diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index edec6c4..b15691b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ pixelvault export -o my-images.tar
 
 The CLI is designed for AI coding agents. Output contract:
 
-- `upload` prints **only the URL** to stdout
+- `upload` prints **only the URL** to stdout (add `--optimized` for the smaller WebP/AVIF variant; it falls back to the original URL for SVG, GIF and private uploads)
 - `list` outputs one URL per line
 - `delete` outputs nothing on success
 - All human messages go to **stderr**
diff --git a/src/commands/upload.ts b/src/commands/upload.ts
index b0e0b4e..0985321 100644
--- a/src/commands/upload.ts
+++ b/src/commands/upload.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ interface UploadResponse {
   data: {
     id: string;
     url: string;
+    optimized_url?: string;
     visibility?: "public" | "private";
     mime_type: string;
     size: number;
@@ -46,6 +47,12 @@ export default defineCommand({
       description:
         "Lifetime of a --private signed link: e.g. 30m, 12h, 7d (default 7d; min 60s, max 30d)",
     },
+    optimized: {
+      type: "boolean",
+      description:
+        "Print the optimized URL (WebP/AVIF, usually much smaller) instead of the original; falls back to the original URL when none is returned (SVG, GIF, private)",
+      default: false,
+    },
     json: {
       type: "boolean",
       description: "Output full JSON response",
@@ -120,7 +127,7 @@ export default defineCommand({
         if (args.json) {
           results.push(res.data);
         } else {
-          stdout(res.data.url);
+          stdout(args.optimized ? (res.data.optimized_url ?? res.data.url) : res.data.url);
         }
       } catch (err) {
         hadError = true;
diff --git a/tests/commands/upload.test.ts b/tests/commands/upload.test.ts
index 97e12a5..bef5197 100644
--- a/tests/commands/upload.test.ts
+++ b/tests/commands/upload.test.ts
@@ -128,4 +128,40 @@ describe("upload command", () => {
     expect(printed).toEqual(["https://img.test/a.jpg", "https://img.test/c.jpg"]);
     expect(exitCodes).toEqual([1]);
   });
+
+  it("--optimized prints optimized_url, falling back to url when absent", async () => {
+    const names = ["a.png", "b.svg"];
+    const paths = names.map((name) => {
+      const p = join(testDir, name);
+      writeFileSync(p, Buffer.from(name));
+      return p;
+    });
+    globalThis.fetch = vi.fn().mockImplementation(async (_url, init) => {
+      const file = (init.body as FormData).get("file") as File;
+      const base = `https://img.test/${file.name}`;
+      return {
+        ok: true,
+        json: () =>
+          Promise.resolve({
+            data: {
+              id: file.name,
+              url: base,
+              ...(file.name.endsWith(".png") ? { optimized_url: `${base}?fmt=auto&q=85` } : {}),
+            },
+          }),
+      };
+    });
+    const out = vi.spyOn(process.stdout, "write").mockImplementation(() => true);
+
+    const { runCommand } = await import("citty");
+    const { default: upload } = await import("../../src/commands/upload.js");
+    await runCommand(upload, { rawArgs: [...paths, "--optimized"] });
+    const printed = out.mock.calls.map((c) => String(c[0]).trim());
+    out.mockRestore();
+
+    expect(printed).toEqual([
+      "https://img.test/a.png?fmt=auto&q=85",
+      "https://img.test/b.svg",
+    ]);
+  });
 });