TinyPNG Now and iLoveIMG are both popular free image tool suites. Both compress, resize, and convert images. Both are accessible without downloading any software. But they are built on fundamentally different architectures — and that difference matters more than any individual feature.
This guide covers everything: how each tool handles your files, what limits apply on the free tier, which tools are free vs. locked behind a paywall, and which is the better choice for your workflow.
What Is TinyPNG Now?
TinyPNG Now is a browser-based image toolkit that processes images entirely in your browser using WebAssembly. Your files are never uploaded to any server — compression, resizing, background removal, watermarking, and every other operation runs locally on your device. There is no account, no subscription, and no usage limit.
The full toolkit includes 25+ tools: image compression, background removal, AI upscaling, resize, crop, rotate, watermark, EXIF removal, photo editing, filters, favicon generation, QR codes, PDF conversion, and more — all free and all browser-based.
What Is iLoveIMG?
iLoveIMG (iloveimg.com) is a web-based image toolkit from the same team behind iLovePDF. It offers a range of image tools including compression, resizing, cropping, conversion, rotation, and filters. Tools are processed on iLoveIMG's servers — your images are uploaded, processed remotely, then made available for download.
iLoveIMG also has native mobile apps (iOS and Android), which is a genuine differentiator. The free tier imposes file size and batch limits, and some tools — including background removal — require a paid Premium subscription.
Head-to-Head Comparison
1. Privacy: The Most Important Difference
This is the fundamental difference between the two tools. TinyPNG Now never uploads your images — all processing uses WebAssembly running in your browser tab. Your files stay on your device at all times.
iLoveIMG uploads your images to its servers for processing. iLoveIMG states it deletes uploaded files after a set period, but your images do travel across the internet and are stored temporarily on third-party infrastructure. For personal photos, client images, medical photographs, confidential documents embedded as images, or any image you want to keep private, this is a significant concern.
Privacy note: If you're compressing sensitive images — client photos, ID documents, medical scans, legal materials — TinyPNG Now's browser-only processing is the only safe choice. iLoveIMG's server upload model means those images leave your device.
2. File Limits and Batch Size
iLoveIMG's free tier limits each uploaded image to 15 MB and each batch task to 25 files. If you need to compress files larger than 15 MB or process more than 25 images at once, you must upgrade to Premium.
TinyPNG Now has no file size or batch limits. You can drag in 100 images, each 50 MB, and compress them all simultaneously. Since processing happens in your browser, the only constraint is your device's RAM.
| Limit | TinyPNG Now | iLoveIMG (Free) | iLoveIMG (Premium) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max file size | None Winner | 15 MB | 250 MB |
| Max images per batch | None Winner | 25 files | Unlimited |
| Monthly usage limit | None Winner | Limited tasks | Unlimited |
| Signup required | Never Winner | Optional | Required |
3. Free vs. Paid Tools
On iLoveIMG's free tier, core tools — compress, resize, crop, rotate, convert format — are available. However, some tools are gated behind the Premium plan, including background removal and higher-quality upscaling. On TinyPNG Now, every tool is free with no account required — background removal, AI upscaling, shadow removal, and all 25+ tools.
| Tool | TinyPNG Now | iLoveIMG Free |
|---|---|---|
| Image compression | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Resize image | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Crop image | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Rotate / flip | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Background remover | ✓ Free | Premium only |
| AI upscaling | ✓ Free | Premium only |
| EXIF metadata removal | ✓ Free | ✗ Not available |
| Watermark tool | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| PDF conversion | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Photo filters | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| QR code generator | ✓ Free | ✗ Not available |
| Favicon generator | ✓ Free | ✗ Not available |
| OCR / Image to Text | ✓ Free | ✗ Not available |
Winner: TinyPNG Now — every tool is free. iLoveIMG locks background removal and upscaling behind Premium.
4. Compression Quality
Both tools deliver good compression results for everyday use. iLoveIMG's server-side processing can apply more aggressive optimization passes since it is not limited by browser performance. TinyPNG Now uses browser-native WebAssembly codecs (Canvas API + codec libraries) which produce output very close to server-side results at equivalent quality settings.
In practice, for web images at 80% quality WebP output, both tools produce files within 3–5% of each other in size — an imperceptible difference in real-world use. For lossless PNG compression, server-side tools can sometimes achieve slightly smaller files with multiple optimization passes, but the difference is rarely worth a server upload from a privacy or workflow perspective.
