ImageOptim
ImageOptim, operated by ImageOptim Ltd. in London, provides a free open-source Mac image-optimization app and a commercial ImageOptim API (im2.io/img.gs) for server-side compression, targeting web developers, iOS/macOS app developers, e-commerce teams, and design professionals globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What ImageOptim does
ImageOptim, operated by ImageOptim Ltd. (incorporated in England and Wales, headquartered in London), develops and distributes a set of image optimization tools created by founder Kornel Lesiński. The flagship is a free, open-source Mac application under GPL v2 that combines multiple best-in-class open-source compressors—MozJPEG, pngquant, Pngcrush, AdvPNG, OptiPNG/OxiPNG, Zopfli, SVGO, Gifsicle, JpegOptim, jpegtran, and Guetzli—into a single drag-and-drop interface that automatically selects and stacks the optimal result. A proprietary integration layer is the company's core technical contribution; it also bundles Ardfry Imaging's closed-source PNGOUT under a separate license. The product supports lossless and optional lossy compression across JPEG, PNG, SVG, and animated GIF, and removes EXIF metadata (GPS, camera serial numbers), embedded thumbnails, comments, and unnecessary color profiles. Native macOS extensions integrate with Finder Services, Apple Mail Markup, QuickLook, Sketch, and command-line/build pipelines.
The business runs on a hybrid model: the Mac app is free, donation-supported (Liberapay, PayPal), and distributed directly via imageoptim.com and GitHub—deliberately bypassing the App Store over GPL/DRM conflict. A separately branded ImageOptim API provides commercial, server-side optimization and on-the-fly resizing via im2.io and img.gs CDN endpoints, sold on subscription tiers from $12/month (2,000 optimizations) to $850+/month (custom/enterprise). Pricing is volume-based with free cache hits. Customer segments are horizontal and primarily web developers, iOS/macOS app developers, e-commerce and web-application teams, and design professionals. Notable public case studies include Tweetbot (app size cut from 33.4MB to 16.3MB), IncrediBooth, Acerider, and Vimeo, alongside media endorsements from MacWorld and MacStories.
Operations are minimal: the company is a solo-developer project with 1-10 stated headcount, no disclosed funding, and no external investors. Distribution relies on product-led growth, GitHub community engagement, an 18+ language localization effort via Transifex, and a Mastodon presence for the founder. The most recent product release is version 1.9.3 (October 2023), adding Apple Silicon support. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
ImageOptim firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ImageOptim
- Legal name
- ImageOptim Ltd.
- Website
- https://imageoptim.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ImageOptim, operated by ImageOptim Ltd. in London, provides a free open-source Mac image-optimization app and a commercial ImageOptim API (im2.io/img.gs) for server-side compression, targeting web developers, iOS/macOS app developers, e-commerce teams, and design professionals globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ImageOptim industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Image Optimization Software
- akta.pro primary industry
- Web Performance & Acceleration (Caching, Compression, Image Optimization) (HDABAGAG)
Keywords
Where ImageOptim is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ImageOptim business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Mac Application (Free/Open Source): The ImageOptim Mac application is distributed completely free under GPL v2 license. Revenue comes indirectly through donations rather than direct sales.
- ImageOptim API (Web Service): Commercial HTTP API service for server-side image compression, resizing, and optimization. Sold via monthly subscription plans with volume-based tiers. Includes personal developer support.
- Donations: Accepts donations via Liberapay (non-profit open-source alternative) and PayPal to support the project's ongoing development
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Trial - API access for testing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Starter Plan - 2,000 optimizations/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Professional Plan - 16,000 optimizations/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Business Plan - 100,000 optimizations/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Custom/Enterprise - Dedicated servers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
ImageOptim product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ImageOptim provides a free, open-source (GPL v2) macOS desktop application that compresses JPEG, PNG, GIF, and SVG images by combining multiple best-of-class open-source compressors (MozJPEG, pngquant, Zopfli, SVGO, Pngcrush, OxiPNG, Gifsicle, Guetzli, PNGOUT) into a single drag-and-drop interface that automatically selects the smallest output and strips private EXIF metadata. The company also operates a commercial ImageOptim HTTP API (im2.io / img.gs) that performs server-side and on-the-fly image optimization, resizing, ICC color profile handling, progressive JPEG rendering, and high-DPI/Retina output on a monthly subscription basis.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ImageOptim Mac App Free, open-source (GPL v2) macOS desktop application that combines MozJPEG, pngquant, Zopfli, SVGO, Pngcrush, OxiPNG, Gifsicle, Guetzli, and PNGOUT to losslessly compress JPEG, PNG, animated GIF, and SVG images, with optional lossy minification and metadata stripping. Distributed directly via the website and GitHub, requires macOS 11+ and supports Apple Silicon.
