Looking for a Squoosh alternative? Squoosh and Kroma Lab are architecturally close — both process images entirely in the browser, with no upload involved. The real differences are in scope, and in how much you want to control yourself.
TL;DR: Squoosh is a codec playground. It gives you deep, manual control for tuning compression yourself. Kroma Lab works differently — you set a target, like a file size or format, and it does the tuning for you. It also covers format conversion and metadata/GPS tools that Squoosh doesn't offer.
At a glance
| Kroma Lab | Squoosh | |
|---|---|---|
| Where processing happens | Entirely in your browser | Entirely in your browser |
| Compress to a target file size | ✅ — set a size, it iterates automatically | Manual — you adjust quality and compare the result yourself |
| Convert formats | ✅ (HEIC, JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF) | ✅ (JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF — no HEIC input) |
| View/strip EXIF & GPS metadata | ✅ dedicated tool | Not offered |
| Interface style | Guided — set a target, get a result | Manual — dual-pane before/after slider with codec-level settings |
| Account required | No | No |
| Batch processing | Yes (Unlimited plan adds ZIP export) | One image at a time |
Where the two tools genuinely overlap
Both are built on the same core idea. Real image codecs, compiled to WebAssembly, running in the browser. The file never uploads anywhere. So if you're comparing the two specifically because you care about not uploading personal photos, either one satisfies that requirement. This isn't a privacy differentiator between them — they take the same architectural approach.
Where they diverge: guided vs. manual
Squoosh is built for people who want to see and control the compression tradeoff directly. A side-by-side comparison slider. Codec-specific settings like quality and chroma subsampling. The expectation that you'll adjust things yourself until the result looks right. That's genuinely valuable if you already know what you're tuning for.
Kroma Lab takes a different approach. You set a target — a file size, a specific format — and it handles the iteration, adjusting quality and resolution as needed to hit that target automatically. Less manual control, but a much faster path if you just need "under 5MB" or "as a JPG" without thinking about codec settings.
Format support
Kroma Lab converts HEIC directly, which matters for anyone dealing with iPhone photos. Squoosh doesn't accept HEIC as an input format at all — so an iPhone photo needs converting elsewhere first before Squoosh can even open it.
Metadata and GPS
This is the clearest functional gap. Squoosh focuses specifically on compression and format conversion — it doesn't offer a way to view or strip EXIF/GPS metadata. Need to check or remove hidden location data from a photo? That's a workflow Kroma Lab covers and Squoosh doesn't touch.
Who Squoosh is better for
Developers and technically inclined users who want granular, manual control over compression settings. Comparing codecs side by side. Fine-tuning quality parameters. Understanding exactly what tradeoff they're making. Squoosh is closer to a codec lab than a task-oriented tool, and for that specific use, its manual controls are a genuine strength.
Who Kroma Lab is better for
Anyone who'd rather state the outcome they need — under this size, in this format, without this metadata — and get there without manually tuning settings. Also the better choice specifically for HEIC conversion or metadata/GPS work, since Squoosh doesn't cover either.
Try it
Set a target size in the compressor, convert a format in the converter, or check what's hidden in a photo with the metadata viewer — no account, no upload, either way.