What's new in v1.8.4

The affordable Compresto alternative for Mac

Compresto compresses well. If you also need to convert formats, work with video and audio, or handle PDFs, Picmal does all of it for $39, not $49. Files never leave your Mac.

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TL;DR Picmal vs Compresto

Compresto squeezes files as small as they'll go, up to 90% reduction. Picmal ($39, pay once) does real compression too. It also converts formats, covers video and audio, handles PDFs, has its own Raycast extension, and costs $10 less.

Pick Picmal if
You need more than compression. Formats to convert, video and audio to process, PDFs to shrink or combine, and you'd rather not pay $49 for it.
Pick Compresto if
You compress files all day and want the smallest possible output, whatever it costs.

Picmal vs Compresto at a glance

Compresto is built for one thing: squeezing files as small as possible. Picmal does more. Convert, compress, and edit across images, video, audio, and PDFs. Both run offline, both handle batches.

Feature Picmal Compresto
Price $39 one-time $49 one-time (or $7/mo)
What it's for Convert, compress & edit File compression
Privacy 100% offline 100% offline
Image conversion Yes. HEIC, JPG, PNG, WebP, and more Compression only
Video conversion Yes. MP4, MOV, MKV, and more Compression only
Audio conversion Yes. MP3, WAV, FLAC, and more No
PDF support Yes. Compress, combine, images to PDF Yes. Compression
Compression Yes. Images, video, audio, PDF Up to 90% reduction
Metadata removal Yes Yes
Folder monitoring Yes Yes
Shortcuts integration Yes No
Raycast extension Yes Yes
Finder right-click Yes No
macOS 15+ 13+

Which one is right for you?

Here's where each one makes more sense.

Choose Picmal

You need more than just compression

  • You want one app to convert, compress, and edit your media
  • You use Apple Shortcuts for automation
  • You need to convert or compress video, audio, and PDFs too
  • You don't want to pay $49 for a single-purpose app

Choose Compresto

Compression is your only job

  • Your focus is compression, not format conversion
  • You need up to 90% file size reduction
  • You want one app that only compresses, and does it hard

Everything else Picmal does

One app for images, video, audio, and PDFs. Convert, compress, and edit, all on your Mac. These are the essentials, and there's plenty more in the docs.

Convert between formats

Over 100 formats across images, video, audio, RAW, and PDF. HEIC to JPG, MOV to MP4, FLAC to ALAC. Drop it in, pick the output, done.

Compress and save space

Get under an email limit or a slow upload, without the quality drop you'd actually notice. No browser, no waiting.

Split and organize PDFs

Break a PDF apart, or drag pages around to reorder, rotate, and delete. Your documents never leave your Mac.

Combine videos

Stitch a pile of clips into one video. Drag to reorder, pick the format, export in a single pass.

Merge and split audio

Join tracks into one file, or split a long recording by its chapters. Podcasts and audiobooks, sorted.

Images to PDF

Turn a folder of photos into a multi-page PDF. A4, Letter, or custom, with a password if you want one.

Combine PDFs

Merge a stack of PDFs into one file. Put the pages in the right order, set the size, and save it out.

Finder Shortcuts Raycast

Fits your workflow

Finder, Shortcuts, and Raycast. A conversion is never more than a right-click away.

Picmal CLI

Script it, drop it in a cron job, or hand it to a coding agent. The same engine as the app, right from your terminal.

What people are
saying about Picmal

"Clean and easy to use. Perfect for quickly converting images without unnecessary extras."

Marynes, Picmal user
Marynes

"Everything works as expected - great app!"

Anthony Nguyen, Picmal user
Anthony Nguyen

"Great app! Simple and easy to use."

Beckett R, Picmal user
Beckett R

"It works perfectly now! Thanks and good work. It's really the kind of utility that I find very useful. I know that there are tons of free online tools doing the same thing but it's so much faster that way."

7107Labs, Picmal user
7107Labs

"Wonderfully simple app! I struggled with converting my images from one format to another constantly with online free tools. Picmal makes it effortless. Worth the money to avoid the hassle for sure!"

River Sloane, Picmal user
River Sloane

"You did a great job here! I like how easy Picmal is to use, and the frequent upgrades show that you are very committed to improving this beautiful software."

Gianluca Savini, Picmal user
Gianluca Savini

"It's a Mac-assed Mac App. Focused, customizable, flexible, well designed and super fast. 10+ times a day I need to convert a file for use on a website. Picmal makes that process a joy. My favorite conversion is taking a multipage PDF and converting each page to an individual image with one click (something even Preview can't do)."

Rob H, Picmal user
Rob H

"I really like these kinds of tools: simple interface, focused functions, one-time purchase, and continuous updates."

limboy, Picmal user
limboy

"Been enjoying the app! Thanks for the very handy utility."

@imnogeekAJ, Picmal user
@imnogeekAJ

"I f* love this app. Just so you know. Keep building!"

Alessandro Bonini, Picmal user
Alessandro Bonini

"Clean and easy to use. Perfect for quickly converting images without unnecessary extras."

Marynes, Picmal user
Marynes

"Everything works as expected - great app!"

Anthony Nguyen, Picmal user
Anthony Nguyen

"Great app! Simple and easy to use."

Beckett R, Picmal user
Beckett R

"It works perfectly now! Thanks and good work. It's really the kind of utility that I find very useful. I know that there are tons of free online tools doing the same thing but it's so much faster that way."

7107Labs, Picmal user
7107Labs

"Wonderfully simple app! I struggled with converting my images from one format to another constantly with online free tools. Picmal makes it effortless. Worth the money to avoid the hassle for sure!"

