An iLoveIMG alternative for Mac that never uploads your photos
By Himanshu Ranjan · Updated 8 November 2026
For a Mac user, FileDial is the closest iLoveIMG replacement: it has a matching tool for 12 of iLoveIMG's 13 image tools, runs them on whole batches, and never uploads a file. It costs $20 once after a 1-day trial. If you only resize or convert now and then, Preview on your Mac is free and does it well.
Why people look for an iLoveIMG alternative
- Every file is uploaded. iLoveIMG says processed files are deleted within two hours, which is a reasonable policy, but the photo still leaves your Mac, and some people cannot send client, medical or ID photos to a third party at all.
- The free plan is metered per tool. Its pricing page lists 30 free tasks for compress, resize and convert, 10 for blur face, 3 for remove background and 1 each for crop, the photo editor and upscale, and batch processing is not included in Basic.
- File size caps on the free plan are tight for some tools: 6 MB for upscale and remove background, 50 MB for the photo editor.
- It needs a connection and a browser tab. A folder of 200 photos means waiting on an upload, then a download, then unzipping.
- Premium is a subscription. If image jobs are occasional, a one-time purchase or a free built-in tool may cost less over a few years.
About iLoveIMG: A set of free browser-based image tools (compress, resize, crop, convert, upscale, remove background, watermark, blur face and more) from the team behind iLovePDF. Platforms: Web browser on any OS; its pricing page lists mobile access (through the iLovePDF apps) for Premium and Business only. Price: Basic: free with per-tool limits. Premium: billed monthly or yearly, shown in local currency (2,900 INR a year or 500 INR a month when we checked from India). Business: custom quote.. Where files are processed: Uploaded to iLoveIMG's servers for processing; its security page says processed files are automatically and permanently deleted within two hours.
Every iLoveIMG tool, and its FileDial equivalent
| iLoveIMG | FileDial (offline) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compress IMAGE | Compress › Compress | Smaller copy that looks the same, saved beside the original |
| Resize IMAGE | Resize › Resize… | Pick your own size; presets like Resize to 1080 px also exist |
| Crop IMAGE | Resize › Crop… | Box measured from the top left; a shape trims it further |
| Convert to JPG | Convert › Convert to JPG | New copy beside the original |
| Convert from JPG | Convert › Convert to PNG | Also Convert to WebP, AVIF, HEIC, GIF and TIFF |
| Photo editor | Markup › Edit photo… | Text, arrows, shapes and pen, saves a new copy |
| Upscale Image | Resize › Upscale 2× | Apple's on-device super resolution, tile by tile; 4× also available |
| Remove background | Adjust › Remove background | Transparent PNG beside the original |
| Watermark IMAGE | Markup › Add watermark text… | Markup › Add logo watermark… for an image logo |
| Meme generator | Markup › Meme caption… | New copy beside the original |
| Rotate IMAGE | Adjust › Rotate right | Rotate left and flips are separate tools |
| Blur face | Markup › Blur faces | New copy beside the original |
What FileDial does not replace:
- HTML to IMAGE: FileDial has no tool that turns a web page into an image.
- Works from any computer: iLoveIMG runs in a browser on Windows, Linux or a Chromebook. FileDial is Mac only and needs macOS 14 on Apple silicon.
- Cloud import: iLoveIMG can pull files from Google Drive or Dropbox. FileDial works on files in Finder.
Details about iLoveIMG come from its own website, checked 2026-11-09. FileDial tool names match the app exactly.
The best iLoveIMG alternatives for Mac
1. FileDial
FileDial is our app. Select photos in Finder, hold the right Option key, and pick a tool from the dial; the result is saved as a new file beside the original, with Undo. It has 169 photo tools, so beyond iLoveIMG's set you get size targets such as Compress › Compress under 1 MB, social presets like Resize › Instagram square (1080×1080) and privacy tools like Privacy › Remove location. A batch of 300 photos converted in 5 seconds on a MacBook.
- Matching tool for 12 of iLoveIMG's 13 tools
- Whole batches in one go, no per-task meter
- Runs with Wi-Fi off; files are never uploaded
- Not free after the 1-day trial
- Needs macOS 14 or later on an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or newer)
- Mac only, no web, Windows or phone version
2. Preview (built into macOS)
Preview already covers the core of iLoveIMG: File › Export converts to HEIC, JPEG, PNG, TIFF and more, and Tools › Adjust Size resizes. Apple's guide shows how to select several images in one window's sidebar and resize or convert them together.
