Quick answer
Kraken.io - Kraken.io wins for most builders because its free tier is more usable as a real testing allowance, while TinyPNG’s free web tool is tighter and its paid plans move to opaque per-seat pricing.
How the free tiers compare
These two products overlap on image compression, but their free tiers serve different jobs. Kraken.io gives you a small but genuine monthly quota: 100 MB of testing and API sandbox access, plus no credit card requirement. That makes it better if you want to wire compression into a workflow, test an integration, or compare output across formats without immediately paying. TinyPNG is stronger as a simple web tool for quick one-off compressions, with a very usable interface, but its free tier is session-capped at 20 compressions, 5 MB per image, and 3 conversions per session. When you outgrow free, Kraken publishes clear usage-based monthly plans with image quotas and overage rates. TinyPNG moves to yearly per-user plans, so cost planning is less concrete.
Kraken.io vs TinyPNG free tier, side by side
| Kraken.ioFTV 50 | TinyPNGFTV 58 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free allowanceKraken’s free quota is monthly testing capacity; TinyPNG’s free limit is session-based. | 100 MB of testing quota | Up to 20 compressions per session |
| Image/file size limitTinyPNG states a hard per-image cap on the free web tool. | Not stated | Up to 5 MB per image |
| ConversionsThis limit applies to TinyPNG’s free web tool. | Not stated | Up to 3 conversions per session |
After you outgrow the free tier
Kraken.io uses published usage-based monthly tiers with clear GB quotas and overage pricing, so the cost path is visible as usage grows. TinyPNG’s paid web plans are yearly per-user, so the pricing trajectory is less transparent. For small-team budgeting, Kraken is easier to estimate; TinyPNG may be cheaper or more expensive depending on the seat count.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Kraken.io | TinyPNG |
|---|---|---|
| 500 MB/month | $5/mo | Contact sales / varies by usage |
| 2 GB/monthKraken’s Basic plan includes 2 GB per month and lists $4 per additional GB beyond that tier. | $9/mo | Contact sales / varies by usage |
| 5 GB/monthKraken’s Advanced plan includes 5 GB per month. | $19/mo | Contact sales / varies by usage |
| 15 GB/monthKraken’s Premium plan includes 15 GB per month. | $39/mo | Contact sales / varies by usage |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Kraken.io when…
- You want to test image optimization through an API or sandbox before committing to a paid plan.
- You need a small monthly allowance for recurring compression work rather than a session-only web limit.
- You want to try Kraken across web, API, WordPress, or Magento without entering a credit card.
- You prefer clear published usage-based pricing once you outgrow the free tier.
Pick TinyPNG when…
- You mainly compress a few images by hand in the browser and do not need a monthly quota.
- You want a simple web workflow with analyzer feedback and no setup.
- You only need one-off conversions and can stay within 20 compressions per session and 5 MB per image.
- You expect to upgrade to a per-user web plan and do not mind asking for pricing details.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Kraken.io is the better free-tier choice because it gives you a real monthly test allowance and a clear path to paid usage-based pricing once you grow. TinyPNG is fine if you just need browser-based compressions in small bursts, but its free limits are session-based and the paid pricing is not concrete. If you want to evaluate an image workflow before committing, Kraken is the safer pick.
Read the full listings: Kraken.io and TinyPNG. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.