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Oxipng
by Oxipng

What Oxipng is
Oxipng is a free, open-source optimizer for PNG and APNG images. The multithreaded project began in 2015 as a rewrite of OptiPNG and is distributed under the MIT license. It runs as a command-line utility, offers an API, and can be used as a library in Rust programs. Batch processing is supported across Linux, macOS, Windows, self-hosted systems, and API workflows. Optimization settings range from -o 0 through -o 6 and include an -o max preset, with -o 2 as the default. Higher settings can take longer, and smaller output is not guaranteed for every file. The --strip option removes safe, all, or selected metadata chunks. For transparent images, --alpha may improve compression by changing fully transparent pixels, a technically lossy change. APNG optimization is limited to alpha optimization, refiltering, and frame recompression. Installation routes include Windows releases, package managers, Cargo, source builds, and Docker images for linux/amd64 and linux/arm64.
Who it suits
Oxipng suits developers and image workflows that need scriptable PNG or APNG optimization, Rust integration, or batch processing. It is also suitable for self-hosted and container-based deployments.
What it does well
- Free, open-source software under the MIT license
- Command-line utility and Rust library interfaces
- Batch processing and API access are supported
- Metadata can be stripped selectively
- Docker images support two Linux architectures
What to know first
- APNG transformations are limited
- Alpha optimization is technically lossy
- Higher settings can take longer
- Smaller output is not guaranteed
Verdict
Oxipng provides configurable PNG and limited APNG optimization through command-line, API, and Rust interfaces. Its free licensing and broad installation options suit technical workflows, while APNG and alpha-processing limits require attention.
Facts from Oxipng's own pages
- Animated PNG
- Oxipng supports limited APNG optimization, including alpha optimization, refiltering, and recompression of frames; transformations are disabled. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- API access
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- APNG limit
- APNG optimization is limited to alpha optimization, refiltering, and recompression of frames; other transformations are disabled. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Batch processing
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Compression
- It offers optimization levels 0 through 6 and a max preset; higher levels can improve compression but take longer, with diminishing returns. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Compression modes
- both · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Containers
- The project publishes a Docker image for linux/amd64 and linux/arm64. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Contributions and support
- The project accepts contributions through GitHub pull requests and bug reports through GitHub issues. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- The README says Oxipng can be installed through Cargo or built from source with stable or nightly Rust. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Docker
- A Docker image is available for linux/amd64 and linux/arm64. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2015 · github.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Installation
- The project documents Windows releases, package manager options, Cargo installation, and building from source; it recommends distro packages for macOS or Linux when sufficiently up to date. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The README provides a pre-commit hook configuration for running Oxipng on a Git repository. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Interfaces
- Oxipng is a command-line utility and can also be used as a library in other Rust programs. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub repository identifies the project as MIT licensed. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Metadata
- Its strip option removes metadata using safe, all, or a specified list of metadata chunks. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Metadata controls
- Yes · github.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Metadata handling
- The --strip option removes safe, all, or selected metadata chunks from processed images. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Optimization caveat
- The README says higher optimization levels and Zopfli compression are not guaranteed to produce smaller output in every case. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Optimization levels
- Optimization ranges from -o 0 through -o 6 or -o max; the default is -o 2. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The README describes Windows downloads from GitHub Releases and recommends distro package repositories for macOS or Linux where available. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Project history
- Oxipng began in 2015 as a rewrite of OptiPNG, with multithreading and Rust among its stated goals. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Oxipng is a multithreaded PNG optimizer written in Rust. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Related software
- The README lists ImageOptim, Squoosh, FileOptimizer, Curtail, pyoxipng, jSquash, and Trunk as software using Oxipng. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Oxipng stands on Freedom251
- Image Compression Software#61 of 85