Compresto is a native Mac app for shrinking videos, images, GIFs, and PDFs in one place. You drop files in (or point it at a watched folder), pick a quality preset, and it compresses everything offline on your Mac. It is one of the few apps that treats video, image, and PDF compression as a single job instead of three separate tools.

It is not the only way to get there. Clop compresses automatically from the clipboard, HandBrake is the free, deep video transcoder, Permute is a broad media converter, and ImageOptim is the classic free image optimizer.

This guide compares Compresto alternatives for Mac across formats, workflow, automation, privacy, pricing, and who each app fits.

Quick Verdict

Choose Compresto if you want one drag-and-drop app that batch-compresses video, images, GIFs, and PDFs, with folder monitoring and a one-time price.

Choose Clop if you want compression to happen automatically on clipboard content, screenshots, and screen recordings, with a free mode and a cheap license.

Choose HandBrake if video is the main job and you want full control over codecs, quality, and presets for free.

Choose Permute if compression is tangled up with format conversion across video, audio, images, PDFs, and text.

Choose ImageOptim if you only need free, lossless image optimization and metadata stripping.

Feature Comparison

Compresto

Compresto's pitch is breadth with simplicity. The current site lists batch compression for video (MP4, MOV, and other common formats), images (PNG, JPEG, HEIC, WebP, TIFF, GIF), and PDFs, plus video-to-GIF conversion. Quality presets range from "Highest" and "High," which the vendor describes as imperceptible loss, down to more aggressive settings. Processing is offline, it uses Apple Silicon hardware acceleration, and it supports macOS 13 or later on both Intel and Apple Silicon.

The workflow features are what set it apart from a plain converter: a drop zone, a watched folder that compresses new files automatically, and Raycast integration for keyboard-driven use.

The tradeoffs: there is no free tier mentioned on the pricing page, so you commit before you know how it handles your own files (check the refund policy and any trial on the checkout page). It is also less configurable than HandBrake for video and less automatic than Clop for clipboard sharing.

Pricing is $49 one-time for one Mac and $69 for two Macs, with lifetime updates and an educational discount.

Choose Compresto if you regularly compress mixed batches of videos, images, and PDFs and want to set it up once.

Clop

Clop is built around convenience: copy a large image or drop a screen recording, and it shrinks the file before you paste or send it. It also compresses PDFs, downscales, converts to GIF or MP4, and supports Shortcuts, preset zones, and file watching. It relies on established open-source tools such as ffmpeg, gifski, and ghostscript, and everything runs on your device.

The free mode allows up to 5 optimizations per session, and Pro unlocks unlimited automatic clipboard optimization, downscaling, file watching, and Shortcuts integration. Pro is EUR15 one-time, with a 14-day trial, and it requires macOS 13 or later.

Choose Clop if your pain is everyday sharing (screenshots, recordings, chat attachments) rather than periodic batch jobs.

HandBrake

HandBrake is a free, open-source, cross-platform video transcoder, currently at version 1.11.2. It is the deepest option here for choosing codecs, quality targets, framerates, and audio and subtitle tracks, and its presets cover most common devices and platforms.

It only does video. There is no image or PDF compression, no clipboard automation, and its interface is more technical than the others. For a one-off "make this 2 GB recording small enough to email," a preset works well; for a mixed folder of assets, it is the wrong tool.

Choose HandBrake if video is the job and you want free, detailed control.

Permute

Permute is a media converter that also handles size reduction through resizing and format changes. It covers video, audio, images, PDFs, text, and OCR, with drop zones, automation, and advanced FFmpeg presets. Permute 4 requires macOS 26 and Apple Silicon, while Permute 3 remains for macOS 11 through 15 and Intel Macs, so check compatibility before buying.

It costs $14.99 direct or on the Mac App Store, and it is also available via Setapp. For more, see our Permute alternatives guide.

Choose Permute if the file is the wrong format as often as it is the wrong size.

ImageOptim

ImageOptim is free, open source, and excellent at lossless image optimization and stripping metadata such as GPS and EXIF data. It does not handle video or PDFs as a core job. Our ImageOptim alternatives guide covers the image-only field in more depth.

Choose ImageOptim if images are all you need and free is the priority.

Which One Should You Use?

Use Compresto for mixed batches and watched-folder workflows across video, images, GIFs, and PDFs.

Use Clop for screenshots, screen recordings, and clipboard-driven sharing at a lower price.

Use HandBrake for serious video transcoding at no cost.

Use Permute when conversion and compression overlap.

Use ImageOptim for free, lossless image work.

They also combine well: HandBrake for a tricky video, ImageOptim for website assets, and Clop or Compresto for everything else.

Final Verdict

Compresto is the best all-in-one pick if you compress different file types in batches and prefer a single purchase over stitching tools together. Clop is the better fit for automatic, everyday compression and costs less. HandBrake wins on free video control. Permute wins when format conversion matters. ImageOptim remains the free image standard. If you are unsure, try Clop's free mode and HandBrake first, and buy Compresto once you know you regularly mix video, image, and PDF batches.

Note: Features and prices are current as of September 2026. Prices, trial terms, macOS requirements, and subscription options can change. Verify details on each developer's official page before purchasing.

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for Compresto and Setapp. Apps.Deals may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no additional cost to you.