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Test scope & comparison notes
These are recorded facts, not a unified ranking. Tested tiers and scope are not consistently recorded. Read pricing with its date and timing with its conditions. Privacy observations reflect visible flows and statements, not a security audit.
Cross-task capability coverage across selected products
Each product is scored independently per task edge; switch tasks below while keeping shared products selected| Task edge | PicWish | Kraken.io | Switch / compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background removal | 83/100 2048 × 2048 · PNG | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
| Image compression | 73/100 JPEG · Output attached | 47/100 Blocked for files >1 MB ('File size too large. Upgrade to PRO and get 32MB max file size.') · Historical description; output not attached | Active task |
| Image upscaling | 82/100 1280×1280 (2.5x free unwatermarked) / 2048×2048 (4.0x preview carries bottom notice watermark) · Historical description; output not attached | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
| Object removal | 84/100 2048 × 2048 · PNG | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
| Image generation | 85/100 JPEG · Output attached | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
| Photo restoration | 56/100 JPEG · Output attached | Not tested in topic | Compare in task topic → |
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Browse this task →| Criterion | PicWish Image Compressor Image compression 73/100 Seven-aspect task score Signed-in free accounts can download full-resolution compressed images with fast processing and substantial size reduction, but guest downloads hit a login modal and PNG inputs are converted to JPEG. Tested export JPEG · Output attached Historical test · 2026-10-19 | Kraken.io Web Interface Image compression 47/100 Seven-aspect task score The interface avoids ad interruptions, but free files are capped at 1MB and many features need Pro; this fixture was rejected, so compression quality was not tested. Tested export Blocked for files >1 MB ('File size too large. Upgrade to PRO and get 32MB max file size.') · Historical description; output not attached Historical test · 2026-10-18 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & rules | ||
| Pricing plans | Web free, weekly/monthly/annual subscriptions and expanded packs; excludes API · 2026-10-20 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Pro2026-10-20 ↗ USD 5.99/week Other period Other period 50 credits/week; 50 core-feature HD downloads/day Rules [1] Pro2026-10-20 ↗ USD 9.99/month USD 59.99/year Monthly 350 credits/month; 50 core-feature HD downloads/day Rules [1] Annual 350 credits/month; 50 core-feature HD downloads/day Rules [1] Max2026-10-20 ↗ USD 26.99/month USD 263.99/year Monthly 2,000 credits/month; 15,000 HD downloads/month Rules [1] Annual 2,000 credits/month; 15,000 HD downloads/month Rules [1] 300 credits2026-10-20 ↗ USD 12.99 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 300 credits; 1 per removal; not for API Rules [2] 1,000 credits2026-10-20 ↗ USD 33.99 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 1,000 credits; 1 per removal; not for API Rules [2] 5,000 credits2026-10-20 ↗ USD 65.99 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 5,000 credits; 1 per removal; not for API Rules [2] 11,500 credits2026-10-20 ↗ USD 99.95 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 11,500 credits; 1 per removal; not for API Rules [2] 30,000 credits2026-10-20 ↗ USD 269.99 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 30,000 credits; 1 per removal; not for API Rules [2] 80,000 credits2026-10-20 ↗ USD 639.99 · one-time payment Usage / one-time Usage / one-time 80,000 credits; 1 per removal; not for API Rules [2] 13 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. Actual annual charges $59.99/$263.99. A 3-day trial is offered; cancel before expiry to avoid charges. Exact daily free count is unspecified. The 11,500-credit pack includes a current 1,500-credit bonus. Cancellation, sources & verification recordCancel under My Orders; request refunds through official support, eligibility not separately verified. Official plans and usage terms ↗ · 2026-10-20 Capture 1 ↗ · Capture 2 ↗ · Capture 3 ↗ · Capture 4 ↗ | Kraken.io API and Web Interface PRO plans (Free / Micro / Basic / Advanced / Premium / Enterprise); USD · 2026-10-21 Plan · source date Monthly / one-time Annual bill / period Quota & limits Free Account2026-10-21 ↗ Free Free Free 100 MB free testing quota without credit card; Free Web Interface restricts single files to ≤1 MB. Micro Monthly2026-10-21 ↗ USD 5/month — Monthly 500 MB of images/month (USD 5 per additional GB); includes Web Interface PRO (up to 32 MB/file) and full API