Freedom251 › Image Compression Software
Efficient Compression Tool (ECT)
What Efficient Compression Tool (ECT) is
Efficient Compression Tool (ECT) is a free C++ command-line file optimizer for lossless processing. It supports PNG, JPEG, GZIP, and ZIP files, with batch processing and metadata controls. ECT targets Linux and macOS and is built from source with CMake; the project says a recursive clone is required. The maker describes a command-line delivery model rather than a hosted web app. Its README reports gzip benchmark results for optimization levels -1 through -9. One enwik8 benchmark records ECT -1 producing 36,493,257 bytes in 3.5 seconds on macOS 12.5 with an Intel i7-7700HQ and clang. Xcode project generation is documented, including a mozjpeg assembly build-rule adjustment. NASM may need installation, and SIMD assembly can be disabled with WITH_SIMD=OFF. The repository lists an Apache-2.0 license.
Who it suits
ECT suits Linux or macOS users who want source-built, command-line optimization for supported image and archive formats. It is appropriate for batch workflows that need metadata controls.
What it does well
- Free lossless compression
- Supports PNG, JPEG, GZIP, and ZIP
- Batch processing available
- Metadata controls included
- Apache-2.0 license
What to know first
- Requires building from source
- No hosted web app is described
- Recursive clone required for building
- NASM may need installation
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Efficient Compression Tool | PNG · JPEG · GZIP · ZIP | Free |
As github.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
ECT provides free, lossless command-line optimization across four listed formats, with batch and metadata features. Its source-build workflow and Linux/macOS focus matter when choosing it.
Facts from Efficient Compression Tool (ECT)'s own pages
- Batch processing
- Yes · github.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Build dependency
- The README says NASM may need to be installed if it is unavailable. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Build system
- ECT is built with CMake and the project says a recursive clone is required to build it. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Compression modes
- lossless · github.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Delivery model
- The maker's README describes building the command-line tool from source and does not describe a hosted web app. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Formats
- It supports PNG, JPEG, GZIP and ZIP files. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · github.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The README documents CMake and Xcode build workflows; it does not name external service integrations. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub repository lists an Apache-2.0 license. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Metadata controls
- Yes · github.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Multithreading
- The build option ECT_MULTITHREADING=OFF turns off multithreading support. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Optimization levels
- The README reports gzip benchmark results for ECT levels -1 through -9. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Performance benchmark
- For its enwik8 gzip benchmark, the README reports ECT -1 produced 36,493,257 bytes in 3.5 seconds on macOS 12.5 with an Intel i7-7700HQ and clang. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- ECT describes itself as a C++ file optimizer. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- SIMD
- The README says Xcode users can disable assembly files with WITH_SIMD=OFF if they do not need maximum speed. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported formats
- PNG,JPEG,GZIP,ZIP · github.com, 24 Sept 2026
- Xcode
- The README documents generating an Xcode project with CMake and notes an assembly build-rule adjustment for mozjpeg. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Efficient Compression Tool (ECT) stands on Freedom251
- Image Compression Software#51 of 85