River Sloane, Picmal user
River Sloane

"You did a great job here! I like how easy Picmal is to use, and the frequent upgrades show that you are very committed to improving this beautiful software."

Gianluca Savini, Picmal user
Gianluca Savini

"It's a Mac-assed Mac App. Focused, customizable, flexible, well designed and super fast. 10+ times a day I need to convert a file for use on a website. Picmal makes that process a joy. My favorite conversion is taking a multipage PDF and converting each page to an individual image with one click (something even Preview can't do)."

Rob H, Picmal user
Rob H

"I really like these kinds of tools: simple interface, focused functions, one-time purchase, and continuous updates."

limboy, Picmal user
limboy

"Been enjoying the app! Thanks for the very handy utility."

@imnogeekAJ, Picmal user
@imnogeekAJ

"I f* love this app. Just so you know. Keep building!"

Alessandro Bonini, Picmal user
Alessandro Bonini

Pay once and you're all set

One purchase includes all updates. If you change your mind, you can ask for a refund within 14 days.

Picmal

$39 one-time

  • Every feature, no add-ons

  • Free updates forever

  • Use on 2 Macs

  • Command line tool, Raycast extension and watched folders

  • Updates land the day I ship them, with no App Store review wait

Get Picmal for $39

Picmal Pro

$69 one-time

  • Everything in Picmal

  • Use on 5 Macs

  • One license for a studio, a family, or a desk and a laptop

Get Picmal Pro for $69

Mac App Store

$39 one-time

  • All conversion and compression features, same engines, same quality

  • Free updates forever

  • Purchases, updates and refunds handled by Apple

  • Family Sharing, no license key

  • No command line tool, Raycast extension or watched folders. Compare the two builds

Get it on the App Store

Prices in USD. Any tax is added at checkout. Secure payment via Stripe.

How does the license work?

You pay once and keep it. No renewals, no subscriptions. Picmal activates on 2 Macs, Picmal Pro on 5, and you can move a license to another Mac whenever you want.

What is the difference between Picmal and Picmal Pro?

The app is identical, and so is the support: one person answers every email, and that person is me. Pro covers 5 Macs instead of 2.

I bought Picmal and now I need more Macs. Can I upgrade?

Yes, for $30. Email support@picmal.app and I'll send you the link, then your existing key covers 5 Macs. The offer never expires, so starting with the cheaper plan is never the wrong call.

Should I buy here or on the Mac App Store?

Same price, same engines, same quality. Apple handles the purchase, updates and refunds, and you get Family Sharing with no license key. Buying direct adds the command line tool, the Raycast extension, watched folders, camera EXIF on RAW conversions, and up to 5 Macs on one license. Here is the full comparison of the two builds.

What happens if I get a new Mac?

Open Picmal on your old Mac, go to Picmal → Register license to deactivate, then activate on the new one. Takes about ten seconds.

Do you offer student or country discounts?

Yes. I want Picmal to be affordable wherever you are. Students and educators get 40% off: verify your school email on the education page and the code lands in your inbox. If the price is steep for your country, checkout already adjusts it for you. If it still doesn't work, email support@picmal.app and tell me where you are, and I'll send a code.

Can I get a refund?

14 days, no questions asked. Email support@picmal.app. App Store purchases go through Apple instead.

A note from Picmal's founder

Hello there 👋

I'm Alberto, the developer behind Picmal.

Picmal started because I was tired of opening a browser every time I needed to convert a few files. I figured there had to be a better way, so I built one.

Over time, that simple image converter has grown into something much bigger, mostly thanks to the people who use it.

Along the way, I've tried to stay true to a few simple ideas: your files should stay on your computer, the app should feel at home on your Mac, and you should only have to pay once.

One of my favorite parts of building Picmal is talking to customers. Many of the features in the app today started as conversations with people who needed something that didn't exist yet.

So if there's a feature you've always wished for, or something you haven't found in other tools, I'd love to hear from you. If it fits Picmal, I'll do my best to build it.

Best,

Alberto

Frequently asked questions

Can't find what you're looking for? Email support@picmal.app

Is Picmal a good Compresto alternative?

Depends what you need. Picmal converts formats, compresses files, and handles images, video, audio, and PDFs, all for $39. Compresto is built to compress as hard as it can. Different tools for different jobs.

Does Picmal compress files as much as Compresto?

Compresto advertises up to 90% reduction and is tuned for exactly that. Picmal compresses well across images, video, audio, and PDFs. Not as far, but enough for most jobs. And you get format conversion and PDF tools in the same app.

Why is Picmal cheaper than Compresto?

Compresto costs $49 and does one thing, compression, very well. Picmal is $39 and covers more: converting, compressing, light editing, and PDF tools. A tool built to do one thing extremely well often costs more than one that does a lot.

Does Picmal have Raycast integration like Compresto?

Yes. The Picmal Raycast extension adds Convert Files, Compress Files, Combine PDFs, and Images to PDF, plus Raycast AI tools, so you can ask it to convert or compress in plain English. Picmal also works with Apple Shortcuts, Finder right-click, and the command line.

Can Picmal compress PDFs like Compresto?

Yes. Picmal compresses PDFs, and the output is never larger than the input. It also combines PDFs, turns images into a PDF, and exports PDF pages to PNG at the DPI you pick. On top of that, real compression for images, video, and audio.

What if Picmal doesn't work for me?

Full refund within 14 days, no questions asked. Email support@picmal.app.