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PNGOUT review

Free#61 of 85 in Image Compression Software

A free command-line utility for reducing PNG size without changing image data.

3.3/10Editor score
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PNGOUT3.3 Visit PNGOUT

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

PNGOUT is a free desktop command-line utility for reducing PNG file sizes with lossless compression. It is intended for people optimizing images created by other tools, including website assets and game content. Windows is the primary platform, with official Linux and Mac OS X ports linked by the author. The workflow suits developers, technical artists, and teams that prefer scriptable controls over a graphical interface.

The published plan is straightforward: PNGOUT command-line is free for use and includes lossless PNG optimization. Its command-line options expose detailed control over PNG color type, bit depth, filtering, and compression strategy. You can also preserve or remove ancillary PNG chunks, which provides a way to manage metadata and related file components during optimization. The utility accepts PNG, GIF, BMP, JPG, TGA, and PCX input, while a Windows clipboard bitmap input option adds another desktop workflow.

PNGOUT’s narrow focus is its main trade-off. It optimizes PNG output and does not provide batch processing, so users managing large collections may need to create their own command-line workflow. There is no graphical interface in this product listing; PNGOUT command-line is distinct from the separately sold PNGOUTWin GUI. Documentation is the listed support channel. Choose PNGOUT when lossless PNG control, multiple raster inputs, and desktop command-line operation matter most. Users seeking a GUI-first process or built-in batch handling should consider another image-compression tool.

PNGOUT pros and cons

  • Where it wins
    • Lossless PNG optimization with configurable compression controls
    • Supports PNG, GIF, BMP, JPG, TGA, and PCX input
    • Runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X desktop systems
  • Where it doesn't
    • Command-line operation requires comfort with terminal workflows
    • No batch-processing capability is provided
    • Focused on PNG optimization rather than broad image-format output

PNGOUT fact sheet, pricing and score →

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