Kraken.io

Kraken.io shrinks image file size while keeping the picture close to the original. It offers three modes. Lossy trades a little detail for the smallest files, and lossless keeps every pixel. An expert mode adds manual control over JPEG quality, metadata and chroma settings. The same engine powers a paid API that sites and apps call to compress images automatically.

The free web page needs no account. It takes files up to 1 MB, 20 at a time, and only compresses. Resizing, changing format and uploading a zip are paid. Paid plans are monthly or yearly subscriptions that raise the file limit to 32 MB and add the API. Kraken is a web and API service, with no desktop or phone app.

Use Kraken.io if:

• You want a few images made smaller and each one is under 1 MB, the free page's cap.
• You need to choose between lossy for the smallest files and lossless when every pixel has to survive, such as for a logo or a screenshot.
• You run a site or app and want images compressed automatically, which is what the API is for.
• You want hands-on control over JPEG quality, metadata and chroma settings rather than a single quality slider.
• You are compressing web formats like JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF or SVG for faster page loads.

Skip Kraken.io if any of these describe you:

• You have large images and do not want to pay. The free web page takes files up to 1 MB, so a free compressor like TinyPNG may take yours as they are.
• You also need to resize or change format at no cost. Both are paid here, so a free image resizer or converter covers more.
• You want files processed without uploading them. Kraken compresses on its servers, so Squoosh keeps images on your device.
• You compress an image now and then. The 1 MB cap and the 12-hour download window are overhead a simple free tool does not impose.
• You want a desktop or phone app. Kraken is web and API only.