DuneTools vs Squoosh: Honest 2026 Comparison

Squoosh is Google’s open-source browser image compressor, launched in 2018. It’s the gold standard for single-image deep-dive optimisation, split-pane preview, real-time quality slider, A/B format comparison. Many web developers swear by it.

DuneTools’ Compress Image uses the same underlying technology (WASM-compiled encoders) but optimises for a different use case: bulk processing with one-click presets. Both are local-first; both never upload files. The choice is really about workflow.

Quick comparison table

Feature	DuneTools	Squoosh
Made by	DuneTools team	Google Chrome Labs
Open source	❌ Closed source	✅ Yes (GitHub)
Processing location	Browser (WebAssembly)	Browser (WebAssembly)
Single-file UX	Good (preview)	⭐ Best on the web
Bulk processing	✅ Up to 100 files at once	❌ One at a time
Side-by-side preview	Basic before/after	⭐ Split-pane drag
A/B format comparison	❌ Not yet	✅ Yes (side by side)
Quality slider per file	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Size targets (e.g. 100 KB)	✅ Yes (smart auto)	❌ Manual tuning
Format support	JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF	JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, JXL, OXIPNG
Resize built-in	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Strip metadata	✅ Optional	✅ Optional
Watermark	None	None
Sign-up	Never	Never
Pricing	Free	Free
Mobile-friendly	✅ Yes	Limited (UI cramped)

Where Squoosh wins

1. Best single-image preview UX on the web

Squoosh’s signature feature is the split-pane comparison: drag a slider across the image to see before/after side-by-side, in real time. As you tweak quality, the preview updates instantly. For making a defensible “this is the smallest the image can be without visible loss” decision, this UX is unmatched.

DuneTools shows a basic before/after preview but doesn’t have the same real-time split-pane experience.

2. A/B format comparison

Squoosh can render the same image as JPG and AVIF and WebP simultaneously in side-by-side panes, letting you visually compare which format gives the best quality-per-byte. For format-decision questions (“should this be JPG or WebP for our hero?”), it’s the definitive tool.

3. JPEG XL and obscure format support

Squoosh supports JPEG XL (JXL), the ultra-modern image format Google was experimenting with. DuneTools doesn’t yet. For bleeding-edge format experimentation, Squoosh has the edge.

4. Open source

Squoosh is on GitHub, MIT-licensed. You can fork it, audit the code, deploy your own copy. DuneTools is currently closed source (open-sourcing is on the roadmap but not done).

5. Maintained by Google Chrome team

The credibility of “Google Chrome Labs” is real, Squoosh is the official reference implementation of how to do browser-side image compression. Long-term maintenance is essentially guaranteed.

Where DuneTools wins

1. Bulk processing, Squoosh’s biggest gap

Squoosh handles one image at a time. For batch jobs (an entire product gallery, a site asset migration, 50 social media posts), this is a real friction. DuneTools handles up to 100 images in a single batch, set a quality preset, drag everything in, download a ZIP. For real-world workflows beyond the single hero shot, this is night-and-day.

2. Smart size-target presets

DuneTools offers presets like Compress Image to 100 KB, drop the file, click the target, the algorithm auto-tunes quality and resolution to land exactly under 100 KB. For form-upload requirements (government IDs, exam photos with hard size limits), this is a one-click solution.

Squoosh requires you to manually adjust the quality slider, watch the file size readout, iterate. Effective but not auto-target.

3. Format-pair landing pages

DuneTools has dedicated landing pages and tool surfaces for each conversion direction: PNG to JPG, JPG to WebP, HEIC to PNG, etc., each pre-configured for that specific conversion with relevant content. Squoosh is one universal interface that requires you to know what you’re doing.

4. Better mobile experience

Squoosh’s split-pane UX cramps on phone screens. DuneTools’ interface is mobile-first responsive, drop a photo from your camera roll, hit a preset, share the result.

5. Beyond images

DuneTools is a multi-tool suite: PDF, audio, video, dev tools, all in one place with consistent privacy guarantees. Squoosh is image-only by design.

When to use which

Pick Squoosh when:

• You’re optimising a single hero image and quality matters down to the byte
• You want side-by-side format A/B comparisons (JPG vs WebP vs AVIF)
• You need JPEG XL specifically
• You’re a web performance engineer doing detailed format research
• You prefer open-source tools you can audit

Pick DuneTools when:

• You’re processing 5+ images at once
• You need to hit specific size targets (100 KB, 1 MB)
• You’re on mobile
• You want format-pair-specific landing pages with full guidance
• You need PDF, audio, or video tools alongside image compression

The same encoders under the hood

Worth saying explicitly: the compression engines are the same, both use mozjpeg, oxipng, libwebp, and libavif compiled to WebAssembly. At equivalent settings, output bytes are identical. The compression quality isn’t a differentiator.

What differs is everything around the engine: single vs bulk, manual vs auto-target, image-only vs multi-format suite, side-by-side preview vs preset presets.

Together, not in competition

Squoosh and DuneTools aren’t really competing for the same job. Squoosh is for the perfectionist single-image dive. DuneTools is for getting 50 images through a pipeline efficiently. Many image workflows benefit from using both: Squoosh for hero-image quality decisions, DuneTools for bulk thumbnail processing of the entire gallery.

Try DuneTools Compress Image for your next bulk job, then run a single hero through Squoosh for the deep dive, both run locally, both produce excellent output, both respect your privacy.

The bottom line

Squoosh is the gold standard for single-image quality tuning, Google-built, open-source, unmatched preview UX.

DuneTools is the gold standard for bulk image workflows, preset-driven, target-aware, mobile-friendly, multi-tool integrated.

Pick by use case, not by brand loyalty. Most people benefit from knowing both exist.