COMPARISON · MEASURED 2026-09
ImgFlow vs iLoveIMG: should your images leave your device?
The short version: iLoveIMG really is broad — crop, watermark, rotate, AI upscaling, the whole PDF family, mobile apps, and a 200 MB free-task allowance. But it is the classic cloud model: in our September 2026 test, the instant the image dropped, an upload went out to api33.iloveimg.com; processing happens on servers, advanced features need an account, and the free tier shows ads (Premium at $5/month removes ads and unlocks full batching). ImgFlow keeps every step in the browser: 0 upload endpoints, no task quota, works offline, EXIF/GPS stripped by default. For an online-Photoshop-style suite, iLoveIMG is reasonable; for compression, conversion and target sizes with privacy maxed out, ImgFlow is the cleaner class of tool.
iLoveIMG https://www.iloveimg.com/
Head-to-head
| ImgFlow | iLoveIMG | |
|---|---|---|
| Where processing happens | In-browser, 0 upload endpoints | Uploaded and processed on servers (we captured api33.iloveimg.com/v1/upload live) |
| Works offline | Yes (PWA, after first load) | No (server-dependent) |
| Free allowance | No task quota, no per-image cap | 200 MB on most tasks; less on some tools (50–90 MB) |
| Account requirement | Core features need no registration | Usable free; Premium features and full batching need an account and subscription |
| EXIF / GPS metadata | Stripped by default | Handled server-side after upload; no on-page default-strip promise |
| Tool breadth | 21, focused on compress / convert / target-size / resize | Full suite: crop, watermark, rotate, AI upscale, photo editor + the iLovePDF ecosystem |
| Ads | Skippable slots only; never touch images | Programmatic ads on free; Premium ($5/month) removes them |
| Cost | Core tools free forever | Free + Premium $5/month ($60/year); Business custom |
Where iLoveIMG wins
- Breadth wins outright: crop, watermark, rotate, AI upscale, an online photo editor — ImgFlow deliberately skips these
- The iLovePDF ecosystem + mobile apps + API: one-stop across devices and documents, with SSO/ISO27001 for business
- Cloud processing means even a weak phone can push big jobs — the compute lives on the server, not the device
Where ImgFlow wins
- 0 upload endpoints: images never leaving the device is architectural, and provable by going offline
- Core tools free forever: no task quota, core features need no registration
- EXIF/GPS stripped by default — in the upload model metadata rides the original file to the server first; in the local model it never leaves home
FAQ
Does iLoveIMG upload my images?
Yes. Our September 2026 test: drop an image into iLoveIMG’s compression tool and the browser immediately fires an upload request to api33.iloveimg.com/v1/upload — that is simply how the cloud model works; processing happens on their servers and the result comes back. Retention and cleanup of uploaded files follow their privacy policy; for sensitive photos (locations, IDs), prefer tools that never upload, or read their terms yourself.
If iLoveIMG is cloud-based, why do so many people still use it?
Because it genuinely works and covers a lot: one stop for crop, watermark, PDF conversion and dozens more; weak devices can run big jobs; there are mobile apps. Cloud is not evil — it is fine as long as upload terms are transparent and you accept your images passing through servers. ImgFlow serves the other end of the spectrum: images never leave the device at all. Choosing the model that matches how sensitive your images are matters more than choosing a brand.
How we verified
Verified September 2026: a live drop test on iloveimg.com (capturing the upload request) plus their official pricing page. Terms and limits change; check their site.