Pick Kompressor if…
You want just compress / convert / resize, not photo editing built in.
You don't currently use Setapp and don't want a $120/year subscription for one image tool.
You want a generous free tier to test before paying anything.
Last updated: 7 May 2026
Kompressor vs Squash
Same compression, no watermark or filter bloat, $26 cheaper. The lean alternative to Squash 3 for people who just want their images smaller.
Verdict
Squash 3 from Realmac is a polished SwiftUI app that adds watermarks, photo filters, RAW conversion, sound effects and presets on top of compression. Kompressor stays focused on the three things most people actually need — compress, convert, resize — for $26 less. Pick Squash if you ship watermarked previews to clients or work with RAW. Pick Kompressor if compression is the job and you want a calm window with two settings.
| Feature | Kompressor | Squash 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 one-time | $29 (or $39 with effects, or Setapp $9.99/mo) |
| Free tier | 10 images / day | None |
| Platform | macOS 11+ (Universal) | macOS, SwiftUI native |
| Output formats | JPEG, PNG, WebP | JPEG, PNG, TIFF, WebP, AVIF |
| Reads RAW / PSD / CR2 | No | Yes |
| Resize | 5 presets + original | Yes |
| Privacy | 100% local, no telemetry | 100% local, no telemetry |
| Watermarks | No | Yes |
| Photo filters / adjustments | No | Yes |
| Apple Shortcuts | No (V2 roadmap) | Yes |
| Sound effects | No | Yes (some users find them gimmicky) |
Where Kompressor wins
$2.99 vs $29 — same compression, $26 saved
The price gap is the headline. Squash 3 is $29 on the Mac App Store, or $39 with the effects pack, or $9.99/month ($120/year) via Setapp. Kompressor is $2.99 once. For the basic compress + convert + resize job both apps are within a few percent of each other on output quality. The extra $26 buys you watermarks, filters, RAW reading and sound effects — features most users will never touch. If you will, Squash is fair value. If you won't, that is real money for nothing.
Two settings, no presets to manage
Squash 3 leans into preset workflows: save a "newsletter" preset, a "social media" preset, a "client preview" preset. That works if you have well-defined repeating workflows. For most people, presets are a thing you set up once, forget, and never use. Kompressor keeps it to a quality slider and a max-size dropdown — the two decisions that actually change the output. No preset library to manage, no "which preset was that again" moments.
Generous free tier — Squash has none
Squash 3 offers no free trial. You buy at $29 sight unseen, or commit to Setapp at $9.99/month. Kompressor offers 10 free images every day with all formats unlocked, no email, no card. You can compress real images for a week before deciding if the $2.99 is worth it. That is meaningfully lower friction for first-time users.
No sound effects, no celebration animations
A small thing, but consistent feedback: some Squash users dislike the sound effects and the celebratory animations when compression completes. They are configurable, but they exist by default. Kompressor's progress bar fills, flashes green, fades to gray. Quiet, clear, done. For a tool you'll use multiple times a day, calm beats festive.
Where Squash wins
Watermarks, filters, photo adjustments
Squash 3 lets you stamp watermarks across batches — essential for designers sharing client previews or photographers protecting unpaid proofs. It also includes photo filters and adjustments (sharpen, vibrance, contrast) that you can apply during compression. Kompressor does none of this. If watermarking a batch of 200 client photos is part of your weekly flow, Squash genuinely saves time versus opening Photoshop or another editor.
Reads RAW, PSD, CR2
Squash converts professional formats — RAW, PSD, CR2 — into JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF. Kompressor does not read RAW or PSD in 2026. For photographers who want to compress straight from camera RAW exports without going through Lightroom first, Squash is a better fit. (For pure RAW batch JPEG export, JPEGmini Pro is also worth considering.)
Apple Shortcuts integration
Squash 3 plugs into Apple Shortcuts, so you can trigger compression from a keyboard combo, a folder change, or a Siri command. Kompressor has no Shortcuts integration in 2026 — it is on the V2 roadmap. If you live in Shortcuts automation, Squash wins today.
Pricing breakdown
Squash 3 is $29 on the Mac App Store ($39 with effects), one-time, no subscription. Or $9.99/month via Setapp, which includes ~250 other apps. Kompressor Pro is $2.99 one-time for one Mac, Team is $9.99 one-time for five Macs.
Solo user: Kompressor saves you $26 ($29 - $2.99). Five-Mac studio: Kompressor saves you roughly $135 ($29 × 5 = $145 vs $9.99). Setapp users who already subscribe for other apps effectively get Squash free, which makes Setapp the right move if you use 3+ apps from their catalog. Otherwise $120/year is hard to justify against Kompressor's $2.99.
Pick Squash if…
You batch-apply watermarks or photo filters during export.
You work with RAW, PSD, CR2 files and want one tool that reads them all.
You already use Setapp for other apps — Squash comes free in the bundle.
Try Kompressor free.
10 images every day, no email, no card. Decide if the $26 is worth saving.
macOS 11+ · 6 MB universal binary · refundable within 14 days
Frequently asked
Is Kompressor cheaper than Squash 3?
Yes, by $26. Squash 3 is $29 on the Mac App Store ($39 with effects), or included in Setapp at $9.99/month ($120/year). Kompressor is $2.99 once for one Mac.
What does Squash 3 do that Kompressor doesn't?
Squash 3 adds watermarks, photo filters, sharpen and vibrance adjustments, and presets. It outputs AVIF and converts HEIC, PSD, RAW and CR2. If you need watermarks or photo edits inline, Squash makes sense. Kompressor stays focused on compression / conversion / resize.
Is Squash 3 worth $29?
For designers shipping watermarked previews to clients, yes. For everyone else who just wants smaller images, the extra features are surface area you'll never use.
Does Squash 3 read RAW files?
Yes — Squash 3 converts CR2, PSD, RAW formats to JPEG/PNG/WebP. Kompressor does not read RAW files in 2026. For RAW workflows, Squash or JPEGmini Pro are better picks.
Does Setapp include Squash?
Yes. Squash 3 is included in Setapp's $9.99/month subscription. If you already pay for Setapp for other reasons, Squash is effectively free. Otherwise, $120/year for one app is steep when Kompressor does the core job for $2.99 once.