What People Love About Squoosh
Before we get into where Start Page HQ goes further, credit where it's due.
- Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license, with no account or sign-up required.
- Built by the Google Chrome team — runs entirely in the browser using WebAssembly, so files never upload.
- Wide codec support including MozJPEG, OxiPNG, WebP, AVIF, and JPEG XL with detailed quality and effort sliders.
- A side-by-side compare slider that lets you eyeball quality versus file size before saving.
- A polished single-file UI that has set the standard for in-browser image tooling.
Where Start Page HQ Goes Further
Specific differences, not vague claims.
Lives on Every New Tab
Squoosh is a separate site you have to open. Start Page HQ ships an Image Compression widget that's already there every time you open a new tab — drag, drop, download, move on.
Sits Alongside 50+ Other Widgets
Squoosh is a single-purpose tool. Start Page HQ pairs the Image Compression widget with JSON Formatter, Regex Tester, Text Diff, QR Codes, and 45+ more — all on the same dashboard.
One Plan, All Your Tools
Squoosh is free, but you'll still tab over to JSONLint, Regex101, Diffchecker, and QR Code Monkey for everything else. Start Page HQ rolls all those use cases into one plan.
Custom Pages for Your Dev Workflow
Build a "Dev Tools" page with image compression, JSON, regex, and diff in a single grid. Build a separate "Personal" page with notes, todos, and weather. Switch between them with a click.
Native Browser Extensions
Install on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge to make Start Page HQ — and the Image Compression widget — open with every new tab. Or use the hosted web app at startpagehq.com on any browser.
Cross-Device Sync Built In
Dashboard layout syncs across every browser and device automatically. Sign in once and your dev-tools page travels with you.
Side-by-Side Comparison
An honest line-by-line look at how the two stack up.
| Feature | Squoosh | Start Page HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free, open source | $25/yr or $49 lifetime |
| Free tier | Yes, full product | Free demo only |
| Open source | Apache 2.0 | No |
| PNG compression | Yes | Yes |
| JPG compression | Yes | Yes |
| WebP / AVIF / JPEG XL | Yes | No |
| SVG compression | No | Yes |
| Codec quality / effort sliders | Detailed | Basic |
| Side-by-side compare slider | Yes | No |
| Runs locally (no upload) | Yes | Yes |
| Lives on every new tab | No | Yes |
| Chrome | Web only | Yes |
| Firefox | Web only | Yes |
| Safari | Web only | Yes |
| Edge | Web only | Yes |
| Browser extensions | No | Yes |
| Cross-device sync | No | Included |
| Other dev tools (JSON, regex, diff, QR) | No | Yes |
| Notes, todos, RSS, weather | No | Yes |
Widgets That Replace Squoosh
Drop these onto your dashboard and you've covered Squoosh's core features — plus a lot more.
Frequently Asked Questions
If image compression is the only tool you reach for, Squoosh is excellent — keep using it. Start Page HQ pays off when you also reach for JSON formatting, regex testing, diff, QR codes, notes, todos, RSS, and 40-plus other widgets in a normal week. One plan, one dashboard, one new-tab habit instead of a folder of bookmarks.
Squoosh ships fine-grained controls for MozJPEG, OxiPNG, WebP, AVIF, and JPEG XL — that's its specialty. Start Page HQ's Image Compression widget handles PNG, JPG, and SVG with simple quality controls. For squeezing the absolute last byte with WebP or AVIF, keep Squoosh in the toolbox; for everyday compression, the widget covers it.
No. The Image Compression widget runs entirely in your browser — same in-browser-only privacy model as Squoosh. Files never upload anywhere.
There is a free public demo at startpagehq.com/demo where you can try the Image Compression and every other widget without signing up. Full access requires a paid plan: $25/year or $49 one-time. Both plans include all 50+ widgets, cross-device sync, and AI credits.
Yes. Start Page HQ has native extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, plus a hosted web app at startpagehq.com that works in any modern browser — the same as Squoosh itself.
Of course. The widget handles 90% of compression jobs from the new tab; Squoosh remains a great deep-dive when you need to compare AVIF vs JPEG XL with the slider. Many users keep both.