How to Compress Images Without Losing Quality

A photo straight from a phone is often 3 to 8 MB. That is far more than a web page, an email or a form upload needs. Compressing the image can cut its size by 70% or more, and when it is done well, you will not see the difference.

Lossy and lossless compression

Lossless compression (used by PNG) makes a file smaller without throwing any detail away. Lossy compression (used by JPG and WebP) discards detail your eyes are unlikely to notice. Lossy files are much smaller, which is why photos are almost always saved as JPG or WebP.

Pick the right format

• JPG is the safe choice for photographs. It works everywhere.
• WebP is usually 25% to 35% smaller than JPG at the same look. Almost all current browsers show it.
• PNG is best for screenshots, logos and anything with sharp edges or transparency. It does not shrink with a quality slider.

Choose a quality setting

Most photos look the same at 70% to 80% quality as at 100%, and the file is a fraction of the size. Start at 75%, check the preview, and only go lower if the picture still looks clean. If you see blocky patches or fuzzy edges around text, raise the quality a little.

Keep your photos private

Many online compressors upload your pictures to a server. Our image compressor works inside your browser, so the image never leaves your device. That matters for ID scans, receipts and family photos.