access. Micro Yearly2026-10-21 ↗ — USD 50/year Annual USD 50/year (2 months free); 500 MB of images/month (USD 5 per additional GB), including Web Interface PRO and API. Basic Monthly2026-10-21 ↗ USD 9/month — Monthly 2 GB of images/month (USD 4 per additional GB); includes Web Interface PRO and full API access. Basic Yearly2026-10-21 ↗ — USD 90/year Annual USD 90/year (2 months free); 2 GB of images/month (USD 4 per additional GB). Advanced Monthly2026-10-21 ↗ USD 19/month — Monthly 5 GB of images/month (USD 3 per additional GB); includes Web Interface PRO and full API access. Advanced Yearly2026-10-21 ↗ — USD 190/year Annual USD 190/year (2 months free); 5 GB of images/month (USD 3 per additional GB). Premium Monthly2026-10-21 ↗ USD 39/month — Monthly 15 GB of images/month (USD 2 per additional GB); includes Web Interface PRO and full API access. Premium Yearly2026-10-21 ↗ — USD 390/year Annual USD 390/year (2 months free); 15 GB of images/month (USD 2 per additional GB). Enterprise Monthly2026-10-21 ↗ USD 79/month — Monthly 60 GB of images/month (USD 1 per additional GB); includes Web Interface PRO and full API access. Enterprise Yearly2026-10-21 ↗ — USD 790/year Annual USD 790/year (2 months free); 60 GB of images/month (USD 1 per additional GB). 11 plan / billing-period records, all listed; — means that period is not recorded. The official pricing page lists the Free Account (100 MB testing quota; Free Web Interface capped at 1 MB/file) and five monthly/yearly tiers (yearly includes 2 months free at USD 50 / 90 / 190 / 390 / 790 per year). All paid plans include Web Interface PRO (up to 32 MB/file), API access, WordPress plugin, and Magento extension. Cancellation, sources & verification recordNo long-term contract; upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime under Account Settings. VAT applies to non-business EU customers. Kraken.io official monthly/yearly pricing and FAQ ↗ · 2026-10-21 Capture 1 ↗ · Capture 2 ↗ |
| Free & trial allowance on the test date | Compressed canonical 4,237,170-byte PNG to 1,447,201 bytes; downloaded 2048×2048 JPEG (-65.85%) after free Google sign-in. | Free Web Interface strictly capped at ≤1 MB per file; paid PRO unlocks 32 MB per file |
| Cancellation & refunds | Cancel under My Orders; request refunds through official support, eligibility not separately verified. | No long-term contract; upgrade, downgrade, or cancel anytime under Account Settings. VAT applies to non-business EU customers. |
| Disclosure of costs & limits | Not verified | Small gray footer note below dropzone ('Free Web Interface has a file size limit of 1MB') + inline error row on upload |
| Task quality | ||
| Measured fixture results | File reduction: 65.85% · Output size: 1413.3 KB | File reduction: 0% · Output size: 4137.9 KB |
| Fixture findings | Retained 2000x2000 dimensions with ~91% file size reduction; the PNG input was converted to lossy JPEG. | The roughly 4MB fixture exceeded the recorded 1MB free limit; free compression could not complete. |
| Original historical observation | Compressed canonical PNG to 1,447,201-byte 2048×2048 JPEG (-65.85%, PSNR=47.03 dB, SSIM=0.9997) after free Google sign-in. | Kraken.io's free Web Interface remains stuck in a decade-old '1 MB max file size' quota (01_landing.png): when fed our 4,137.9 KB (2048×2048) benchmark PNG, the queue immediately rejects it with 'File size too large. Upgrade to PRO and get 32MB max file size.' (02_workspace.png, 03_download.png). |
| Suitable uses · historical assessment | Not verified | Only usable for tiny web icons/thumbnails already under 1 MB, or enterprise developers with a paid Kraken.io PRO API subscription |
| Result & output evidence | No native output obtained; the preview does not establish final export quality. | |
| Delivery capabilities | ||
| Recorded export specifications | JPEG · Output attached · Check watermark record | Blocked for files >1 MB ('File size too large. Upgrade to PRO and get 32MB max file size.') · Historical description; output not attached · Check watermark record No native output is attached; check the evidence for specification and watermark claims. |
| Historical specification note · not an official maximum | Not verified | Free tier capped strictly at 1 MB per file (rejects our 4.24 MB benchmark PNG; requires PRO for 32 MB) |
| Watermark observation | Not verified | Watermark-free (only for tiny ≤1 MB files) |
| Batch & API | Not verified | Supports multi-file and ZIP upload (all subject to the 1 MB/file free cap); full REST API on PRO |
| Recorded free-tier dimensions | 2048 × 2048 | Not verified |
| Attached file dimensions | Not verified | Not verified |
| Speed & reliability | ||
| Timing observation | Network-observed server wait: 1.43s · End-to-end reference: 3.54s | Network-observed server wait: 0.2s · End-to-end reference: 0.2s |
