everything without format restrictions.

If you also need to compress videos on your Mac or handle PDFs alongside images, Compresto eliminates the need to juggle multiple apps. For a detailed comparison with ImageOptim, see Compresto vs ImageOptim.

2. ImageOptim — Best Free Mac Option

ImageOptim is a free, open-source macOS app that compresses images using multiple optimization engines behind the scenes (MozJPEG, PNGCrush, Zopfli, Gifsicle). For lossless compression, it's often the best free option available.

Key advantages over JPGmini:

Completely free and open source
Supports JPEG, PNG, GIF, and SVG
Lossless mode available (no quality degradation)
Lossy mode optional for additional size reduction
Removes metadata (EXIF, color profiles) that bloat file size

Limitations vs. JPGmini:

No video or PDF compression
Lossless compression ratios are smaller than JPGmini's lossy optimization
No Lightroom plugin
Mac only (though there's a web API)

Pricing: Free

Platform: macOS

Best for: Developers and web designers who want free, reliable image optimization without paying for JPGmini. See our full ImageOptim alternatives guide for more options in this category.

3. TinyPNG / TinyJPG — Best Web-Based Option

TinyPNG (which also handles JPEG via TinyJPG) is a browser-based compression service from Tinify. It uses smart lossy compression that reduces PNG file sizes by 50-80% and JPEG files by 40-60%, typically with imperceptible quality loss.

Key advantages over JPGmini:

No software installation required — works in any browser
Supports both PNG and JPEG (two separate tools on one site)
WebP output option
Free tier: 20 compressions per month
Developer API available for integration
WordPress plugin (Compress JPEG & PNG images by Tinify)

Limitations vs. JPGmini:

Free tier is limited to 20 files per month
File size limit of 5 MB per image on free tier
No video or PDF compression
No batch desktop processing
Paid API required for high volume

Pricing: Free (20 compressions/month); Pro API from $0.009/image

Platform: Web (any browser), WordPress plugin, API

Best for: Web developers compressing individual files or integrating compression into build pipelines. Also excellent for WordPress sites via the official plugin.

4. Squoosh — Best Free Browser Tool for Advanced Control

Squoosh is Google's open-source image compression tool, available at squoosh.app. Unlike TinyPNG's automatic approach, Squoosh gives you fine-grained control over codec selection, quality settings, and resize parameters — all in a browser with no file upload limits.

Key advantages over JPGmini:

Completely free with no file limits
Side-by-side before/after quality comparison
Multiple codec options: MozJPEG, WebP, AVIF, OxiPNG, and more
Resize, crop, and format conversion in one tool
Runs locally in the browser — files never leave your machine (privacy)
AVIF support for next-generation compression (40% smaller than WebP)

Limitations vs. JPGmini:

One file at a time (no batch processing)
No video or PDF compression
No Lightroom plugin or desktop integration
Requires manual settings — less automatic than JPGmini

Pricing: Free

Platform: Web (squoosh.app), also available as a CLI tool

Best for: Developers and power users who want maximum control over compression settings and format conversion without paying for software. For optimizing images for the web specifically, see our optimize images for web guide.

5. ShortPixel — Best for WordPress Sites

ShortPixel is a WordPress plugin and web service focused on image optimization for websites. It integrates directly into the WordPress media library, automatically compressing images as they're uploaded.

Key advantages over JPGmini:

WordPress plugin with automatic compression on upload
Lossy, glossy (hybrid), and lossless modes
Supports JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, and AVIF output
Bulk optimization for existing media library
CDN delivery option
API for custom integrations

Limitations vs. JPGmini:

Subscription-based pricing for ongoing use
Best value specifically in WordPress context
No desktop app for offline compression
Monthly credits-based model can get expensive for large sites

Pricing: Free plan (100 images/month); paid plans from $3.99/month

Platform: WordPress plugin, web API

Best for: WordPress site owners who want automatic image optimization integrated into their CMS workflow. Pairs well with our guide on compressing images for websites.

6. Optimage — Closest JPGmini Alternative for Mac Pros

Optimage is a macOS-only image optimizer that closely resembles JPGmini in positioning — professional quality, Mac-native performance, and targeted at photographers and designers. It supports JPEG, PNG, GIF, and SVG with both lossy and lossless modes.

Key advantages over JPGmini:

More format support (PNG, GIF, SVG in addition to JPEG)
One-time purchase pricing (no subscription)
Folder watching for automatic compression
Detailed compression statistics per file
Lossy and lossless modes

Limitations vs. JPGmini:

No Lightroom/Photoshop plugin
Smaller community and fewer integrations
Less proven at the professional photography scale JPGmini targets
No video compression

Pricing: One-time purchase (~$29.99)

Platform: macOS

Best for: Mac users who want a JPGmini-like experience with broader format support (PNG, GIF, SVG) and one-time pricing.

