TinyPNG Alternative: Free Image Compressor (No Upload, Works Offline)
Quick Comparison
Looking for a TinyPNG alternative that works offline and doesn't require uploads? PixCloak processes images 100% locally in your browser—no uploads, no server processing, no file count limits. Compress to exact KB targets (100KB, 200KB, 500KB, 1MB), batch process unlimited images, download as ZIP. Privacy-first, GDPR-compliant, works on iPhone, Android, desktop.
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| Feature | TinyPNG | PixCloak |
|---|---|---|
| Processing location | ❌ Upload to server | ✅ 100% local (browser) |
| Exact KB targeting | ❌ Not supported | ✅ 100KB-1MB exact targets |
| Batch processing (free) | ⚠️ 20 images max | ✅ Unlimited |
| Works offline | ❌ Requires internet | ✅ Yes (after first load) |
| Privacy (GDPR) | ⚠️ Files uploaded to server | ✅ No uploads, GDPR-safe |
| ZIP download | ✅ Yes (paid plan) | ✅ Free for all |
| EXIF/GPS removal | ⚠️ Optional | ✅ Automatic (privacy) |
| Speed (10 images) | ~20-30 seconds (upload + process) | ~5-10 seconds (local) |
| Account required | ⚠️ For more than 20 images | ✅ No account needed |
| Price | Free (limited) / $25/year | 100% free |
Why Choose PixCloak Over TinyPNG?
1. 100% Local Processing (No Uploads)
TinyPNG: Uploads your images to their servers for processing. Images travel across internet, stored temporarily on servers, then downloaded back. Privacy concerns for sensitive photos (IDs, medical documents, business materials). Slow on poor connections—uploading 10MB of images on 3G takes minutes.
PixCloak: Processes everything locally in your browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly. Images never leave your device. Works instantly even on slow connections (no upload wait). GDPR-compliant by design—your files stay private. Perfect for confidential documents, personal photos, proprietary product images.
Use case: Compressing passport photos, medical records, legal documents, or any sensitive imagery where privacy matters.
2. Exact KB Targeting
TinyPNG: Compresses automatically but can't hit exact file sizes. If platform requires "exactly 200KB or less," TinyPNG might produce 180KB (wasted quality) or 220KB (rejected by platform). No control over final size.
PixCloak: Set exact targets: 100KB, 200KB, 500KB, 1MB, or custom. Tool adjusts quality automatically to hit target precisely. Perfect for platforms with strict limits (job applications requiring "200KB max," government forms with "500KB limit," forum avatars "under 100KB").
Use case: LinkedIn profile photos (200KB recommended), ATS resume uploads (200-500KB limits), visa/passport forms (strict size requirements).
3. Unlimited Batch Processing (Free)
TinyPNG: Free tier limited to 20 images per batch. Processing 50 product photos requires 3 separate uploads. Paid plan ($25/year) removes limit but still uploads to server.
PixCloak: No limits. Compress 1 image or 1000—always free. Process 50 product photos, 100 blog images, 500 portfolio samples in one batch. Download all as ZIP file. No account needed, no payment, no restrictions.
Use case: E-commerce catalog updates, event photography (weddings, corporate), real estate listings, blog content creation.
4. Works Offline
TinyPNG: Requires internet connection for every compression. Travel, unreliable WiFi, slow connections = can't compress images.
PixCloak: After first page load, works offline (Progressive Web App). Compress images on plane, in subway, at locations with no internet. Installabl on iPhone/Android home screen—feels like native app.
Use case: Field photography (real estate agents, travel bloggers), mobile professionals, anyone with unreliable internet access.
5. Faster Processing
TinyPNG: Upload → server processing → download. Total time for 10 images (5MB each): ~20-30 seconds on good connection, 1-2 minutes on 3G. Upload bottleneck—you wait for images to transfer across internet.
PixCloak: Local processing uses your device's CPU. 10 images (5MB each) compress in 5-10 seconds on modern phone/laptop. No upload wait—instant start. Scales with your device speed, not internet connection.
Use case: When speed matters—tight deadlines, client calls, urgent social media posts.
6. Automatic EXIF/GPS Removal
TinyPNG: Optionally preserves metadata. Easy to forget to remove—many users accidentally share photos with GPS coordinates (reveals home addresses), camera serial numbers, photographer names.
PixCloak: Automatically strips all EXIF, GPS, camera metadata on export. Privacy protection by default—you don't need to remember. Also reduces file size (EXIF can be 10-50KB).
Use case: Sharing photos publicly (social media, forums, marketplaces), GDPR compliance, preventing location tracking.
When TinyPNG Might Be Better
To be fair, TinyPNG has advantages in specific scenarios:
- API integration: TinyPNG offers paid API for server-side batch processing in production pipelines. PixCloak is browser-based—no API (yet). If you need automated compression in backend workflows, TinyPNG API is suitable.
- Brand recognition: TinyPNG is well-known, trusted by developers since 2014. Established reputation. PixCloak is newer but growing fast.
- Plugin ecosystem: TinyPNG has WordPress plugin, Photoshop plugin. PixCloak doesn't have plugins (browser-based only).
Bottom line: If you need API or plugins, TinyPNG might fit. For manual compression with privacy and exact KB targeting, PixCloak is superior—faster, free, offline, no uploads.
How to Switch from TinyPNG to PixCloak
Easy 3-step process:
- Bookmark PixCloak: Visit /compress, bookmark or add to home screen (iPhone/Android).
- Set target size: Click KB dropdown, choose 200KB, 500KB, or custom target matching your needs.
- Drag images & compress: Drag files in (or click Choose Files), click Compress, download result. For multiple images, use Download ZIP.
Pro tip: For best results, resize images to 1920px longest side first (our resize guide), then compress to target KB. This produces better quality than compressing huge dimensions directly.
Common Questions
Q: Is PixCloak really 100% local?
Yes. Open browser DevTools Network tab, compress an image, watch—zero uploads. All processing uses JavaScript/WebAssembly running in browser. Code is open-source (GitHub), auditable. Images never touch servers.
Q: How does local compression work technically?
Browser Canvas API handles image decoding/rendering. WebAssembly encoders (MozJPEG, libwebp) compress to JPEG/WebP. JavaScript manages quality adjustment to hit exact KB targets. Modern browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) have powerful Canvas/WASM support—compression runs at native CPU speed.
Q: Can I trust local processing for sensitive images?
Yes—it's more trustworthy than server upload. With server processing, you must trust: (1) secure upload (TLS), (2) server doesn't log files, (3) server deletes files promptly, (4) no employee/hacker access, (5) no government data requests. With local processing, images stay on your device—you control everything.
Q: Does quality match TinyPNG?
Yes. Both use similar algorithms (MozJPEG for JPEG, libwebp for WebP). Visual quality is identical at same settings. TinyPNG might have slight edge in extreme optimization (their paid service uses proprietary tweaks), but for 99% of use cases, PixCloak produces indistinguishable results.
Q: Why is PixCloak free with no limits?
No server costs—you're using your own device's CPU. We don't store, transfer, or process your images. Hosting static website (HTML/CSS/JS) costs pennies per month. Business model: optional future features (commercial licensing, team features), but core compression stays free forever.
Ready to Try PixCloak?
No account, no upload, no limits. Start compressing images now: