Compress an Image for Smaller, Sharper Files
What actually makes an image file smaller?
Reduce an image’s file size by choosing the output format, compression level and quality. You can also reduce its dimensions and remove metadata. JPG and lossy WebP trade some detail for smaller files; PNG behaves differently and may not shrink as much. Compare the downloaded result at its intended display size instead of relying on a fixed percentage saving.
Cost: Free to use. File size and usage limits apply.
How to compress an image
Upload one image
Drop an image of up to 200 MB on the preview or click Upload an image to compress. All supported formats are listed under Formats and limits. Files lists images you already used in other tools on this site, including their results.
Pick the output format
Under Output, Original keeps the current format. Switch to JPG, PNG or WebP when a different format compresses your image better; the format guide further down explains which one fits.
Check Quality and Resize
Quality starts at 90% and Resize at 75%, so by default the image also gets smaller in pixels. Move Resize to 100% if the dimensions must stay the same.
Decide on metadata
Strip metadata is on, which removes camera data and GPS location. Turn it off only if you need that information in the file.
Compress, compare, download
Click Compress Image!. The size on the preview badge is only a rough estimate; the real size appears under the preview when the job is done. Drag the compare slider to check detail against the original, then click Download. Every run starts again from your original upload, so you can change settings and run again without stacking losses.
What each setting changes
- Output: Original, JPG, PNG or WebP
- Original re-saves the image in its own format. HEIC and HEIF are saved as PNG, which can be larger depending on the source image. JPG has no transparency: transparent areas are filled with white. To save as AVIF, GIF or another format that is not offered here, use Convert Image.
- Quality (1–100%, default 90%)
- For JPG and still WebP this is the encoder quality: lower values can reduce file size and make artifacts more visible. Try 75–85% and inspect the result at its intended viewing size. PNG adds only lossless compression; Resize still recalculates the pixels unless it is at 100%. For animated WebP output the slider sets encoder effort, because those frames are stored losslessly. For a GIF that stays a GIF, Compression level takes over; BMP, TIFF, TGA and ICO kept as Original are saved losslessly, with Resize controlling their pixel dimensions.
- Resize (10–100%, default 75%)
- Scales width and height by the same percentage. At the default 75%, a 4,032 × 3,024 px photo becomes 3,024 × 2,268 px, about 56% of the original pixel count. At 50% only a quarter of the pixels remain. Fewer pixels is often the biggest single saving, but the removed detail cannot be restored later. For exact pixel dimensions instead of a percentage, use Resize Image first.
- Compression level (Low, Medium, High, Extreme)
- Applies when a GIF stays a GIF. Low compression, Medium compression (default), High compression and Extreme compression limit the palette to 256, 128, 64 or 32 colors. For JPG, PNG and WebP output, Quality sets the result.
- Strip metadata (on by default)
- Removes EXIF data such as camera model, capture time and GPS position, plus other embedded profiles and comments, including an ICC color profile. Switch it off for wide-gamut photos whose colors rely on their embedded profile, or when you need the capture data in the file.
Which output format fits your image
Photos from phones and cameras
Compare JPG and WebP, starting with a Quality of about 75–85%. Check the actual file sizes, the detail in your photo and whether the destination software opens WebP. For iPhone HEIC photos, these choices avoid the PNG output produced by Original.
Screenshots, logos and graphics
PNG keeps transparency without adding lossy compression. Set Resize to 100% to keep the dimensions; reducing it recalculates letters and edges too. Still WebP also keeps transparency but is encoded lossily here, so inspect small text and fine lines.
Animated GIFs
Original keeps the animation and reduces colors according to Compression level. WebP keeps the animation with all colors, stored losslessly. JPG and PNG save only the first frame.
BMP, TIFF and TGA files
With Original, Resize reduces the pixel dimensions and Strip metadata can remove embedded profiles and comments. Compare the actual file size. Converting to PNG uses lossless compression; JPG and static WebP offer a different balance between detail and size.
Shrinking a GIF: colors versus dimensions
When a GIF stays a GIF, the tool rebuilds it with one shared color palette for the whole animation. Compression level sets the size of that palette. Fewer colors can reduce the file size, but gradients and skin tones start to band. An ordered dither pattern softens the banding, which can show as a fine cross-hatch texture at low color counts.
Resize changes the dimensions of each frame. At 50%, a 480 × 270 px animation becomes 240 × 135 px, leaving a quarter of the pixels per frame. The frame count stays the same, so duration and content still affect the file size. Compare the result: reducing the sides does not guarantee the same reduction in bytes.
If you need a specific number of colors rather than four fixed steps, Optimize GIF lets you set the color count directly.
Formats and limits
- Input formats
- JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, ICO, TIFF, TGA, AVIF, HEIC, HEIF
- Output formats
- Same as input (HEIC and HEIF become PNG), JPG, PNG or WebP
- Maximum file size
- 200 MB per image
- Files per job
- 1
- Resized dimensions
- When Resize is below 100%, the result can be at most 8,192 px wide and 8,192 px high; larger results are rejected. This does not apply to a GIF that stays a GIF.
- Processing
- On our servers with ImageMagick and FFmpeg. A job can run for up to 15 minutes.
- Watermark
- None
- Storage
- Uploads and results are deleted automatically after 48 hours for guests and after 30 days for free accounts. Paid plans can keep files longer.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the compressed image larger than my original?
The tool always writes a new file and does not fall back to your original when the result is bigger. Typical causes: a photo saved as lossless PNG, a HEIC photo kept as Original, which becomes PNG, a JPG or WebP that was saved at a lower quality than the 90% default while Resize is at 100%, or a GIF at Low compression with 256 colors. Lower Quality, keep Resize below 100% or switch to JPG or WebP.
Can I compress a GIF to 2 MB or another exact size?
There is no target-size field. Try High compression and Resize at 75%, then check the actual size shown under the result. If it still exceeds your limit, run again with smaller dimensions or fewer colors and compare the output. No setting guarantees an exact file size.
Why did my animated GIF turn into a still image?
You chose JPG or PNG, and these outputs save only the first frame. Keep Original to stay a GIF, or choose WebP, which keeps every frame. Animated WebP is stored losslessly, so it can be smaller or larger than the GIF, and some apps only accept GIF.
Will compressing make my image sharper or HD?
No. Compression and downscaling only remove information; the best result looks the same as the source at the size it is displayed. To enlarge a still photo with added detail, use AI Upscale and compress the upscaled file here afterwards.