How to Reduce File Size of a Photo with Watermarkly
If you need to reduce image file size, you can use our free online app. It works with different formats and processes files in just a few minutes.
To reduce picture file size, follow these steps:
- Go to the drop-down menu under “Tools” at the top of Watermarkly website. Click on the “Compress images” option to open the image file size reducer.
- Upload images which size you want to reduce. To do this, simply drag and drop files or click the "Add Images" button. You can choose to import images from your computer, Google Drive, Google Photos, Dropbox, or web page. If you opt for importing from a cloud storage, you will need to give the photo file size reducer permission to work with your files.
- Go to the settings and adjust them.
- Export copies of your photos with reduced file size to either your computer or cloud storage.
What Options are Available in Watermarkly’s Image File Size Reducer?
In the "Settings" section you can select the level of image file size reduction that you want. The following options are available:
- Better quality. Before reducing the file size, our app will evaluate your image and determine which elements can be removed, while preserving the quality as much as possible.
- Smaller size. With this option, the file size of your image will be reduced as much as possible. In other words, the reduction level will be higher, and it will involve some loss of quality. Therefore, you should opt for this, if having images of minimum file size is the priority for you.
- Specific size. This option allows you to enter a specific number of kilobytes or megabytes that your image should be after reduction. Whether the loss of quality will be considerable or not depends on the number that you enter.
You can choose "Better quality" and "Smaller size" depending on what is more important to you – the quality or the file size. With the "Specific size" option in Watermarkly's image file size reducer, you will have more control over the result.
Watermarkly’s Photo File Size Reducer. Main Benefits
Watermarkly is a browser-based application that you can use on any device – be it a computer, a tablet or a smartphone. In addition to that, there’s no need for you to sign up since our service doesn’t have any accounts. The free version of the tool is available to everyone who visits our website.
Other benefits of Watermarkly’s app include:
- There is no risk of viruses infecting your device since you won’t have to download or install anything.
- Data confidentiality. We never store your data or files on our servers. No one will ever get access to your high-resolution original images.
- Fast processing. Once you upload your files into the image file size reducer, it will take only a few minutes for you to get the reduced images. Importing and exporting images is lightning fast. You won't have to wait long.
- There is no learning curve. You simply upload images, adjust the settings, wait for the app to reduce the file size of your images and that’s it! There are no advanced tools to get a hang of. Working with Watermarkly isn’t as complicated as working with a professional editing software, yet you’ll get the results of the similarly good quality.
- Additional tools. On our website, you can not only reduce image file size, but also crop image, resize photo, blur face, add text to photo, or watermark pictures and watermark PDF files.
- Free version. You can quickly reduce the file size of multiple photos in one go, without purchasing a paid package.
How Does Watermarkly Work?
With the help of the Watermarkly's tool, you can reduce image file size by removing unnecessary information. For example, you can remove:
- metadata
- where the photo was taken
- the name of your camera for photography
- settings, etc.
This information can occupy up to 16% of a file size, even though it’s not that crucial. Therefore, you can easily get rid of it and make your picture file size much smaller.
During the image file size reduction process, pixels of similar colors are removed. This is how you will get an image of a smaller file size. Whether you have a lot of pixels or not in your image – it won’t be that evident on the screen. You won’t really see a difference unless you print your images.
Watermarkly’s image file size reducer does a spectacular job at analyzing an image and determining which pixels can be removed without degrading the quality.

How to Reduce Image File Size Correctly
It all depends on what you want to achieve. As mentioned above, pictures are reduced to be sent via email, free up space on a device’s memory, and ensure optimal operation of a website.
For example, it is advised not to upload photos that are more than 500 KB to a website. You might even consider reducing image file size to about 100 – 200 KB, if that’s possible. This way, web pages will load quickly even with a slow Internet connection.
Do not use images of 1 MB or more. They will affect the loading speed of your website in a negative way and deter visitors.

Reduce Picture File Size With Different Levels of Quality loss
Picture reduction involves some level of quality loss – there’s no other way to reduce files. However, when using the image file size reducer, you have two options – the loss of quality can be noticeable or not. What is the difference between them, and which is better to choose when processing your images?
With noticeable loss of quality
This can be achieved, if you go for the “Smaller Size” or “Specific Size” then enter a rather small number of KBs. To make your image as small as possible, a lot of information – that includes pixels, too – has to be removed. Naturally, your image won’t look utterly terrible and if you are planning on posting it on social media or your website, the difference won’t be that evident. However, if you zoom in on the image, you will see that its quality is considerably worse than the original. This option is for those who care more about the file size of an image than its quality.
Without noticeable loss of quality
If you choose “Better Quality” or “Specific Size” then enter a relatively big number of KBs, your images won’t be as small as possible. But since less information will be removed, the quality won’t be as degraded as with the previous option. This is kind of the best of both worlds – the image file size is reduced, but the quality hardly suffers.
If you put the original and the image with reduced size side by side, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to notice the difference. This is due to the fact that not as many pixels are removed as with the previous option. This approach is for those who care about the quality, not the image file size.
It is crucial to determine what you prioritize more – image quality or image file size. This will help you choose the right level of image file size reduction for you. Alternatively, since the Watermarkly’s app doesn’t change the originals, you can try out all the reduction options that the tool offers and choose which result you like the best.
FAQ
How to Reduce Image File Size in MB?
You can use Watermarkly’s free app to reduce the file size of your images. It works online in a browser. You won't need to download anything to your computer or phone. There are three ways to minimize the file size – better quality, smaller size, and specific size. In the free version, you can process multiple files simultaneously.
How Can I Reduce Photo File Size for Free?
If you need to process a batch of images, Watermarkly’s free version of image file size reducer will be more than enough for you. Just open the app and choose the necessary option in the settings. There’s no need to create an account or provide your email address.
How to Reduce JPEG Size on Mac?
You can, of course, process JPG images in the professional photo editing software installed on your Mac. But it's much easier to make use of our online photo file size reducer. You won’t need to spend time on mastering it as it’s incredibly user-friendly. All you need to do is open it in your browser and get to work. In little to no time, you will be able to download your reduced pictures to your Mac.
How to Reduce Image File Size Online Without Quality Loss?
Select the "Better quality” option in the reduction settings. Your image will be analyzed using unique algorithms, which will remove unnecessary information. The file size will be reduced, while the quality won’t be noticeably affected. It’s a win-win. Most often, metadata is deleted, including information about your camera, date, where the photo was taken, etc. You won’t notice the difference with the naked eye when comparing the original and the reduced version.
How Can I Reduce Picture File Size on a Smartphone?
Watermarkly operates in a browser, so you can use it on any device, including your smartphone. You won’t have to waste your time on downloading the app from the Play Store or the App Store. It won’t take up any space in your memory storage. The process of reducing the file size of your images is incredibly simple – you will get your reduced copies in, literally, just a few taps! It’s that quick and easy.