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ShortPixel alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll image compressors and optimizers

Top picks

Common reasons people leave ShortPixel: images are uploaded to a third-party cloud for processing, and free allowance is small for busy sites. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces ShortPixel, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. ImageOptim currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1ImageOptim logoImageOptimOpen source—YesmacOS4 of 468.8
2Caesium Image Compressor logoCaesium Image CompressorOpen source—YesWindows, macOS, Web5 of 564.8
3Clop logoClopFree plan + paid€15 (Clop Pro lifetime licence)NomacOS7 of 757.5
4IliLoveIMGFree plan + paid—NoWeb5 of 542.3
5Imagify logoImagifyFree plan + paid—NoWeb5 of 542.3
6Optimole logoOptimoleFree plan + paid—NoWeb5 of 542.3
  1. ImageOptim logo

    1. ImageOptimTop pick

    Best for: Mac users who want a free drag-and-drop compressor for web and app images

    Open sourcemacOS

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from ShortPixel

    Free desktop optimisation on your own Mac, with no credits or uploads to a third party.

    Pros

    • Free and open source, with no limits on files
    • Combines several best-in-class optimisers automatically
    • Strips GPS and camera metadata for privacy

    Cons

    • Mac only
    • Can be slow on large PNGs with Zopfli and PNGOUT enabled
    • No WebP or AVIF conversion in the Mac app
    Visit ImageOptim Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is ImageOptim a good ShortPixel alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    macOS 11 or later
    Checked Nov 8, 2026imageoptim.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Bundled optimisers
    MozJPEG, pngquant, Pngcrush and more
    Checked Nov 8, 2026imageoptim.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mac App Store
    Not available
    Checked Nov 8, 2026imageoptim.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Caesium Image Compressor logo

    2. Caesium Image Compressor

    Best for: People who need to batch-compress folders of photos for free on Windows or Mac

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Web

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from ShortPixel

    Free, open-source desktop app that keeps files local, if you optimise before uploading.

    Pros

    • Free and open source with no file limits
    • Batch processing of whole folders with structure preserved
    • Real-time preview before compressing

    Cons

    • No official Linux build on the download page
    • Interface is functional rather than polished
    Visit Caesium Image Compressor Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Caesium Image Compressor a good ShortPixel alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Formats
    JPG, PNG, WebP, TIFF
    Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Windows
    Windows 10 (1809) or later
    Checked Nov 8, 2026saerasoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    macOS
    macOS 12 or later
    Checked Nov 8, 2026saerasoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Command line
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026saerasoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Clop logo

    3. Clop

    Best for: Mac users who share many screenshots and screen recordings and want them smaller automatically

    Free plan + paidmacOS

    57.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from ShortPixel

    Optimises images automatically on your Mac as you copy or save them.

    Pros

    • Optimises clipboard images automatically before you paste
    • Handles images, video, PDFs and audio in one app
    • All processing on-device, with no cloud upload
    • One-time Pro licence rather than a subscription

    Cons

    • Mac only, and requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later
    • Free version caps folder and drop-zone optimisation at 5 files per session
    • Closed source, unlike ImageOptim or Caesium
    Visit Clop Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Clop a good ShortPixel alternative?

    Verified facts

    7 of 7 verified
    Pro licence
    €15 lifetime
    Checked Nov 8, 2026lowtechguys.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days of Pro features
    Checked Nov 8, 2026lowtechguys.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    macOS 14 Sonoma or later
    Checked Nov 8, 2026lowtechguys.com(opens source in a new tab)
    On-device processing
    Yes, no cloud services
    Checked Nov 8, 2026lowtechguys.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free version limit
    Up to 5 files per drop
    Checked Nov 8, 2026lowtechguys.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime price
    €15 (Clop Pro lifetime licence)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026lowtechguys.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, up to 5 dropped files at a time
    Checked Nov 8, 2026lowtechguys.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Il

    4. iLoveIMG

    Best for: Anyone who needs quick bulk compression, resizing or format conversion in a browser

    Free plan + paidWeb

    42.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from ShortPixel

    Browser-based compression plus resizing and format conversion, with no plugin needed.

