Compress Image Online — Free, No Upload
Make an image file smaller without a visible drop in quality.
Drop a file here
or click to choose a file
Runs on your device Your file is processed by your own browser and is never uploaded to a server.
Short answer
An image can be compressed for free in a web browser without uploading it. The file is decoded and re-encoded at a lower quality setting, which typically removes 50–80% of the size of a photograph with no visible difference. Converting to WebP or reducing the pixel width shrinks it considerably further, and because the work happens locally the image never leaves the device.
At a glance
| Accepts | JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP |
|---|---|
| Produces | WebP for a PNG, otherwise unchanged — or JPG / WebP |
| Processing | In your browser |
| Price | Free, no limits |
| Account | Not required |
Two things determine an image's file size: how many pixels it contains and how aggressively those pixels are encoded. Quality is the obvious lever, but resolution is usually the bigger one — a 4000-pixel-wide photo displayed in a 800-pixel column is carrying twenty-five times more data than the page can show.
Format matters too. JPEG and WebP are lossy and respond well to a quality setting; PNG is lossless, so re-encoding a PNG at "lower quality" does nothing at all — and can even produce a larger file than the one you started with. That is why the Automatic setting sends a PNG to WebP, which keeps transparency and is typically a quarter of the size, while leaving a JPEG as a JPEG.
How to use it
- 1
Add your image
Drop a JPG, PNG or WebP onto the box, or click it to browse. The file stays on your device.
- 2
Pick a quality level
Balanced is invisible on most photographs. High keeps more detail in fine texture and text.
- 3
Choose a format and width
Automatic is right for almost everything. Capping the width shrinks the file further.
- 4
Download the result
Save the compressed image. The original file is untouched.
Frequently asked questions
How much smaller will my image be?
For a photograph at the Balanced setting, usually 50–80% smaller with no difference visible at normal viewing size. Capping the width as well often takes a phone photo from several megabytes to under two hundred kilobytes.
Why does my PNG come out as a WebP?
Because a PNG cannot be compressed by lowering quality — it is lossless, so re-encoding one stores the same pixels again and often produces a larger file than the original. The Automatic setting therefore converts a PNG to WebP, which is lossy, keeps transparency, and is usually a small fraction of the size. Choose JPEG explicitly if you need maximum compatibility and have no transparency to preserve.
Does compressing an image lose quality?
For JPEG and WebP output, yes — both are lossy. At Balanced the loss is invisible in photographs. Screenshots, line art and images containing text show artefacts sooner, so use High for those.
Is my image uploaded to a server?
No. The image is decoded and re-encoded inside your browser. No copy is transmitted, stored or seen by anyone else.
Is the EXIF data kept?
No. Re-encoding drops all metadata, including GPS coordinates, camera model and timestamps — which is usually what you want before publishing a photo.