Compress a PNG image online

Why is the PNG format so large?

PNG uses lossless compression that preserves every pixel of the original image. This fidelity comes at a cost in file size.

PNG images with many colors or complex gradients are particularly large. A high-resolution PNG can easily exceed 10 MB.

Transparency (alpha channel) also adds to file size, as each pixel must store an additional opacity value.

PNG compression techniques

Palette reduction (quantization) converts 24-bit PNGs to 8-bit PNGs with a limited color palette, drastically reducing size.

PNG filter optimization chooses the best prediction algorithms for each row of pixels, improving compression.

Removing metadata (non-essential chunks) can reduce size by several kilobytes without affecting the visible image.

PNG vs WebP: which to choose?

WebP offers superior compression to PNG while supporting transparency. A WebP file is generally 26% smaller than an equivalent PNG.

However, some older browsers don't support WebP. PNG remains a safe choice for maximum compatibility.

Our tool also allows you to convert your PNGs to WebP for the best compression.

Preserving transparency after compression

Our tool automatically preserves the alpha channel of your PNG images. Transparency remains intact after compression.

For logos and icons, PNG compression is ideal as it maintains sharp edges without compression artifacts.

Avoid converting transparent PNGs to JPG, as that format doesn't support transparency.

Optimizing PNGs for the web

Use PNG-8 for simple images with few colors (icons, simple logos). Size savings can reach 80%.

Reserve PNG-24 for images requiring a wide color range or transparency with gradients.

Combine compression with lazy loading and a CDN for optimal performance.

How to do it in 3 steps

Frequently asked questions