FreeImage Compressor
Compress an image
Reduce file size in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Drop an image here, or .
Free, no sign-up. Runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Image Compressor: how to use it
- Drop a JPG, PNG or WebP onto the box, or choose a file.
- Move the Quality slider. Lower numbers make a smaller file; around 70 to 80 is usually hard to tell apart from the original for photos.
- Compare the before and after sizes shown under the preview, then download.
Tips
- If a form asks for a file under a set size, such as 100 KB, open one of the size presets above the tool: it picks the quality for you.
- Compression works best on photos. For screenshots with sharp text, converting to PNG or WebP with the Image Converter often looks cleaner at the same size.
- If the file is still too big, the image probably has more pixels than it needs. Make it smaller first with the Image Resizer. Our guide to reducing file size explains the order that works best.
Image Compressor: what it does and when to use it
Compression here means re-encoding the picture as JPEG, WebP or PNG with a quality setting you choose. JPEG and WebP are lossy: they throw away fine detail the eye is least likely to miss, mostly in busy textures and subtle colour changes, which is why a photo can often lose most of its file size without looking different on a screen. PNG is lossless, so it never changes a pixel, but it barely shrinks a photograph.
When you set a target size such as 100 KB, the tool tries a series of quality settings and keeps the highest one that lands under the limit. If even the lowest sensible quality is too big, it reduces the pixel dimensions step by step instead, because at that point fewer pixels look better than heavier compression. Re-encoding through the browser also drops EXIF metadata such as camera details and GPS position, which is usually what you want before sharing.
Compressing the same JPEG again and again adds a little damage each time, so always start from the best copy you have. If a file is large because it is 6000 pixels wide and will be shown at 1200, resizing first with the Image Resizer saves far more than any quality setting. For exam and job application forms that set both a minimum and a maximum, such as a 20 to 50 KB photo, see our guide to form photos and signatures.
Image Compressor: frequently asked questions
Is the Image Compressor free, and do I need to sign up?
Yes, the Image Compressor is 100% free with no sign-up, no login and no account. The Image Compressor runs in your browser, so it has no daily limit and no upload, and saves at full size with no watermark. See why it is free.
Will compressing lose quality?
JPEG and WebP compression is lossy, so yes, some detail is discarded. Between roughly 75 and 85 percent quality the loss is invisible at normal viewing size while the file is often a quarter of the original. Below 60 percent you start to see blocking around edges and in flat areas like skies. PNG compression is lossless and will not change a single pixel, but it will not shrink a photograph much either.
How do I hit an exact file size?
Set a target and the tool searches for the quality setting that lands just under it, re-encoding a handful of times until it fits. That is why a target takes a moment longer than a fixed quality. If the target is very small for the dimensions, reduce the pixel dimensions first: there is a floor below which no quality setting can go without the image falling apart.
Which format compresses best?
WebP is typically 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPEG at matching quality and is supported everywhere that matters. AVIF is smaller again but slower to encode. Use JPEG when something old has to open the file, PNG only when you need transparency or pixel-exact graphics.
How do I compress an image to 100 KB, 50 KB or 20 KB?
Set the target size and the tool finds the highest quality that fits under it. If a large photo cannot reach a small target without looking blocky, lower its width first in the same panel: a 1200 pixel wide photo reaches 100 KB easily, a 4000 pixel one does not. Our file size guide explains why.
How do I reduce photo size for an online form or email?
Most forms want a JPEG under a set size such as 200 KB or 1 MB. Choose JPEG, set that target, and download. If the form also asks for exact pixel dimensions, set them with the Image Resizer first.