| Date & fixture | 2026-10-19 · anchor_compress_v1 · US-West (California, AS2914) | 2026-10-18 · anchor_compress_v1 · US-West (California, AS2914) |
| Repeated tests & reliability | No standardized repetition count, success rate or variability range is recorded. | No standardized repetition count, success rate or variability range is recorded. |
| Interaction experience | ||
| Account requirements | Not verified | Account required in this test |
| Sign-in methods | Google or email login required when clicking Download Image | No login required for ≤1 MB; lifting the 1 MB cap requires a paid Kraken.io PRO subscription |
| Manual adjustment | Not verified | Not verified |
| Interaction observations | Uses a post-processing login wall at the download step and devotes half the result panel to promoting the desktop app. | No fake download ads, but steps 1, 3, and 4 (URL Paster, Image Resizing, Image Conversion) are locked behind 'available in Kraken.io PRO' and any file over 1 MB fails with a PRO upgrade prompt (03_download.png). |
| Background & reputation | ||
| Service lifecycle notice | Not verified | Not verified |
| Operator | AI Image Tool Matrix (Wangxu Tech / Apowersoft) | Nekkra UG (Kraken.io) |
| Recorded origin | Not verified | Germany |
| Domain history record | Not verified | 2013–Present (13-year image optimization service) |
| Background & reputation assessment | Operated by Wangxu Technology (HK) Co., Limited (Apowersoft). | Operated by Germany-based Nekkra UG (founded in 2013), well-known in legacy WordPress/Magento optimization workflows. |
| External reputation record | Not verified | Not verified |
| Engineering & privacy | ||
| Processing location | Uploaded for cloud processing | Uploaded for cloud processing |
| Third-party tracking record | Not verified | Not verified |
| Engineering & privacy assessment | HTTPS upload to Alibaba Cloud OSS plus gw.aoscdn.com async task queue; requires account login to retrieve the compressed file. | Clearly states that optimized files remain available for 12 hours before automatic deletion. |
| Retention statement | Explicit retention period unconfirmed; inspect policy record | Claims deletion within 12 hours; deletion not independently verified |
| Evaluation basis | ||
| Pricing transparency | 15 / 35 Landing page headlines "Free Online Image Compressor — Compress images with one click" and lets guests upload and preview the compression ratio (4.04MB to 1.38MB), but clicking Download Image opens a login gate; after free Google sign-in, the 2048×2048 image downloads without payment, while batch mode and custom settings require the desktop app. | 21 / 35 Discloses 'Free Web Interface has a file size limit of 1MB' in small gray footer text below the dropzone (01_landing.png); however, capping a 'Free Online Image Optimizer and Compressor' at 1 MB blocks almost every real-world high-res PNG/JPG that actually needs compression, immediately prompting 'File size too large. Upgrade to PRO and get 32MB max file size.' (02_workspace.png, 03_download.png). |
| Interaction restraint | 12 / 30 Uses a post-processing login wall at the download step and devotes half the result panel to promoting the desktop app. | 21 / 30 No fake download ads, but steps 1, 3, and 4 (URL Paster, Image Resizing, Image Conversion) are locked behind 'available in Kraken.io PRO' and any file over 1 MB fails with a PRO upgrade prompt (03_download.png). |
| Background & reputation | 16 / 20 Operated by Germany-based Nekkra UG (founded in 2013), well-known in legacy WordPress/Magento optimization workflows. | |
| Engineering & privacy | 10 / 15 HTTPS upload to Alibaba Cloud OSS plus gw.aoscdn.com async task queue; requires account login to retrieve the compressed file. | 10 / 15 Clearly states that optimized files remain available for 12 hours before automatic deletion. |
| Task quality | 53 / 65 Compressed the 4,237,170-byte (4,137.9 KB) canonical PNG to a 1,447,201-byte (1,413.3 KB) 2048×2048 JPEG (-65.85%, 2.93x ratio) with PSNR=47.03 dB and SSIM=0.9997 on opaque RGB content, though converting the container format from PNG to JPEG. | 20 / 65 Rejects our 4,137.9 KB (4.24 MB) standard 2048×2048 PNG benchmark anchor due to its strict 1 MB free file size cap (20.0/65) |
| Deliverable specifications | 14 / 20 Signed-in free account downloads a full 2048×2048 watermark-free file, but guest download is blocked by a login modal and PNG is transcoded to JPEG. | 7.7 / 20 Free tier is restricted to files ≤1 MB, preventing free export of standard high-resolution PNG/JPG images (7.7/20) |
| Processing speed | 14.5 / 15 2026-10-21 single-sample network timing: OSS PUT upload 1.80s, async compression task (r40 to r43) server wait 1.43s, end-to-end 3.54s. | 10 / 15 Client-side size check rejects >1 MB files in 0.2s with a PRO upgrade notice (10.0/15) |
