Need to compress PNG images? Smallpdf lets you shrink file size in seconds while keeping clear, sharp quality—no installs or sign-ups required.
Though it isn't hard to understand why designers want to share high-quality drafts, examples, and final versions with their customers, sending and storing large files like these can consume a great deal of time and space. Of course, these issues will be even more pronounced if the person receiving your file uses an older computer.
The good news is that there are ways to shrink PNG files without reducing their apparent quality—and you won't even have to download a program to compress PNG images. If you want to quickly and easily reduce PNG file size, you can use Smallpdf's online tools to do two things: compress large PNG images and save them in JPG format.
How to Compress PNG Images Online with Smallpdf
To compress PNG images online, upload your file to Smallpdf’s Compress tool, choose your compression level, and download the optimized image. Our cloud-based platform works in any browser and also accepts BMP, GIF, and TIFF files.
Ready to get started? Here's how to reduce PNG file size online with Smallpdf:
- Upload your PNG to our Compress tool.
- Choose “Basic compression.”
- Click “Export As,” and choose “Image (.jpg).”
- Wait for the conversion to finish.
- Download your compressed PNG, now in JPG format.
The method above uses our Compress PDF tool. Your PNG is first converted to PDF, then compressed, and finally exported as a JPG for a smaller file size.
Compress PNG images in just a few seconds
There is a file size limitation, but this should never be a concern if you're converting single PNG images. Even extremely high-quality images should never go into the hundreds of megabytes! Aside from the online PNG conversions, we can also take on files from the Microsoft Office family and of course, PDF. As long as you can convert a digital document to the Portable Document Format, you can use our tool suite of 30+ tools to alter it to your liking.
Retaining the data quality is definitely a priority in this whole process of switching from one format to the other. The output color images should yield the same result as if you had used a paid PNG compressor but at no cost!
Why Compress PNG Images (and When to Keep PNG vs Convert to JPG)
Because large image files are a pain—think about it. If you're a designer, you'll want to send your clients drafts, examples, and final versions in the best quality. But sending large files causes unnecessary loss of time for you and your clients, as they must download such bulky files before viewing them. Now imagine they have an older computer—forget it!
Here are the main situations where compressing PNG images makes sense:
- Web graphics: Faster page load times mean better user experience
- Email attachments: Avoid bounced emails due to size limits
- Storage management: Save space on your device or cloud storage
- File sharing: Quicker uploads and downloads for everyone
Furthermore, it's much easier to store these smaller files, online or offline. The more space your data takes up, the sooner you'll have to invest in an external hard drive or additional cloud-storage space. All that can get quite expensive. But if your files are lightweight and manageable, they can always be within reach on your device.
When deciding between keeping your PNG format or converting to JPG, consider this: PNG is perfect for images with transparency or sharp edges (like logos), while JPG works better for photographs where you can sacrifice some quality for smaller file sizes.
Maintain PNG Image Quality While Reducing File Size
When you compress PNG files with Smallpdf, we use smart compression techniques that preserve the visual quality you care about. Our process focuses on lossless compression, which means we reduce file size without throwing away important image data.
Here's what we preserve during compression:
- Transparency: Your PNG's transparent backgrounds stay crystal clear
- Color accuracy: We optimize the color palette without losing important hues
- Sharp edges: Text and graphics maintain their crisp appearance
You’ll get results that look just as clear and vibrant as those from paid image compressors, at no cost.
Advanced PNG Compression Options with Smallpdf
By following this process, you can reduce PNG size while keeping image quality high. If Basic compression doesn’t shrink your image enough, switch to Strong compression for a smaller file size.
Keep in mind that Strong compression may slightly reduce resolution, so it’s best for everyday sharing rather than design work. Pro users can try this mode and other premium tools with a 7-day free trial.
Resize Dimensions to Reduce PNG Size
Another way to shrink your PNG files is by adjusting the image dimensions before compression. If you're working with an image that's larger than you need, resizing it can dramatically reduce file size while maintaining quality for your specific use case.
This approach works especially well for web graphics, where you might have a high-resolution image that only needs to display at a smaller size on your website or in an email.
Along with that, Strong compression is available exclusively to people using paid Smallpdf plans like Smallpdf Pro. However, there's no reason to worry if you don't already have this subscription—you can give Strong compression and other Pro-exclusive capabilities a spin with our 7-day free trial!
Security and Privacy for Online PNG Compression
When you upload your PNG files to Smallpdf, we take your privacy seriously. Here's how we keep your images secure:
- SSL encryption: All file transfers are protected with industry-standard encryption
- Automatic deletion: Your files are automatically deleted from our servers after 60 minutes
- GDPR compliance: We follow strict European data protection standards
- No file storage: We don't keep copies of your compressed images
You can compress PNG files with confidence knowing that your images stay private and secure throughout the entire process.
Start Your Free Trial to Access All Smallpdf Tools
Compressing PNGs is just one of many ways Smallpdf can help streamline your document workflow. Ready to explore our full suite of tools? Start your free trial today and discover how easy document management can be.
Since Smallpdf is a cloud-based service, you can compress PNG files anywhere you can open a web browser. Better yet, you'll have the ability to access our tools for free—no account required.
Frequently Asked Questions About Compressing PNG Online
How Do I Compress Multiple PNG Files at Once?
Currently, our Compress tool handles one PNG file at a time to ensure the best quality results. For batch processing, you can upgrade to Smallpdf Pro, which offers enhanced features for handling multiple files more efficiently.
What's the Maximum PNG File Size I Can Compress?
Our file size limit is quite high, so you’ll rarely need to worry about the size. Even extremely high-quality images should never go into the hundreds of megabytes, so most files work perfectly with our free tool.
Will Compressing PNG Remove Transparency?
When you compress PNG files and keep them in PNG format, transparency is preserved. However, when converting to JPG format (as our current process does), transparency will be replaced with a solid background color since JPG doesn't support transparency.
Can I Compress PNG Without Losing Quality?
Yes! Our compression process is designed to maintain visual quality while reducing file size. We use smart optimization techniques that preserve the important details in your images while removing unnecessary data that makes files larger.