- ImageOptim API Commercial HTTP API for server-side and on-the-fly image optimization, resizing, progressive JPEG rendering, lossy PNG compression via libimagequant, ICC color profile support, gamma-correct resizing, and high-DPI/Retina-ready output. Accessible via im2.io and img.gs endpoints, integrated from PHP (incl. WordPress), NodeJS, Python, C#, and Java, with usage-based monthly subscriptions.
- ImageOptim Online Browser-based user interface for JPEG and PNG compression accessible from any device, offering Low/Medium/High quality presets, a High DPI mode, color quality settings, and automatic download of optimized files, supporting multiple files per session.
- ImageOptim Sketch Plugin Official free and open-source Sketch plugin that automatically compresses images exported from Sketch using ImageOptim. Requires the ImageOptim Mac app to be installed; distributed via GitHub.
- ImageAlpha Standalone lossy PNG compressor developed by the ImageOptim creator (Kornel Lesiński) that converts true-color PNGs to PNG8+Alpha format, reducing file sizes by up to 75% while preserving visual quality; commonly used together with ImageOptim for maximum compression.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 50-70% file size reduction with lossy compression for GIFs
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ImageOptim
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ImageOptim technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature6 records
ImageOptim partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MozJPEG (Mozilla)coreImageOptim integrates Mozilla's MozJPEG library for JPEG optimization, replacing older jpegrescan tool in version 1.6.0
- pngquantcoreLossy PNG compression using libimagequant library. Also the project of Kornel Lesiński himself.
- SVGOcoreSVG optimization via Node.js-based SVGO tool (added in version 1.7.0). Requires Node.js 7+ to be installed.
- Google ZopflicoreIntegrates Google's Zopfli compression algorithm for PNG optimization. Provides very effective but slow compression.
- TransifexminorCommunity translation platform used for managing 18+ language translations of the ImageOptim interface
- icons8minorProvided the app icon for ImageOptim (per website attribution)
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ImageOptim competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TinyPNG: Smart lossy PNG and JPEG compression service offered via web UI, API, and plugins. Directly comparable to ImageOptim API as a paid developer-focused image optimization service, and explicitly cited on ImageOptim's own website as a comparable tool.
- ShortPixel: Image optimization API and WordPress plugin offering lossy, glossy, and lossless compression for PNG, JPEG, GIF, and WebP. Closely comparable pricing model (subscription tiers based on image count) and target developer/customer base as ImageOptim API.
- Kraken.io: Image optimization API offering lossy and lossless compression with WebP conversion, now part of Uploadcare. Same developer-facing API model, similar compression features, and competing subscription tiers as ImageOptim API.
Others
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ImageOptim social profiles
Digital presenceImageOptim financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ImageOptim leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ImageOptim funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ImageOptim M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ImageOptim
What does ImageOptim do?
ImageOptim provides a free, open-source (GPL v2) macOS desktop application that compresses JPEG, PNG, GIF, and SVG images by combining multiple best-of-class open-source compressors (MozJPEG, pngquant, Zopfli, SVGO, Pngcrush, OxiPNG, Gifsicle, Guetzli, PNGOUT) into a single drag-and-drop interface that automatically selects the smallest output and strips private EXIF metadata. The company also operates a commercial ImageOptim HTTP API (im2.io / img.gs) that performs server-side and on-the-fly image optimization, resizing, ICC color profile handling, progressive JPEG rendering, and high-DPI/Retina output on a monthly subscription basis.
Is ImageOptim a public or private company?
ImageOptim is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ImageOptim founded?
ImageOptim was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ImageOptim based?
ImageOptim is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ImageOptim make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Mac Application (Free/Open Source) is the primary driver. The others are imageOptim API (Web Service) and donations.
Who are ImageOptim's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TinyPNG, ShortPixel and Kraken.io. Squoosh is listed as an others.
Does ImageOptim have an API?
Yes. ImageOptim offers a public HTTP API for image optimization and resizing. The API allows developers to upload or provide image URLs, and receive optimized images in response. Supported languages/environments include PHP (including WordPress), NodeJS, Python, C#, and Java. The API supports on-the-fly resizing and conversion, progressive JPEG rendering, lossy PNG compression via libimagequant, ICC color profile support, and high-DPI/Retina display optimization. Usage is quota-based with caching: requests served from cache are free. The API provides 303 redirects to optimized images or returns raw binary image data with appropriate Content-Type headers. Developer documentation is at imageoptim.com/api/start.
What industry is ImageOptim in?
ImageOptim's product category is Image Optimization Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABAGAG, Web Performance & Acceleration (Caching, Compression, Image Optimization).