Why Compress Images on Mac?
Photos from modern iPhones, cameras, and screenshots can be surprisingly large. A single iPhone 15 Pro photo can be 5-8MB. If you have thousands of photos, they can easily consume 50GB+ of your Mac's storage.
Image compression reduces file sizes by removing unnecessary data while maintaining the visual quality you care about. Modern compression algorithms can achieve 40-80% size reduction without any perceptible difference.
Supported Image Formats
Input Formats
- JPEG / JPG
- PNG
- WebP
- HEIC (iPhone photos)
- TIFF
- BMP
Output Formats
- JPEG (optimized)
- PNG (optimized)
- WebP (30% smaller)
- AVIF (50% smaller)
Features
Smart Compression
Automatically detects optimal compression settings for each image type.
Batch Processing
Drop entire folders and compress hundreds of images at once.
EXIF Preservation
Keep important metadata like date, location, and camera settings.
How to Compress Images with MediaOptim
- Download MediaOptim for free
- Drag and drop images or entire folders
- Choose format: Keep original or convert to WebP/AVIF
- Adjust quality if needed (default is usually perfect)
- Save and enjoy smaller file sizes
WebP vs JPEG: Which Should You Use?
WebP is a modern image format developed by Google that provides:
- 25-35% smaller files than JPEG at the same quality
- Support for transparency (like PNG)
- Supported by all modern browsers and macOS
Recommendation: Use WebP for web images and sharing. Keep JPEG for compatibility with older software.
FAQ
Will compression affect print quality?
For most uses, no. MediaOptim's default settings preserve enough quality for printing. For professional printing, you may want to keep originals or use minimal compression.
Can I compress iPhone HEIC photos?
Yes! MediaOptim can read HEIC files and output them as compressed JPEG, WebP, or AVIF.
How is this different from Preview's export?
MediaOptim offers batch processing, better compression algorithms, WebP/AVIF output, and a simpler workflow for compressing multiple images.