A Free Compresto Alternative
Compresto is a tidy Mac compressor with a one-time price. If you compress files by hand now and then, or you're on Windows, a free app may suit you better.
Quick Answer
- ✓Compresto is Mac only and starts at $49 one-time, with lower-priced subscriptions also shown.
- ✓FileHop is free on Mac and Windows, and compresses video, images, audio and PDFs in batches.
- ✓Keep Compresto if you want watch folders, saved presets, a drop zone or Raycast. FileHop has none of those.
Why look for a Compresto alternative?
Compresto compresses video, images, GIFs and PDFs on your Mac, offline. It's built for repeat work, with folder watching, presets and a drop zone. Prices were $49 for one Mac and $69 for two in October 2026, and it needs macOS 13 or later.
That's a fair deal if compression is a daily job. If it's occasional, if you're on Windows, or if your Mac runs macOS 11 or 12, you'll want something else. Its Windows plans are unclear: its site shows a waitlist, while its FAQ says otherwise.
How to compress files with FileHop
Compression is built into FileHop, for each file type.
Open your folder
Open FileHop and go to your files.
Select your files
Pick one file or a batch.
Choose Compress
Open Tools and choose Compress. You can compress images to a target size, such as 100 KB.
Check the result
Your original stays where it is, so you can compare before deleting anything.
FileHop has no folder watching, saved presets or global drop zone. You start each batch yourself.
Other options
A few other tools are worth considering.
Clop
A Mac optimizer that works automatically from your clipboard and watched folders, at €15 for lifetime. It's strongest if you want compression to happen on its own.
HandBrake
Free and very capable for video, with many more encoding controls. It's video only.
ImageOptim
Free for Mac, and focused on lossless image optimization. There hasn't been a release since 2023.
Compresto vs FileHop
A direct comparison as of October 2026.
| What matters | Compresto | FileHop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $49 one-time | Free |
| Windows | No | Yes |
| Lowest macOS | macOS 13 | macOS 11 |
| Folder watching | Yes | No |
| Saved presets | Yes | No |
| Editors and file browser | No | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free alternative to Compresto?
Yes. FileHop compresses video, images, audio and PDFs for free.
Is Compresto on Windows?
Not as of October 2026. FileHop runs on Windows.
Can FileHop compress in batches?
Yes. Select many files and compress them together.
Can FileHop watch a folder?
No. You start each compression yourself.
Can I compress a PDF to a certain size?
Yes. FileHop has compress-to-size PDF tools for targets like 1 MB and 5 MB.
Does FileHop work offline?
Yes. Compression runs on your computer.
Does it work on Intel Macs?
Yes. Both FileHop and Compresto support Intel and Apple silicon.
Does FileHop add a watermark?
No.
Compress files for free
Video, images, audio and PDFs on Mac and Windows.
Download FileHop Free