    Pros

    • Many common image jobs in one place with no install
    • Batch processing of dozens of files at once
    • Handles HEIC, WEBP, PSD and RAW conversion to JPG
    • API available for automating the same tasks

    Cons

    • Free tier has ads and caps on batch size and file size
    • Files are uploaded to its servers rather than processed locally
    • Photo editor is basic compared with Photopea or Pixlr
    Visit iLoveIMG Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is iLoveIMG a good ShortPixel alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, with limits
    Checked Nov 8, 2026iloveimg.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Max file size
    200 MB free, 4 GB Premium
    Checked Nov 8, 2026iloveimg.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Security
    ISO 27001 certified
    Checked Nov 8, 2026iloveimg.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Formats compressed
    JPG, PNG, SVG, GIF
    Checked Nov 8, 2026iloveimg.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026iloveimg.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Imagify logo

    5. Imagify

    Best for: WordPress site owners who want one-click bulk compression and WebP/AVIF conversion

    Free plan + paidWeb

    42.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from ShortPixel

    Similar WordPress compression with WebP/AVIF conversion and an unlimited plan.

    Pros

    • Bulk optimization of an existing media library in a few clicks
    • Converts images to WebP and AVIF
    • Keeps backups so originals can be restored
    • One account can be used on unlimited websites

    Cons

    • WordPress is the only ready-made integration; other platforms need the API
    • Free tier is small (about 20 MB a month)
    • Images are processed on Imagify's servers rather than locally
    Visit Imagify Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Imagify a good ShortPixel alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    20 MB per month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026imagify.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Unlimited plan
    Unlimited images and websites
    Checked Nov 8, 2026imagify.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Formats
    WebP and AVIF conversion
    Checked Nov 8, 2026imagify.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Integrations
    WordPress plugin; API for other CMSs
    Checked Nov 8, 2026imagify.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Developer
    The WP Rocket team
    Checked Nov 8, 2026imagify.io(opens source in a new tab)
  6. Optimole logo

    6. Optimole

    Best for: WordPress site owners who want images resized, converted and served from a CDN automatically

    Free plan + paidWeb

    42.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from ShortPixel

    Serves resized images from a CDN in real time instead of compressing files in place.

    Pros

    • Resizes images per device in real time instead of one fixed size
    • WebP/AVIF delivery and lazy loading included
    • CDN with 450+ edge locations on every plan
    • Unlimited images; plans are based on traffic

    Cons

    • Free tier is capped at a low number of monthly visits
    • Images depend on Optimole's CDN; leaving means switching delivery back
    • Custom domain (CNAME) only on higher plans
    Visit Optimole Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Optimole a good ShortPixel alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Unlimited images, up to 2,000 visits/month
    Checked Nov 8, 2026optimole.com(opens source in a new tab)
    CDN
    Amazon CloudFront, 450+ locations
    Checked Nov 8, 2026optimole.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Formats
    WebP and AVIF
    Checked Nov 8, 2026optimole.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    50+ URL-based image transformations
    Checked Nov 8, 2026optimole.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    7 days
    Checked Nov 8, 2026optimole.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best ShortPixel alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

ImageOptim logo

Best ShortPixel alternative for most people

ImageOptim

Free desktop optimisation on your own Mac, with no credits or uploads to a third party.

Caesium Image Compressor logo

Best ShortPixel alternative for a free option

Caesium Image Compressor

Free, open-source desktop app that keeps files local, if you optimise before uploading.

Clop logo

Best ShortPixel alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Clop

Optimises images automatically on your Mac as you copy or save them.

ImageOptim logo

Best ShortPixel alternative for open source

ImageOptim

Free desktop optimisation on your own Mac, with no credits or uploads to a third party.

ImageOptim logo

Best ShortPixel alternative for Mac

ImageOptim

Free desktop optimisation on your own Mac, with no credits or uploads to a third party.

Caesium Image Compressor logo

Best ShortPixel alternative for Windows

Caesium Image Compressor

Free, open-source desktop app that keeps files local, if you optimise before uploading.

Il

Best ShortPixel alternative for working in the browser

iLoveIMG

Browser-based compression plus resizing and format conversion, with no plugin needed.

ShortPixel alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to ShortPixel?

ImageOptim ranks first right now. Free desktop optimisation on your own Mac, with no credits or uploads to a third party. Caesium Image Compressor and Clop follow it in our ranking.

ShortPixel vs ImageOptim: what's the difference?

ShortPixel is free with paid plans; ImageOptim is free and open source. ImageOptim is open source and ShortPixel is not. Only ShortPixel runs on Web. Only ImageOptim runs on macOS.

Is ShortPixel free?

ShortPixel is free with paid plans.

Is there a free alternative to ShortPixel?

Yes. ImageOptim (open source), Caesium Image Compressor (open source), Clop (free plan + paid) and iLoveIMG (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to ShortPixel?

Yes: ImageOptim and Caesium Image Compressor.

Why do people switch from ShortPixel?

The complaints we hear most: images are uploaded to a third-party cloud for processing; free allowance is small for busy sites; online tool limits file size unless you log in.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces ShortPixel, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.