Choose Squoosh for adjustable, on-device still-image compression; TinyPNG for a simple online compressor and converter; and ezgif for creating or editing GIFs and other animations. The best fit depends on the file and workflow—not on a universal compression winner. The official product pages describe different tasks and file-handling approaches, but do not establish that one service consistently produces smaller or better-looking results.
How do Squoosh, TinyPNG, and ezgif differ?
| Tool | Best suited to | Workflow and file handling | Published limits or formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squoosh | Compressing still images while adjusting settings and comparing the result | Its project documentation says image compression happens locally and images are not sent to a server. The project also discloses Google Analytics collection; see the privacy section below. | The cited app describes opening and editing an image, but does not state a batch limit here. Squoosh app |
| TinyPNG | Direct online compression or conversion for supported formats | Upload files to the service. Its FAQ says they are accessible only to the user and kept for a maximum of 48 hours before deletion. | The site currently advertises up to 20 files, each no larger than 5 MB. Its FAQ lists AVIF, JPEG XL (JXL), WebP, JPG, PNG, and APNG. Home page; FAQ |
| ezgif | Making or editing GIFs and other animated images, plus related video-to-animation work | Many ezgif tools use uploads. Its separate bulk GIF optimizer says it runs in the browser without uploading files; that claim applies to that optimizer, not the whole site. | The GIF maker accepts up to 2000 image files with a 200 MB total upload limit. GIF maker; Bulk GIF optimizer |
The TinyPNG limits above are the current values advertised on its site, and the ezgif limits apply to its GIF maker. Online limits and supported formats can change, so check the relevant page when you use the service.
Which tool should you use for your task?
Choose Squoosh for hands-on still-image compression
Squoosh is a good starting point if you want to tune compression, inspect a before-and-after result, and save a version that balances file size and appearance. Its official app supports adjusting settings and comparing the image result. That control is useful when an image will appear on a website or in a project with a specific format or quality requirement. The cited sources do not show that Squoosh always makes the smallest file.
Choose TinyPNG for a straightforward online workflow
TinyPNG is convenient when you want to upload an image for compression or conversion and its currently listed formats meet your needs. Its interface currently advertises batches of up to 20 files, subject to the 5 MB per-file limit. Because this is an upload-based service, consider its stated retention period before sending sensitive images.
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Choose ezgif for animation work
ezgif is the specialist choice when you need to combine images into a GIF, edit an existing animation, or work with other animated formats. Its About page describes a toolkit primarily for making and editing animated GIFs, with support for formats including animated WebP, APNG, and AVIF, as well as basic video editing. It says the site uses ImageMagick for most image-editing work, gifsicle with lossygif for GIF tasks, and FFmpeg for video conversion and editing. These are descriptions of the service’s tools, not a comparative quality or speed test.
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The GIF maker is an upload-based workflow with a published 2000-file and 200 MB total limit. If you only need to optimize multiple GIFs and local processing matters, ezgif’s distinct bulk GIF optimizer says it runs in your browser using a WebAssembly build of gifsicle and does not upload files.
What should you know about privacy and file handling?
Squoosh processes images locally, but its project reports analytics
The GoogleChromeLabs Squoosh project documentation states: “Squoosh does not send your image to a server. All image compression processes locally.” The same README says Squoosh uses Google Analytics to collect basic visitor data and before-and-after image size values. If you use the progressive web app (PWA), it also says installation type and installation time/date are collected. Local image processing therefore does not mean the app collects no analytics.
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TinyPNG and most ezgif tools involve uploads
TinyPNG’s FAQ says uploaded files are accessible only to the user and retained for a maximum of 48 hours before deletion. ezgif’s privacy policy says uploaded files are stored for up to one hour after last use and then deleted. Its GIF maker also states automatic deletion one hour after files are last used. These are the providers’ stated policies; use a local-processing option when an image should not be uploaded.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can you compare results fairly?
- Start with a copy of the same source image. Keep the original unchanged so you can compare outputs and retry settings.
- Choose the required output format first. Confirm that the website, app, or recipient supports it; a smaller file is not useful if the destination cannot display it.
- Use comparable settings where the tools allow them. Compression settings and conversion options differ, so do not treat unrelated defaults as a controlled comparison.
- Inspect the image at its intended display size. Check for visible artifacts or other quality loss as well as file size.
- Choose the result that meets both needs. Prefer the smallest file that still looks acceptable and works in the destination.
The official sources reviewed do not establish a universal winner for file size, visual quality, or speed. Results depend on the input, chosen format, settings, and destination.
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