The ImageOptim alternative that also converts formats
ImageOptim is free, local, and good at what it does. It just can't convert a HEIC to a JPG, touch a video, or compress a PDF. Picmal does all of that on your Mac for $29 once.
$29 once, updates included. No account, no subscription, works offline. Need 2, 5 or 10 Macs?
TL;DR Picmal vs ImageOptim
ImageOptim is free, open source, runs entirely on your Mac, and squeezes PNG and JPEG about as hard as anything out there. Its limits are that it only compresses, only images, and development has been quiet for years. Picmal ($29, pay once) converts formats too, covers video, audio, and PDFs, and is actively maintained.
- Pick Picmal if
- You need to convert formats, not just compress, or you want newer ones like AVIF and JXL. Or you've got video, audio, and PDFs to deal with and would rather not collect four apps.
- Pick ImageOptim if
- You compress PNGs and JPEGs for the web, you want the smallest possible file, and free and open source matters to you. It's a good tool, keep it.
Picmal vs ImageOptim at a glance
Both are Mac apps that keep your files on your Mac. ImageOptim compresses images. Picmal converts and compresses images, video, audio, and PDFs.
| Feature | Picmal | ImageOptim |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29 one-time | Free, open source |
| Privacy | 100% offline | 100% offline |
| Image compression | Yes | Yes, its speciality |
| Image conversion | Yes. HEIC, JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, and more | No |
| Video | Convert & compress | No |
| Audio | Convert & compress | No |
| Compress, merge, split, images to PDF | No | |
| Resize | Yes | No |
| Metadata removal | Yes | Yes |
| Batch processing | Yes | Yes |
| Folder monitoring | Yes | No |
| Shortcuts integration | Yes | No |
| Raycast extension | Yes | No |
| Finder right-click | Yes | Yes |
| Actively updated | Yes | Rarely |
| macOS | 15+ | 13+ |
From the people
who use it
"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)."
"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!"
"I use Picmal to convert images. It works perfectly. I can just leave the Picmal window open on my desktop. Whenever I want to convert an image, I drag the file onto the window and click “convert”—and seconds later, the converted file is in the appropriate folder with the suffix “converted.” It couldn’t be easier or more hassle-free!"
"Working on a presentation and had to convert and resize a lot of images. Picmal did them all in a flash."
"I feel Picmal is one of the apps that I would categorize as essential. There are many features that distinguish the app from other web converters such as Folder Watching and Clipboard Optimization."
"Clean and easy to use. Perfect for quickly converting images without unnecessary extras."
"Everything works as expected - great app!"
"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."
"I f* love this app. Just so you know. Keep building!"
"I like the interface. I like the batch processing. I like the fact in the I can set default conversions. I like your program a lot."
"I like the quality of the image processing. It also supports all the important image files. But it still needs some work regarding both the UI and the UX design of it."
"I love how Picmal's made compressing videos a frictionless, easy and straightforward."
"It's simple to use and does everything I need it to do. Hell, it does much more than I need and the developer keeps adding features :)"
"I love the app! I use it 4-5 days a week for audio and image conversion as I tag and add missing album artwork to my library of 70,000 songs. After that is done, I would like to try it out with my Blu-ray collection on Plex. I truly appreciate the hard work that goes into creating and frequently updating an app such as this. All the best!"
"The program is very simple and practical, and its options are clear."
"Thoughtful, polished, and constantly improving. Alberto genuinely listens to feedback, and it shows in Picmal. Easy 5 stars."
"Picmal is simple and fast but also integrates complex workloads if needed."
"Picmal is complete. The quality is good, and it does exactly what I need."
"Easy to use, automation & batch processing. AVIF & Webp support"
"keep up the great work! Very cool tool you've built here."
"Simple and powerful is a combination that is hard to get right. Picmal nails it! I find image presets particularly useful. Set it up and then just drag and drop to resize and convert."
"Me ha sosprendido la compresion que realiza el programa y si apreciar la calidad."
"The easy going workflow"
"I just sent a few samples through to check everything, and I am very pleased with the results. Everything worked correctly and above all it was easy and not unduly complicated."
Pay once and you're all set
Already own Picmal? Add more Macs
How many Macs?
2 Macs is $10 more
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Convert, compress and edit images, video, audio and PDFs
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Everything runs on your Mac, nothing gets uploaded
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Use it on 1 Mac
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Command line tool, Raycast extension and watched folders
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Free updates forever, no subscription
14-day refund after you buy, no questions asked. Needs macOS 15 or later.
More than 10 Macs? Email me.
Upgrades, new Macs and discounts are in the FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
Anything else? Ask me at support@picmal.app
Is Picmal a good ImageOptim alternative?
It depends what you're missing. ImageOptim is free, local, and very good at squeezing PNG and JPEG without visible loss. If that's all you need, keep it. Picmal is worth $29 if you also need to convert formats, handle video, audio, or PDFs, or want the app to still be getting updates.
Can ImageOptim convert between formats?
No. ImageOptim compresses an image and leaves it in the same format. It won't turn a HEIC into a JPG or a PNG into a WebP. Picmal does.
Is ImageOptim still being updated?
Development has been very quiet for a long time. It still works well on the formats it supports, but it hasn't kept pace with newer ones like AVIF and JXL, or with changes in macOS. Picmal ships updates regularly, listed at picmal.app/changelog.
Does Picmal compress as well as ImageOptim?
For everyday web and storage use, the difference isn't something you'll see. ImageOptim runs several open source optimisers in sequence and can shave out the last few percent on PNG, which matters if you're chasing absolute minimum size. Picmal trades that last few percent for covering video, audio, PDFs, and format conversion in one app.
Do both keep files on my Mac?
Yes. This is one thing they share. Neither uploads your images anywhere, both work with no internet connection. If you're comparing either of them to a web converter, that's the real difference.
Is ImageOptim free?
Yes, and open source. Picmal costs $29 once, so it only makes sense if the extra formats, media types, and integrations are worth that to you.
What if Picmal doesn't work for me?
Full refund within 14 days, no questions asked. Email support@picmal.app.
How does the license work?
You pay once and keep it. No renewals, no subscriptions. Your license activates on the number of Macs you bought it for, and you can move it to another Mac whenever you want. Prices are in USD, tax is added at checkout, and you pay through Stripe.
I bought Picmal and now I need more Macs. Can I upgrade?
Yes, and you only pay the difference. Going from 1 Mac to 2 is $10, 2 to 5 is $50, 5 to 10 is $60, and every other jump works the same way. Enter your license key here and the same key covers more Macs. The offer never expires, so starting small is never the wrong call.
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.