Compress Images Online Free
Compress images online free — reduce JPG, PNG, and WebP file size with quality and resize controls. See the size difference before you download. No files leave your device.
Click or drag images here
PNG, JPG, WebP, BMP · Multiple files supportedHow to Compress Images Online
- 1Click the upload area or drag your JPG, PNG, or WebP image onto it. The image loads instantly in your browser — no data is sent to any server.
- 2Use the Quality slider (1–100) to balance file size and visual quality. Watch the Before/After sizes update in real time as you adjust. Quality 75–85 is the sweet spot for most photographs.
- 3Optionally enable Max Width to downscale large images. Set a pixel width and the tool proportionally resizes the image before compressing — this is the most effective way to reduce very large files.
- 4Click Download to save the compressed file. The output filename matches the original. Compare the before and after sizes shown — if the saving is under 10%, consider lowering quality or setting a max width.
Why Compress Images in the Browser?
Most image compression services upload your photos to a cloud server, which means your images pass through a third party's infrastructure. This tool uses the browser's Canvas API to draw and re-encode the image locally — your original file and the compressed result never leave your device. This approach is not only private, it is also fast: there is no upload or download wait time.
Image compression is essential for web performance. A 4 MB photo taken on a smartphone can add several seconds of load time to a web page. Reducing it to 200 KB while preserving visible quality can cut that load time by 80–90%. Google uses Core Web Vitals — which include image load performance — as a ranking signal, so compression directly affects SEO as well as user experience.
Quality Settings by Use Case
| Use Case | Recommended Quality | Typical Size Reduction |
|---|---|---|
| Blog / article photos | 75–85 | 60–80% |
| E-commerce product images | 80–90 | 40–65% |
| Social media uploads | 70–80 | 65–80% |
| Email attachments | 60–75 | 70–85% |
| Portfolio thumbnails | 70–80 | 65–80% |
| Website hero images | 75–85 | 55–75% |
Tips for Best Compression Results
Start at Quality 80
This is the sweet spot for most photos. The human eye typically cannot tell the difference between Quality 80 and 100, but file size can be 50–70% smaller. Adjust down only if you need further reduction.
Use Max Width for Large Photos
Smartphone cameras produce images 3000–6000 pixels wide. For web use, 1200–1600 px is plenty. Combine a width reduction with quality compression for the biggest file size savings.
PNG vs JPEG
PNGs with many colours (like photographs) often compress better as JPEG. Keep PNG format for images with flat colours, text overlays, or transparency — that is what the format is designed for.
Compress from the Original
Never compress an already-compressed JPEG — each round adds artefacts. Keep the original uncompressed file and always compress fresh from that source copy.
Check the Size Difference
The tool shows before and after file sizes. If the reduction is less than 10%, lower the quality slider further or enable Max Width. A good target is at least 40% reduction for photos.
Use WebP for Web Pages
WebP files are typically 25–35% smaller than equivalent JPEG files at the same quality. Use the Image Converter to convert JPEG to WebP for modern browsers and maximum compression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What image formats does the compressor support?
The tool supports JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg), PNG (.png), and WebP (.webp) formats. HEIC (iPhone Live Photos) and TIFF files are not supported directly — convert them to JPEG or PNG first using the Image Converter tool.
Will compressing a JPEG multiple times degrade quality?
Yes. Each JPEG compression cycle re-encodes the image and introduces new artefacts, especially at low quality settings. For best results, keep the original uncompressed version and always compress from the original — never compress an already-compressed JPEG. PNG files do not suffer this issue because PNG is lossless.
Is my photo sent to any server?
No. The compression runs entirely using the HTML5 Canvas API in your browser. Your image is decoded into a canvas element, re-encoded at the chosen quality level, and made available as a local download. No network request is made with your image data.
Why is my PNG larger after compression?
PNG compression works differently from JPEG. Setting a low quality value forces the output to JPEG format, which can look worse on images with transparency or flat graphics. For PNG files with logos, screenshots, or text, keep quality at 85–95, or use PNG specifically when transparency matters. Converting to WebP using the Image Converter may give better results.
What does the Max Width option do?
Max Width proportionally scales the image down to the specified pixel width before compressing. A 4000×3000 px photo with Max Width set to 1200 becomes 1200×900 px before quality compression is applied. This is the most effective way to reduce file size for very large images.
Does compression affect the image's EXIF data?
The Canvas API re-encodes the image without preserving EXIF metadata (camera settings, GPS coordinates, creation date). If you need to retain EXIF data — for example, for photography archives or legal documentation — use a dedicated tool that explicitly preserves metadata.
What is a good target file size for web images?
For web pages: hero images 100–250 KB, body images 30–100 KB, thumbnails under 20 KB. For email attachments: under 500 KB per image to avoid spam filters. For social media: platforms recompress your uploads anyway — 500 KB–1 MB is fine to upload.
Can I compress images on a phone?
Yes. The tool works in mobile browsers including Chrome for Android and Safari on iOS. Tap the upload area to open your photo library or camera roll. Very large images (20 MB+) may take a few seconds to process on older devices due to limited memory.