- Free and already installed
- Handles several images at once from the sidebar
- Nothing is uploaded
- No background removal, face blur, upscaling or watermark tool
- No target file size presets
3. ImageOptim
If compression is the only iLoveIMG tool you use, ImageOptim is hard to beat on price. Drop files or folders on it; lossless by default, with an optional lossy mode, and it strips private EXIF data such as GPS position.
- Free and open source
- Lossless by default
- Removes private metadata
- Compression only, no resize, convert or editing
- No HEIC, WebP or AVIF support listed
4. Squoosh
Squoosh is a Google Chrome Labs web app, but its site says images never leave your device because the work happens in your browser. It is excellent for picking the right quality for one hero image; it is not built for folders.
- Free, runs in any modern browser
- Processes images locally
- Live before and after comparison
- One image at a time
- Uses Google Analytics, including before and after image sizes
What to look for in an iLoveIMG replacement
Most people who search for an iLoveIMG alternative want one of three things: no upload, no per-task limits, or the same tools in a desktop app. Check any replacement against the tools you actually use. If it is just compress and resize, the free options below cover you. If you lean on remove background, blur face, upscale and watermark, you need a fuller toolkit.
Also check what happens to the original. iLoveIMG gives you a download. FileDial saves the result as a new file beside the original and keeps an Undo, so a batch of 200 photos never overwrites anything by surprise.
How to do iLoveIMG's most common job in FileDial
Compressing a set of photos for a website or an upload form is iLoveIMG's most used tool. In FileDial it takes one gesture and works on the whole selection.
- Select the photos in Finder (Command-A for a whole folder).
- Hold the right Option key; the dial opens at the pointer.
- Move to Compress, then release on Compress for a smaller copy that looks the same, or on Compress under 500 KB if a form has a limit.
- Check the result card: it shows the size before and after. Undo removes the new files if you change your mind.
When the free options are enough
Be honest about how often you do this. If you convert a HEIC to JPG once a month, Preview is free, already installed and does it without uploading anything. If you compress images for a blog, ImageOptim is free and open source. Paying $20 makes sense when you do these jobs weekly, in batches, or need the tools Preview lacks, such as Adjust › Remove background, Markup › Blur faces or Resize › Upscale 2×, without sending files to a server.
Why keeping photos off the web matters
iLoveIMG's two-hour deletion policy is better than many sites. The wider risk is the habit of uploading. In March 2025 the FBI Denver Field Office warned that free online converter tools are increasingly used to spread malware and can scrape personal data. Photos carry more than pixels: location, camera serial and dates sit in the metadata. Our guide to removing location from photos explains what is inside a typical iPhone photo.
Questions
Is there an iLoveIMG app for Mac?
iLoveIMG's own help pages describe a web service; its pricing FAQ says Premium works across web, mobile and desktop, and mobile access goes through the iLovePDF apps. There is no standalone iLoveIMG Mac app listed on its site. If you want image tools that run in a Mac app without uploading, FileDial, Preview and ImageOptim all process files on your Mac.
Is there an offline version of iLoveIMG?
Not that iLoveIMG publishes. Its tools upload your files to its servers, and its security page says processed files are deleted within two hours. For offline work on a Mac, FileDial runs every tool with Wi-Fi off, Preview converts and resizes for free, and ImageOptim compresses for free.
How many images can I process free on iLoveIMG?
When we checked on 9 November 2026, its pricing page listed 30 free tasks each for compress, resize, convert, rotate and watermark, 10 for blur face, 3 for remove background and 1 each for crop, the photo editor, the meme generator and upscale. Batch processing is a Premium feature. Limits can change, so check the pricing page before relying on them.
Does FileDial do everything iLoveIMG does?
Almost. FileDial has a matching tool for 12 of iLoveIMG's 13 image tools, but no HTML to image converter, and it only runs on a Mac with macOS 14 or later and Apple silicon. In return it adds tools iLoveIMG does not list, such as removing GPS location, renaming photos by date taken and making contact sheets.
Is iLoveIMG safe to use?
iLoveIMG says it is GDPR compliant, uses encrypted connections and deletes processed files within two hours. That is a solid policy. The trade-off is that your file is still uploaded to a third party, which may not be allowed for client, patient or identity photos. Tools that run on your Mac avoid the question.