7. Caesium — Best Free Cross-Platform Desktop Option

Caesium is a free, open-source image compression desktop app available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports JPEG, PNG, WebP, and TIFF, making it one of the most versatile free options for users across operating systems.

Key advantages over JPGmini:

Completely free and open source
Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Batch processing with folder selection
Resize options alongside compression
EXIF metadata control
WebP output support

Limitations vs. JPGmini:

Quality optimization is less sophisticated than JPGmini's perceptual algorithm
No video or PDF compression
No Lightroom plugin
Interface is functional but not polished

Pricing: Free

Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux

Best for: Cross-platform users who need free batch image compression without being tied to a single operating system.

Comparison Table: JPGmini vs. Alternatives

Tool	Price	Formats	Batch	Platform	Video	PDF
JPGmini	$59–$349	JPEG only	Yes	Mac, Win	No	No
Compresto	Paid (one-time)	JPEG, PNG, GIF, HEIC, WebP, MP4, MOV, PDF	Yes	Mac	Yes	Yes
ImageOptim	Free	JPEG, PNG, GIF, SVG	Yes	Mac	No	No
TinyPNG	Free / API	JPEG, PNG, WebP	Limited	Web	No	No
Squoosh	Free	JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF	No	Web	No	No
ShortPixel	$3.99+/mo	JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, AVIF	Yes	WordPress	No	No
Optimage	~$29.99	JPEG, PNG, GIF, SVG	Yes	Mac	No	No
Caesium	Free	JPEG, PNG, WebP, TIFF	Yes	Win/Mac/Linux	No	No

How to Choose the Right JPGmini Alternative

Choose Compresto if: You're on Mac and compress mixed file types — images alongside videos and PDFs. The multi-format support and hardware acceleration make it the most practical day-to-day tool for Mac users who don't want separate apps for each file type. Download it at compresto.app.

Choose ImageOptim if: You're on Mac, only compress images, and want a completely free tool with lossless quality preservation.

Choose TinyPNG if: You're a web developer who needs quick JPEG and PNG compression without installing software, or you want WordPress integration.

Choose Squoosh if: You need maximum control over compression settings and want to experiment with next-generation formats like AVIF — for free, with no file limits.

Choose ShortPixel if: You run a WordPress site and want automatic image optimization as part of your CMS workflow.

Choose Optimage if: You want the closest JPGmini experience (Mac-native, professional quality) but need PNG and GIF support alongside JPEGs.

Choose Caesium if: You're not on Mac and need a free, cross-platform desktop app with basic batch compression.

FAQ: JPGmini Alternatives

Is there a free alternative to JPGmini?

Yes — several. ImageOptim is the best free alternative for Mac users (supports JPEG, PNG, GIF, SVG). Squoosh is the best free browser option with fine-grained control. Caesium is the best free cross-platform desktop option. All three compress images effectively at no cost.

What's the best JPGmini alternative that also handles videos?

JPGmini is image-only, so any tool that handles both images and videos is automatically a broader solution. Compresto is the standout option here — it compresses JPEG, PNG, HEIC, GIF, WebP, MP4, MOV, and PDF in a single Mac app, making it more versatile than JPGmini for users who work with mixed media. It even uses hardware acceleration for video compression, which makes it significantly faster than software-only tools.

Does JPGmini support PNG compression?

No. JPGmini is JPEG-only. This is one of the primary reasons users seek alternatives — PNG is widely used for screenshots, graphics, and web assets, and JPGmini cannot help with those files. Tools like ImageOptim, TinyPNG, Compresto, and Squoosh all support PNG compression.

Which JPGmini alternative is best for web developers?

TinyPNG or Squoosh for browser-based compression, ShortPixel for WordPress integration, and ImageOptim or Compresto for local desktop compression. Web developers who need automated compression in build pipelines should look at Squoosh CLI or the ShortPixel API. For a broader overview, see our image compressor software guide.

Conclusion

JPGmini is excellent at what it does — JPEG compression with top-tier quality preservation — but its format limitations and high price push many users toward alternatives. The right choice depends on your specific workflow:

Mac users with mixed file types: Compresto
Free Mac image optimization: ImageOptim
Web-based compression: TinyPNG or Squoosh
WordPress: ShortPixel
Cross-platform free: Caesium

For most Mac users who compress images alongside videos and PDFs, Compresto provides the broadest coverage in a single tool — without JPGmini's format restrictions or price premium.