pngquant
Command-line utility and library for lossy compression of PNG images
pngquant is a command-line utility and library for lossy compression of PNG images. It reduces file sizes while preserving full alpha transparency, producing images compatible with web browsers and operating systems. It can be integrated with shell scripts, GUIs, and server-side software, and includes a fast mode for real-time processing or large numbers of images.
The tool uses a combination of vector quantization algorithms for palette generation and an adaptive dithering algorithm that adds less noise than standard Floyd-Steinberg. It supports batch conversion, recursive processing, and Unix-style stdin/stdout chaining. Options include custom output extensions, quality thresholds, and a speed/quality trade-off setting. The latest CLI version is 3.0.3, with the latest libimagequant version at 4.x. The Rust library is released to crates.io, and the project is hosted on GitHub. The latest version is written in Rust, with a previous C99 version available; both are licensed under GPL or a commercial license.
8 alternatives to pngquant
Ranked by how well each tool replaces pngquant: shared features, audience, price and popularity.
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