COMPARISON · MEASURED 2026-09
ImgFlow vs TinyPNG: free limits, file-size caps, and local processing
The short version: TinyPNG (now Tinify) also compresses in your browser these days — in September 2026 we dropped a real image, compressed it, and watched the network: no upload request left the page. Credit where due. The real differences are limits and cost: the free web tool caps you at 5 MB per image, 20 compressions and 3 conversions per session, and the page runs a programmatic ad auction. ImgFlow has no per-image cap, no session quota, strips EXIF/GPS from output by default, and ships 21 format × scenario tool pages. If you need the API or the WordPress/Figma plugins, TinyPNG has the bigger ecosystem; for unlimited compress-and-convert in a browser tab, ImgFlow is the simpler deal.
TinyPNG https://tinypng.com/
Head-to-head
| ImgFlow | TinyPNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Where processing happens | In-browser, works offline, 0 upload endpoints | In-browser (their claim; our test saw no upload), quotas enforced server-side per session |
| Per-image size cap | None (device memory is the only bound) | Free 5 MB; Web Pro 75 MB; Web Ultra 150 MB (yearly subscription) |
| Per-session quota | None | Free: 20 compressions + 3 conversions; paid tiers unlimited |
| Ads | Only skippable slots; ads never touch images | Free tier runs programmatic ads (we measured a GAM + Prebid auction, 20+ ad requests) |
| Output formats | JPG / WebP / PNG / AVIF / JPEG XL | AVIF / WebP / PNG / JPEG (JXL also mentioned) |
| HEIC input (iPhone photos) | Yes — native in Safari, decoder auto-loads elsewhere | Yes (file picker accepts .heic/.heif) |
| Target-size compression | Yes — compress to an exact size like 100 KB / 500 KB, with dedicated tool pages | No (general compress/convert only) |
| Batch processing | No count limit, one-click ZIP download | Free tier: up to 20 images at a time |
| EXIF / GPS metadata | Stripped by default (shares never leak locations) | Not clearly promised on-page; verify yourself for sensitive photos |
| Interface languages | 5 (EN / 中文 / 日本語 / ES / PT) | 4 (EN / 中文 / ES / FR) |
| Ecosystem | Browser tools only: 21 tools + 7 scene presets | Developer API, Image CDN, WordPress/Figma plugins, site-wide analyzer |
| Cost | Core tools free forever | Limited free; Web Pro / Web Ultra yearly subs remove ads and raise caps |
Where TinyPNG wins
- A mature ecosystem: Developer API, Image CDN, official WordPress and Figma plugins — built for site owners and team pipelines
- A decade of brand equity (since 2014): countless tutorials, books and workflows name TinyPNG by default — recognition is a real moat
- A site-wide image analyzer that scans whole websites for savings — a lens ImgFlow does not offer
Where ImgFlow wins
- No 5 MB per-image cap, no 20-per-session quota — the free tier is the full product
- A target-size engine that hits exact sizes (100 KB / 500 KB) across 21 scenario-tuned tool pages
- EXIF/GPS stripped by default; no programmatic ad auction or tracking pixels on the free tier
FAQ
Doesn't TinyPNG upload your images to its servers?
As of September 2026, no — we verified it. We dropped a real 2.81 MB image on tinypng.com, let it compress, and watched the network: no image upload request ever left the page, and the homepage itself now advertises in-browser processing. Caveats: quotas (20 per session etc.) are still validated server-side per session, and their API/CDN products are cloud-based. Tools change; for sensitive photos, re-verify yourself (compressing with the network off is the universal self-test).
What exactly does TinyPNG’s free tier limit?
Per their pricing page in September 2026: max 5 MB per image, 20 compressions and 3 conversions per session, with ads on the page. The paid Web Pro sub raises the cap to 75 MB and Web Ultra to 150 MB with unlimited conversions. ImgFlow by contrast is free with no per-image cap and no session quota.
Which one compresses better?
With both running similar encoders locally in the browser, compression ratios land in the same ballpark — there is no magic gap; both use the same lineage of palette-quantization algorithms on the PNG side. What actually separates the experience is scenario tooling: ImgFlow’s target-size mode (compress to 100 KB) and platform presets (social squares, ID-photo specs) simply do not exist in TinyPNG’s web tool.
How we verified
Verified September 2026: official pricing pages plus a live drop test (monitoring outbound requests during compression). Prices and terms change; check their sites.