Tinify.dev is not affiliated with Kraken.io.
What this comparison covers
Kraken.io is a long-running image optimization API and web PRO service. This page compares its published pricing and behavior with Tinify.dev, using rates checked on 2026-07-23. If a number here disagrees with kraken.io, trust their site and tell us.
The core difference is the billing unit. Kraken.io meters the bytes you upload against a monthly quota. Tinify.dev meters operations — one image processed is one operation, whatever its size within the 40 MB per-file limit. The browser tools, including compress, are free either way.
Pricing model
- Kraken.io plans bundle a data quota at roughly $9/month per 2 GB of image data. Bigger plans bundle more gigabytes; exhausting the quota means upgrading or waiting for the next cycle.
- Tinify.dev includes 500 free successful operations every month. Developer is $9/month for 2,000 operations plus $0.005 per extra; Pro is $29/month for 10,000 operations plus $0.003 per extra. See the pricing page.
Because the units differ, every cross-service estimate needs an average file size. The calculator below assumes about 1 MB per image — around 2,048 images per 2 GB block. State your own average before trusting any comparison like this, ours included.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Tinify.dev | Kraken.io |
|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | Operations (per image processed) | Data volume (MB/GB uploaded) |
| Free tier | 500 successful API operations/month | Free web tool with file-size limits |
| Entry paid price | $9/month (2,000 operations) | About $9/month per 2 GB of data |
| Large files | One operation, up to 40 MB per file | Consume quota in proportion to size |
| File retention | Deleted after two hours | See kraken.io terms |
| Result honesty | Returns the original, labeled not optimized, if output would be larger | Reports the optimized result |
Table reflects published information as of 2026-07-23.
Where Kraken.io is the better fit
If your workload is many small files — thumbnails, icons, screenshots well under a megabyte — a byte-metered quota stretches far, and Kraken.io's long-standing API and web PRO interface are proven tools. Teams that already think in storage terms may also find quota billing easier to reason about.
Where Tinify.dev is the better fit
If you process large photographs or want costs that do not depend on file size, per-operation pricing is simpler to predict. Tinify.dev counts only successful operations, supports idempotency keys and batches through the API, and permanently deletes files after two hours.
Frequently asked questions
How does Kraken.io's pricing work?
Kraken.io prices by data volume rather than image count: plans include a monthly quota of image megabytes or gigabytes, at roughly $9 per month for each 2 GB of image data. Every uploaded byte counts against the quota.
How does that compare with Tinify.dev's model?
Tinify.dev counts operations, not bytes: 500 free successful operations every month, Developer at $9/month for 2,000 operations, Pro at $29/month for 10,000, each with a flat per-operation overage. File size does not change what an operation costs, within the 40 MB per-file limit.
Why does the calculator assume about 1 MB per image?
Kraken.io bills by gigabytes while Tinify.dev bills by operations, so comparing them requires an assumption about average file size. The calculator assumes about 1 MB per image, which suits typical web photography. If your images average 3 MB, Kraken.io's effective per-image cost triples while Tinify.dev's stays the same.
Which is cheaper for large files?
Per-operation pricing favors large files: a 30 MB image costs Tinify.dev one operation, while it consumes 30 MB of a Kraken.io quota. For many small thumbnails, byte-based pricing can be the cheaper direction. Run your own averages through the calculator.
How long are files kept?
Tinify.dev permanently deletes uploads and results after two hours. Kraken.io's retention behavior is documented in its own terms; check kraken.io for the current policy.
Estimate your monthly cost
Move the slider to your monthly image volume. Both estimates use published prices checked on 2026-07-23.
- Tinify.devDeveloper plan
- $9.00
- Kraken.io
- $9.00
- Tinify.dev estimates pick the cheapest plan for the volume, including the flat per-operation overage.
- Kraken.io bills by data volume, not operations. This estimate assumes about 1 MB per image, so 2,048 images fill one 2 GB block.