Why compress images?
Photos from today's phones weigh 3–10 MB each. That's too much to email, to upload to a form with a size limit (the classic “max 1 MB” or “max 500 KB”), to publish on a website or to keep in limited storage. Compressing an image cuts its file size while it looks practically identical.
How to compress an image, step by step
- Add the images by dragging, pasting or with the choose button.
- Pick the output format: “Same format” keeps the file type; JPG is the most compatible; WebP shrinks files the most.
- Move the quality slider. 75% typically cuts size by 50–80% with no visible difference.
- Cap the maximum size for even bigger savings: reducing a 4000 px photo to 1920 px divides its weight by about four.
- Compare the original and new size with the percentage saved, and download the files or a ZIP.
If you change the settings, press “Apply settings” and everything is recalculated without uploading anything again.
How compression works
JPG and WebP are lossy formats: they discard detail the human eye barely notices, such as tiny color variations. The lower the quality, the more information is dropped and the smaller the file. Below a certain point (around 50–60%), blocks and halos start to show.
PNG, on the other hand, is lossless: it has no quality setting. If you compress a PNG and keep the format, the savings will be small. To really shrink a PNG photo, convert it to JPG or, if you need transparency, to WebP.
If an image was already well optimized and can't be reduced, Pasafoto keeps the original instead of handing you a bigger file.
Recommended settings
| Use | Format | Quality | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email or messaging | JPG | 70–75% | 1920 px |
| Website or blog | WebP | 75–80% | 1920 px |
| Form with “max 500 KB” | JPG | 65–70% | 1280 px |
| Archiving in good quality | Same | 85% | Keep size |
Private and unlimited
Unlike other online compressors, your photos are never uploaded to a server here: they're compressed on your own device. No file limits, no watermarks and no sign-up.
Compress without it showing
The biggest savings rarely come from cranking quality to the minimum; they come from combining three things: an efficient format (WebP or JPG), moderate quality (70–80%) and dimensions that fit the use. A photo shown on a website at 1200 pixels wide doesn't need 4000. Try a few settings and watch the savings on each image: past a certain point, lowering quality barely reduces size but does hurt the look. That's your sweet spot.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reduce an image's file size without losing quality?
Use a quality between 75% and 85%: the size drops a lot and the difference is imperceptible. For more savings, reduce the dimensions too.
How do I compress an image to under 500 KB or 1 MB?
Choose JPG, quality 65–75% and a maximum size of 1280 or 1920 px. Check the resulting size and, if needed, lower the quality a little more and press “Apply settings”.
Why does my PNG barely compress?
PNG is lossless. To really shrink it, convert it to JPG (no transparency) or WebP (with transparency).
Can I compress lots of photos at once?
Yes — add as many as you like and download them together as a ZIP.
Are my photos uploaded to the internet?
No. Compression happens in your browser and your photos never leave your device.
Is EXIF data removed?
Yes, the compressed image doesn't keep metadata (camera, date, GPS location), which also protects your privacy when you share it.