Portable Compression Software

7-zip is a popular open-source file compression software that has a high compression ratio. If your priority is compressing files and keeping the file size to a minimum, 7-zip should be your ideal. JPDF Tweak is a free open source PDF compressor software for Windows. FILE SETS: Mozilla Firefox 34.0.5 for Windows and Google Earth 6.2.2.6613 for Windows. Compression ratio results are very dependent upon the data used for the tests. Usually, 7-Zip compresses to 7z format 30-70% better than to zip format. And 7-Zip compresses to zip format 2-10% better than most of other zip compatible programs. Now, with a more than 50% compression ratio, you can see how much space has WonderFox DVD Video Converter saved for you. With this efficient tool, you can easily make your own movie library in a single USB or other portable devices by compressing DVD.

There are many types of different image formats and some of those most commonly found on the Internet are JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF and PNG. Each image format has its own purpose such as GIF is used for animated images, JPEG for high quality photos which automatically gets degraded after each save or even a resize, while our favorite PNG is best used on small and transparent pictures. Another huge advantage in PNG files is they're lossless meaning you can compress PNG's without losing quality.

You can easily find many tools on the Internet to compress PNG files but most, if not all of them produce different file sizes due to the algorithm unless they are using the same library/technology. Reducing the image file size to the maximum helps to save bandwidth cost, time to download and even achieving a higher Google PageSpeed score because 'optimize images' is one of the priorities. In this article we've put 13 free PNG compressor tools (online, command line, desktop) to the test to find the one that produces the smallest file size.

To view the compression test results and summary, they can be found on page 2.

Portable Compression Software Downloads

Command Line Tools

1. advpng

advpng is part of AdvanceCOMP that contains multiple free utilities to recompress PNG, ZIP, MNG and GZ files. advpng hasn't been updated since 2005 but the compression speed and results will surprise you. Older machines with slower hardware specifications takes slightly longer to process while the newer multi-core CPU takes only a second to produce amazing results.

advpng maximum compression command:

advpng.exe -z4 file.png

Download AdvanceCOMP

2. OptiPNG

OptiPNG is another open source command line PNG compressor that supports Windows and Linux operating system. Both stable and development versions are available to download. Do take note that the maximum command line compression for the stable and development versions are slightly different. The highest level of compression for the OptiPNG stable is -o7 while the development is only -o6. If you try to force -o7 on the development build, you will still get the same file size as -o6.

OptiPNG stable maximum compression command:

optipng.exe -o7 file.png

OptiPNG development maximum compression command:

optipng-hg-latest-win32 -o6 file.png

Download OptiPNG

Portable Compression Software Free

3. Pngcrush

Pngcrush is also a commandline application that attempts to optimize PNG images by trying out different compression levels and PNG filter methods. If you use the -brute switch, Pngcrush will test the image with 148 methods to find the one that gives the best compression.

Pngcrush maximum compression command:

Pngcrush.exe -brute file.png output.png

Download Pngcrush

4. PngOptimizerCL

PngOptimizer comes with a simple graphical user interface program and all you need to do is drag the images that you want to compress to the program's window, and also a command line application that runs in command prompt. Other than cleaning up wrong/useless information on PNG to reduce the file size, it can also support animated PNG format (apng) which is still uncommon today. You can either specify the exact file name to optimize or can even use the asterisk character as a wildcard.

PngOptimizerCL maximum compression command:

Apple clear computer. PngOptimizerCL.exe -file:'file.png'

Download PngOptimizerCL

5. PNGOUT

Unlike most of the command line PNG optimizers, PNGOUT is not open source because the compression algorithm is incorporated into their commercial GUI version called PNGOUTWin that has batch processing and multi-core CPU support. Although it is not open source, you can find pre-compiled binaries for Windows, Linux, BSD and Mac OS X. PNGOUT is one of the easiest to use because by default it uses the highest Xtreme compression algorithm for optimization without specifying an additional command line switch.

PNGOUT maximum compression command:

pngout.exe file.png

Download PNGOUT

6. ScriptPNG

ScriptPNG is actually a batch file that is capable of running up to 10 PNG compressors to optimize an image file. Selecting the ultra brute option number 9 will use the maximum compression options to produce the smallest file size but taking more time to complete the optimization process. All you need to do is drag and drop your PNG files to the program from Explorer and followed by selecting one of the 9 available options.

Download ScriptPNG

7. TruePNG

TruePNG only supports PNG files unlike some of the PNG compressors above that can attempt to convert other image formats such as JPEG and GIF into PNG if it is able to achieve a smaller file size.