5. Supported Formats
| Format | TinyPNG Now | iLoveIMG |
|---|---|---|
| JPG / JPEG | ✓ | ✓ |
| PNG | ✓ | ✓ |
| WebP | ✓ | ✓ |
| HEIC / HEIF | ✓ | ✓ |
| GIF | ✓ | ✓ |
| BMP | ✓ | ✓ |
| TIFF | ✓ | ✓ |
| AVIF | Compress in, not output | ✓ |
| SVG | ✗ | ✓ |
iLoveIMG has a slight edge on format breadth, supporting AVIF output and SVG compression. TinyPNG Now covers all the formats most web and design workflows need.
6. Mobile Apps
iLoveIMG offers polished native apps for iOS and Android, making it genuinely useful for mobile workflows — compressing photos straight from your camera roll, sharing resized images directly to other apps, etc. TinyPNG Now is browser-based only; while it works on mobile browsers, there is no dedicated native app. For mobile-first users, iLoveIMG's native app experience is a real advantage.
Winner: iLoveIMG for mobile app users. TinyPNG Now is better on desktop and for privacy-conscious users.
7. Speed and Offline Use
TinyPNG Now processes images locally — no upload or download round-trip needed. For large files, this is noticeably faster: a 10 MB PNG compressed in TinyPNG Now is processed in seconds entirely within your browser, while iLoveIMG must upload the file, process it remotely, then send the compressed version back. On a slow connection, this round-trip adds meaningful latency.
TinyPNG Now also works offline (after the page has loaded) for most tools — if your internet drops mid-work session, compression keeps running. iLoveIMG requires a persistent connection throughout.
8. Pricing
| Feature | TinyPNG Now | iLoveIMG Free | iLoveIMG Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 forever | $0 | ~$4–7/month |
| Ads | No | Yes | No |
| File size limit | None | 15 MB | 250 MB |
| Batch limit | None | 25 files | Unlimited |
| Background remover | Free | ✗ | ✓ |
| Account required | Never | Optional | Required |
Which One Should You Use?
| Use Case | Best Tool |
|---|---|
| Compress images without uploading them | TinyPNG Now |
| Sensitive or private images | TinyPNG Now |
| No file size or batch limits | TinyPNG Now |
| Free background removal | TinyPNG Now |
| Free AI upscaling | TinyPNG Now |
| Work on iOS or Android with a native app | iLoveIMG |
| SVG compression | iLoveIMG |
| No account, no signup ever | TinyPNG Now |
| Offline image processing | TinyPNG Now |
| EXIF metadata removal | TinyPNG Now |
iLoveIMG vs iLovePDF: Are They the Same?
iLoveIMG and iLovePDF are separate tools from the same company (Apryse). They share the same brand identity and server infrastructure but are distinct products: iLoveIMG focuses on image tools, while iLovePDF focuses on PDF manipulation. They are frequently confused because of the similar naming. Neither is related to TinyPNG Now.
Conclusion
For most desktop users, TinyPNG Now is the stronger choice: no file limits, no server upload, free background removal, free upscaling, and no account required. The privacy advantage is significant — browser-based processing means your images never leave your device.
iLoveIMG is the better choice for mobile-first users who need a polished native app for iOS or Android, and for anyone who specifically needs SVG compression.
If you frequently work with large batches of images on desktop or handle any sensitive images, TinyPNG Now's no-upload architecture makes it the clear winner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does iLoveIMG upload my images to a server?
Yes. iLoveIMG processes all images on its servers. Your files are uploaded for processing and temporarily stored on iLoveIMG's infrastructure. TinyPNG Now processes everything in your browser using WebAssembly — no file ever leaves your device.
What is iLoveIMG's free file size limit?
15 MB per image and up to 25 images per batch on the free tier. TinyPNG Now has no file size or batch limits at all.
Is background removal free on iLoveIMG?
No — background removal requires iLoveIMG Premium (paid). TinyPNG Now's background remover is completely free with no signup required.
Does TinyPNG Now have a mobile app?
TinyPNG Now works in mobile browsers but does not have a dedicated iOS or Android native app. iLoveIMG offers polished native apps for both platforms, which is its main advantage for mobile users.
Which is better for HEIC compression?
Both tools support HEIC input. TinyPNG Now converts HEIC entirely in the browser — no upload required. iLoveIMG uploads the HEIC file to its server for conversion. For iPhone photos you'd prefer to keep private, TinyPNG Now is the safer option.