ShrinkIt vs MediaOptim: Honest Comparison (2026)

An unbiased look at ShrinkIt (Free) and MediaOptim ($49 one-time). We'll tell you when ShrinkIt is the better choice.

Quick Verdict

ShrinkIt is a decent free option for occasional video compression. If you just need to shrink a video for email or messaging once in a while, it does the job. But it's video-only, has limited format support, and lacks features like batch processing and space scanning. For serious media optimization, MediaOptim is more capable.

ShrinkIt

Free (With limits)

MediaOptim

$49 (One-time)

Feature Comparison

FeatureShrinkItMediaOptim
Video Compression
Photo Compression
Audio Compression
Batch Folder Processing
Space Scanner
HEVC/H.265 Support
100% Local & Private
Format Conversion (WebP/AVIF)
PriceFree$49

Detailed Breakdown

Price

ShrinkIt is free (with some limitations). MediaOptim is $49 one-time. If you rarely compress videos and just need a quick tool for the occasional file, ShrinkIt's free price is hard to beat. But if media compression is a regular need, MediaOptim's broader capabilities justify the investment.

Features

ShrinkIt does basic video compression with minimal settings. MediaOptim offers video, photo, and audio compression, a Space Scanner, batch processing, and modern codec support (HEVC, WebP, AVIF). It's a lightweight tool vs a full media optimization suite.

Ease of Use

ShrinkIt is extremely simple—possibly the easiest video compressor on Mac. Drop a video, choose a size, done. MediaOptim is also straightforward but offers more options. If you want absolute minimum complexity, ShrinkIt wins.

Privacy

Both process files locally on your Mac.

Format Support

ShrinkIt supports common video formats but has limited codec options and no HEVC output. MediaOptim supports a wider range of video codecs including HEVC/H.265, plus photo formats (JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, HEIF) and audio formats (MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV).

When to Choose ShrinkIt

  • You occasionally need to shrink a single video
  • You want something free and don't need advanced features
  • Simplicity is your top priority
  • You're compressing for sharing (email, messaging), not storage

When to Choose MediaOptim

  • You need to compress many files regularly
  • You want photo and audio compression too
  • You need HEVC/H.265 support for better compression ratios
  • You want Space Scanner to find what's eating your storage
  • You need proper batch processing for folders of files

ShrinkIt: Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

  • Free for basic use
  • Very simple—almost no learning curve
  • Lightweight app
  • Good for quick one-off compressions

Weaknesses

  • Video only—no photo or audio support
  • Limited format support
  • No batch processing for multiple files
  • No space scanning
  • Free version has limitations
  • No HEVC/H.265 output support

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ShrinkIt completely free?
ShrinkIt is free to download and use for basic video compression, but it has some limitations in the free version. For most casual users, the free tier is sufficient for occasional video compression.
Can ShrinkIt compress photos?
No. ShrinkIt only compresses video files. For photo compression, you'd need a separate tool. MediaOptim handles both video and photo compression (plus audio) in one application.
Does ShrinkIt support HEVC?
ShrinkIt has limited codec support and generally doesn't output HEVC/H.265 encoded video. MediaOptim supports HEVC encoding, which typically achieves 40-50% better compression than H.264 at the same quality level.
When should I upgrade from ShrinkIt to MediaOptim?
Consider MediaOptim if you find yourself compressing files regularly, need to compress photos or audio alongside video, want better compression ratios via HEVC, or want the Space Scanner to systematically find large files on your Mac.

Ready to Free Up Storage?

Compress your videos, photos, and audio files without losing quality. One-time purchase, no subscription, 100% private.

$49 one-time. Free trial available. macOS only.