TruePNG maximum compression command:

TruePNG.exe input.png /o max

Download TruePNG

Desktop Software

8. PNGGauntlet

1. advpng

advpng is part of AdvanceCOMP that contains multiple free utilities to recompress PNG, ZIP, MNG and GZ files. advpng hasn't been updated since 2005 but the compression speed and results will surprise you. Older machines with slower hardware specifications takes slightly longer to process while the newer multi-core CPU takes only a second to produce amazing results.

advpng maximum compression command:

advpng.exe -z4 file.png

Download AdvanceCOMP

2. OptiPNG

OptiPNG is another open source command line PNG compressor that supports Windows and Linux operating system. Both stable and development versions are available to download. Do take note that the maximum command line compression for the stable and development versions are slightly different. The highest level of compression for the OptiPNG stable is -o7 while the development is only -o6. If you try to force -o7 on the development build, you will still get the same file size as -o6.

OptiPNG stable maximum compression command:

optipng.exe -o7 file.png

OptiPNG development maximum compression command:

optipng-hg-latest-win32 -o6 file.png

Download OptiPNG

Portable Compression Software Free

3. Pngcrush

Pngcrush is also a commandline application that attempts to optimize PNG images by trying out different compression levels and PNG filter methods. If you use the -brute switch, Pngcrush will test the image with 148 methods to find the one that gives the best compression.

Pngcrush maximum compression command:

Pngcrush.exe -brute file.png output.png

Download Pngcrush

4. PngOptimizerCL

PngOptimizer comes with a simple graphical user interface program and all you need to do is drag the images that you want to compress to the program's window, and also a command line application that runs in command prompt. Other than cleaning up wrong/useless information on PNG to reduce the file size, it can also support animated PNG format (apng) which is still uncommon today. You can either specify the exact file name to optimize or can even use the asterisk character as a wildcard.

PngOptimizerCL maximum compression command:

Apple clear computer. PngOptimizerCL.exe -file:'file.png'

Download PngOptimizerCL

5. PNGOUT

Unlike most of the command line PNG optimizers, PNGOUT is not open source because the compression algorithm is incorporated into their commercial GUI version called PNGOUTWin that has batch processing and multi-core CPU support. Although it is not open source, you can find pre-compiled binaries for Windows, Linux, BSD and Mac OS X. PNGOUT is one of the easiest to use because by default it uses the highest Xtreme compression algorithm for optimization without specifying an additional command line switch.

PNGOUT maximum compression command:

pngout.exe file.png

Download PNGOUT

6. ScriptPNG

ScriptPNG is actually a batch file that is capable of running up to 10 PNG compressors to optimize an image file. Selecting the ultra brute option number 9 will use the maximum compression options to produce the smallest file size but taking more time to complete the optimization process. All you need to do is drag and drop your PNG files to the program from Explorer and followed by selecting one of the 9 available options.

Download ScriptPNG

7. TruePNG

TruePNG only supports PNG files unlike some of the PNG compressors above that can attempt to convert other image formats such as JPEG and GIF into PNG if it is able to achieve a smaller file size.

TruePNG maximum compression command:

TruePNG.exe input.png /o max

Download TruePNG

Desktop Software

8. PNGGauntlet

PNGGauntlet is actually a front-end tool that uses 3 different PNG optimizers (PNGOUT, OptiPNG, and DeflOpt) to further compress PNG files instead of normally using just 1. The usage of 3 compressors does increase the time taken to compress the PNG files but definitely yields a smaller file size. A nice feature found in PNGGauntlet is the ability to automatically queue multiple files for batch processing. The default options from the Tools menu are already best (maximum) settings unless you want to preserve the PNG metadata, use grayscale color type and etc. Microsoft .NET Framework 4 is required to run.

Download PNGGauntlet

Technology has been rapidly fabricating the digital world and requires storage to reside somewhere. Storage issues are untangled with SDDs, but it cost significantly. Transmission of bigger files can be troublesome when it comes to sharing them over Internet. Compression of huge files can take some load off overfilled drives by reducing their size.

The primary purpose of compression is to allow transmission of files over a connection that has a limited bandwidth without manipulating with the quality of original stuff. Smaller the size of file, faster the transmission will be. A compression software is the one which does this job for you. Apart from compression, it can directly share your files with multiple recipients and perform encryption of files with passwords.

There is a glut of free file compression software in the market, the blog will let you settle with the Best one that comes with highest compression rates and number of supportable formats.

Before getting into the pool, let's see an example of how to compress files with WinZip file compression software.

How to Compress Files?

The ideal file compression software is the one that is first & foremost easy to handle, should come with an array of features including amazing compression rate, has ability to convert files into handful of formats, and most importantly able to extract different kinds of files.

