Curtail
Curtail is a free Linux app for compressing PNG, JPEG, WebP, and SVG images.
What Curtail is
Curtail is a free Linux app for compressing PNG, JPEG, WebP, and SVG images. It supports both compression modes and lets users choose whether to retain image metadata. Recursive directory compression supports batch work across directory contents. If compression would make a file larger, Curtail restores the original instead. The app also includes actions to open a compressed image or show it in its folder. It is released under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later. The project recommends installing its Flatpak package from Flathub, and also lists unofficial Snap, Ubuntu PPA, and Fedora COPR packages. Flathub marks the app as potentially unsafe and lists read/write access to the home folder, a permission worth considering before installation. The GNOME app page lists version 1.17.0, released on 2026-10-05, and links to an issue tracker for feedback and reports.
Good
- Compresses PNG, JPEG, WebP, and SVG.
- Supports recursive directory compression.
- Can preserve image metadata.
- Restores originals when compression increases file size.
- Free and GPL-licensed.
Watch out
- Available for Linux only.
- Flathub lists home-folder read/write access.
- Flathub flags the app as potentially unsafe.
Who it suits
Curtail suits Linux users who want to compress supported image files, including in recursive directory workflows. It may be useful for people who want to control metadata retention or choose from several listed Linux package options.
Verdict
Curtail covers common image formats and includes safeguards for files that grow during compression. Before installing the Flatpak, consider its listed home-folder access and safety flag.
Plans and prices
From Curtail's own pricing page, checked 12 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Curtail | Free | Image compression; PNG · JPEG · WebP · SVG |
The facts
Each one read from Curtail's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Batch processing
- The changelog lists recursive directory compression as a feature.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Compression modes
- It supports both lossless and lossy compression.checked 12 Oct 2026
- File handling
- The changelog lists actions to open a compressed image and show it in its folder.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Latest release
- The GNOME app page lists version 1.17.0, released on 2026-10-05.checked 12 Oct 2026
- License
- Curtail is released under the GNU General Public License version 3 or later.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The GNOME app page names Hugo Posnic as maintainer and lists Toulouse, France.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Metadata
- Users can choose whether to keep image metadata.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Metadata controls
- Yeschecked 23 Sep 2026
- Open source
- The project is released under GNU General Public License version 3 or later.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Processing components
- The project lists Oxipng, pngquant, Jpegoptim, libwebp, and Scour among the open source projects Curtail uses.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Curtail is an image compressor for optimizing images.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Safety behavior
- The changelog says Curtail restores original files when compression produces larger files.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Sandbox access
- Flathub flags the app as potentially unsafe and lists read/write access to the home folder.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security and permissions
- Flathub marks the app as potentially unsafe and lists home folder read/write access.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Support and feedback
- The GNOME app page directs users to the app issue tracker to give feedback or report issues.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Supported formats
- It supports PNG, JPEG, WebP, and SVG files.checked 12 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 23 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Linux distribution
- The project README describes Flatpak as its recommended universal Linux package and also lists unofficial Snap, Ubuntu PPA and Fedora COPR packages.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Linux installation
- The project recommends installing the Flatpak package from Flathub.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Other Linux packages
- The project also lists unofficial Snap, Ubuntu PPA, and Fedora COPR packages.checked 12 Oct 2026
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