Image Compressor reduces file size by re-encoding JPEG, PNG, WebP, and AVIF images with a choice of quality presets and format conversion — with camera metadata stripped by default. Unlike PDF compression, which is lossless structural repacking, image compression here is genuinely lossy at anything below maximum quality: it trades some image fidelity for a smaller file, the same tradeoff every JPEG or WebP encoder makes, tuned to be as favorable as possible at each preset. Sensitive mode runs a WebAssembly build of the compression codecs locally in your browser; Normal mode runs an equivalent server-side library. They're independent implementations tuned to produce comparable output quality, not byte-identical results — either is a reasonable choice quality-wise, so the real decision between them is about where you want the computation to happen.
How to use Image Compressor
- Choose your privacy mode, then select a single image.
- Pick a preset: Smaller, Balanced, or Higher quality. Unlike PDF compression, this one is a real tradeoff and it works in both modes — the preset sets the encoder's quality level, so a smaller file genuinely means slightly less image detail.
- Choose an output format: keep the original format, or convert to JPEG, WebP, or AVIF.
- Decide whether to keep camera metadata (GPS location, camera model, capture time) — it's stripped by default, and you can opt in to keep it if you need it.
- Click Process and download the result.
Worked example
Shrinking a smartphone photo for a web upload
A typical modern smartphone photo runs 4-8 MB, which is often well past what a web form or messaging app is comfortable with. Choosing the Smaller preset with format kept as JPEG re-encodes it at a more aggressive compression level, typically bringing it down substantially while staying visually close to the original at normal viewing sizes. The output keeps the photo's original dimensions — this tool changes compression, not pixel size; pair it with Image Resizer first if you also need smaller dimensions. Metadata like GPS coordinates embedded by the camera is stripped by default, which is usually what you want before sharing a photo publicly.
Processing limits & specifications
| Mode | Location | Max file size | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensitive mode | Your device (WASM) | Up to 75 MB (typical device) | Never stored / zero egress |
| Normal mode | Server sandbox | 200 MB | Deleted when you close the page |
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the three quality presets?
Smaller favors the most size reduction, Balanced is a sensible everyday default, and Higher quality favors fidelity over file size. Each preset maps to a fixed quality level tuned for that tradeoff.
Can I target an exact output file size?
Not directly yet — choose the preset that best matches your priority (Smaller for the most reduction) rather than specifying an exact byte target. If the result isn't small enough, Smaller is the most aggressive option currently available.
Is metadata like GPS location removed automatically?
Yes, by default. Camera metadata (GPS coordinates, camera model, capture timestamp) is stripped unless you explicitly choose to keep it.
Can I convert between formats while compressing — like PNG to WebP?
Yes — choose a target format (JPEG, WebP, or AVIF) instead of "keep," and the image is both re-encoded for size and converted to that format in one step.
Will compressing reduce image quality noticeably?
At the Balanced preset, compression is tuned to be visually close to the original at typical viewing sizes. The Smaller preset trades more visible quality for smaller files — that tradeoff is inherent to lossy compression, not specific to this tool.
Does this resize the image dimensions?
No — Image Compressor only changes file size through re-encoding, not pixel dimensions. Use Image Resizer if you need smaller dimensions too.
Which format should I pick for the smallest file?
AVIF typically produces the smallest files at a given visual quality, followed by WebP, with JPEG usually largest of the three lossy options for comparable quality. The right choice also depends on where the image is going — AVIF and WebP aren't universally supported by every older tool or platform, while JPEG is supported everywhere.
What happens if I compress a PNG with transparency?
Transparency (the alpha channel) is preserved when the output format supports it — PNG, WebP, and AVIF all support transparency. Converting to JPEG, which has no alpha channel, will flatten transparent areas against a solid background, since that's a fundamental limitation of the JPEG format itself, not a choice this tool makes.
Is there a limit on how large an image I can compress?
In Sensitive mode, a megapixel limit applies based on your device's memory class (12, 24, or 50 megapixels depending on device capability, shown before you start) — this is checked from the image's header before the full image is decoded, so an oversized file is rejected quickly rather than crashing your browser tab. Normal mode caps uploaded files at 200 MB.
Will compressing fix a photo that appears sideways because of camera orientation data?
Yes — the orientation stored in the photo's EXIF data is read and applied to the actual pixels during compression, so the output displays upright everywhere, including in viewers that don't bother reading EXIF orientation themselves. This happens automatically; there's no separate toggle for it.