Image Tools
Compress Image to 500 KB
Compress an image to under 500 KB - comfortable for high-quality uploads, email attachments, and website hero images.
The algorithm
500 KB preserves nearly all visual detail. The tool typically applies only light compression (quality 85-95%) and finishes in 1-2 attempts. The result is close to original quality at a fraction of the file size.
Good target for photographs you want to share by email, upload to a website, or send through chat apps while keeping high quality. Also matches the upload limits of many content management systems.
A real use case
Common use: WordPress and most CMS platforms recommend keeping image uploads under 500 KB for faster page loads. Email attachments stay well under corporate mail limits (usually 25 MB total). High-quality social media uploads land in this range too.
Common questions
Why not just upload the original if it's only 1-2 MB?
500 KB is roughly 4× smaller than a typical 2 MB phone photo but visually equivalent at normal viewing. For websites, this directly improves page speed and Core Web Vitals.
Will my image look pixelated?
No. At 500 KB, compression is light enough that only pixel-peeping on a 4K monitor shows any difference from the original.
Is this really private?
Yes. Compression runs entirely in your browser using Canvas APIs. The image is never uploaded or stored. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it still works.
What image formats are accepted?
JPG, PNG, WebP, and GIF (first frame only). Output is always JPEG - it gives the best size-to-quality ratio for photos and screenshots at these target sizes.
What's the maximum file size I can upload?
Up to 50 MB. Modern phone photos are typically 2-8 MB, so even a RAW-converted image or a 4K screenshot fits comfortably.
Why does my file land slightly under the target instead of exactly on it?
The tool binary-searches JPEG quality to find the highest setting that still fits under the target. It stops at the first setting that lands under - which is exactly what upload portals want.