What Is Photopea?
Photopea is a powerful browser-based image editor that closely mirrors Adobe Photoshop. It supports layers, masks, blend modes, PSD/XCF/Sketch files, retouching tools, and advanced compositing. It runs entirely in the browser with no installation and has a free tier supported by ads (a paid plan removes ads).
Photopea is legitimately impressive for a free tool — it handles tasks that previously required a Photoshop subscription. But it is an editor, not an optimizer.
Bulk Compression: No Contest
TinyPNG Now is designed for bulk compression from the ground up. Drop multiple files — PNG, JPG, WebP, HEIC — and they compress in your browser. Download all as a ZIP. No per-file size limits, no batch caps, no signup.
Photopea has no bulk compression workflow. You open one file at a time, make edits if needed, then use File → Export As to save. Repeating this for 20 photos takes significant time and manual effort.
✅ Winner: TinyPNG Now — bulk compression is a core feature, not an afterthought.
Ease of Use
TinyPNG Now has a one-step interface: drop images, wait, download. There are no menus to navigate, no settings to configure (unless you want to choose output format). Compressing a batch of files takes only a few steps.
Photopea has a steep learning curve. It mirrors Photoshop's complex menu structure — Layers panel, Tools panel, Channels, Adjustments. For someone who just wants to make a photo smaller, this is overwhelming.
✅ Winner: TinyPNG Now — zero learning curve for optimization tasks.
HEIC and Modern Format Support
TinyPNG Now fully supports HEIC (iPhone photos), AVIF, WebP, GIF, BMP, TIFF, and ICO — in addition to PNG and JPG. You can compress HEIC files or convert them to JPG/WebP without any third-party app.
Photopea has limited HEIC support and may fail to open certain HEIC encodings, particularly from newer iPhones. For reliable HEIC handling, TinyPNG Now is the better choice.
✅ Winner: TinyPNG Now — native HEIC and modern format support across all major browsers.
PSD, Layers & Advanced Editing
This is where Photopea has no competitor in the free browser space. It opens PSD files with full layer fidelity, supports non-destructive adjustments, smart objects, clipping masks, and the full Photoshop toolkit. For photo retouching, removing objects, compositing, or working with designer files, Photopea is exceptional.
TinyPNG Now does not support layers or PSD files. It is not an editor — it is an optimizer.
✅ Winner: Photopea — for professional editing, layers, and PSD workflows.
Pricing
TinyPNG Now is completely free — no ads, no premium plan, no usage limits. Photopea's free tier shows ads throughout the interface. Photopea's paid plan removes ads and adds extra features. Both tools are accessible without a credit card, but TinyPNG Now is cleaner for quick tasks.
✅ Winner: TinyPNG Now — free with no ads and no paid tier.
The Right Workflow: Use Both
The most efficient image workflow combines both tools: edit and composite in Photopea, then run the output through TinyPNG Now before uploading to your site. Photopea produces the best visual result; TinyPNG Now ensures the file is as small as possible for fast web delivery.
💡 Pro tip: After finishing in Photopea, export as PNG or JPG, then drag that file into TinyPNG Now. You'll typically save an additional 40–70% on file size with no visible quality change.
Head-to-Head Summary
| Feature | TinyPNG Now | Photopea |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk compression | ✅ No fixed limit WINNER | ❌ Not supported |
| Ease of use | ✅ Drop & done WINNER | ⚠️ Photoshop-level complexity |
| HEIC support | ✅ Full WINNER | ⚠️ Limited |
| PSD / layers | ❌ Not supported | ✅ Full PSD support WINNER |
| Price | ✅ Free, no ads WINNER | Free (ads) / paid plan |
| Extra optimization tools | 25+ tools WINNER | Editor tools only |
| Compression quality | Strong reduction (varies by image) WINNER | Export quality only |
| Browser-based | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
About this comparison: Details about other products (limits, pricing, features) come from their public information at the time of writing and change often, so please check each provider's own website for current terms. TinyPNG Now is an independent tool, is not affiliated with the products compared, and this comparison reflects our own view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Photopea upload images to a server?
Photopea processes files in the browser by default, but its cloud storage features involve uploads. TinyPNG Now never uploads anything — all processing is entirely local.
Can Photopea bulk compress images?
No. Photopea edits one file at a time. TinyPNG Now supports bulk compression with no fixed limit with a ZIP download.
Which is easier for simple compression tasks?
TinyPNG Now — drop files, done. Photopea requires navigating a complex editor interface for each file individually.
Does Photopea support HEIC?
Only partially. TinyPNG Now has full HEIC support across all major browsers.