Here we are discussing how to compress files using a top-choice file compression tool- WinZip!

Step 1- Download WinZip and launch the utility software on your PC.

Step 2- Go to the files panel and choose the files you want to zip from your system/network or cloud service.

Step 3- Click on the option saying, ‘Add to Zip'.

Step 4- Now go to the Action panel and find option ‘Save as'.

Step 5- Once you click on ‘Save as', choose the location where you want to keep it.

The application also allows you to share the files directly from the software.

Here's a list of file compression software that are easy-to-use & highly flexible too.

Best File Compression Software 2021

Here's a list of file compression software that are easy-to-use & highly flexible too.

1. WinZip

The eldest of all, WinZip has reached to version 22 and still going strong. WinZip' s standard version is priced at $35.94. You might wonder that out of a huge number of free alternatives, why one would like to spend for WinZip. This zip compressor software comes with several features such as integration with Microsoft Office for easy zipping.

WinZip' s standard version provides splitting of files according to the media, cloud support and advanced file sharing options. It comes with highly responsive interface for different devices. Backup and security features are there to keep your files encrypted and secure. The new version WinZip 22 comes with a bunch of exciting features such as Address book management for instant sharing, image format converter, Slack support and enhanced UI.

2. WinRAR

RAR archives are known for its incredible levels of compression. All the compression software can extract RAR archives but cannot create them. WinRAR is considered as the best file compression software which can do both.

WinRAR can be used to compress files in almost every format possible. It offers a wizard mode that handles all your hard work on its own. Though interface is not that appealing, but its full RAR supports stands apart. To get a feel of themes and speed of compression, you can use the 30-day trial version.

3. 7-Zip

It is the most reputed program which is available for free of cost. Apart from a wide support for almost every format, 7-zip comes with its own file compression format, 7z.

According to the developers, it can compress huge files up to 16 billion gigabytes and that along with high compression rates. The interface is very elementary, making it easy for users to opt-out of the options they don't require. A Right-click will let user to extract, zip or view what's inside the file.

The only drawback of this zip compressor software is its ‘solid compression' process. The process is very much fortunate in achieving tiny file size but sacrifices with compression speeds. It can be very slow at times.

You can download your free file compression software, 7-Zip from here.

4. Hamster Zip Archiver

Its attractive and easy-to-use interface makes it the most convenient software to use. It comes with a drag and drop feature which makes it a handy task for even those who are not familiar with compression and decompression process.

The interface is very thoughtful which accounts for its easy and quick operation. It offers cloud support such as DropBox, OneDrive, Google Drive or Yandex disk with automatic creation of shareable link. This free file compressor software is a brilliant option for those who readily share files over the web.

The software is currently available in 40 languages and has been installed in more than 50 countries in the world which makes it a diverse software.

5. PeaZip

It might not be more popular than 7-zip, but its clean interface and easy-to-use-file browser give it a plus one than 7-zip. It is an open-source software and available in a portable version which is totally a self-contained software for archive management, therefore requiring no extra installations.

For security additions, it uses AES 256-based encryption and two-factor authentication along with a password manager. It is a cross-platform software that can work with WinRAR to provide full RAR support.

6. ZipGenius

This is another option worth considering, ZipGenius is a free file compression software that is fast & elegant all-purpose file manager tool for Windows. Established since 1997, this eldest compression utility tool has strong abilities to handle more than 20 types of file compression in several formats including ARC, CAB, RAR, ZIP,7-ZIP, ARJ and others.

An ideal file compression tool for novices as the UI is effortless to navigate. The application comes with CZIP encryption feature, which simply infix ZIP archives in a secured package that employs strong encryption algorithms.

You can download the software right here from its official website!

7. IZArc

If we have to describe this file compression tool in three words it would be Fast, Easy & Free. One of the most flexible compression tool available in the market right now, IZArc has quite straightforward to use and if you are someone who has never used a file compression software before, then iZArc is definitely worth trying not only because of its extensive features but how well it guides you through the process.

The range of supporting archive formats are: ACE, ARJ, MIM, MBF, ZIP, ZOO, CAB, CDI, CPIO, DEB and pretty much every format. Apart from this, the tool allows you easy to use drag & drop feature from and to windows explorer. You can also open CD image files here & convert files from one to another with ease.

Winding Up: Best File Compression Software

Every windows system comes with functionalities to offer compression and decompression of files, but they are extremely limited. In this digital era everything is paperless and sharing files over the Internet has been vital process. With the limitation of bandwidth availability, compressed files make it easier to transmit files with limited resources requirement.