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Image Compressor

Reduce any image to an exact size in KB or by quality — ideal for forms that ask for a photo or signature under a size limit. Everything happens on your device.

Drop an image, or tap to choose

JPG, PNG or WebP · your image never leaves your device

How to compress an image to a target size

Drop your photo above, choose Target size, and type the limit you need (for example 50 KB). Chitra automatically adjusts the quality to land just under that size and shows you the result instantly. If you still need it smaller, set a Max width too.

Why use Chitra to compress?

Frequently asked questions

Will compressing reduce quality?

A little — compression trades some detail for a smaller file. For photos, JPG/WebP at the size you choose usually still looks good. Increase the target size or quality if you want sharper results.

Is my photo uploaded anywhere?

No. All processing happens inside your browser on your device. Nothing is sent to a server.

JPG or WebP?

JPG works everywhere and is best for forms. WebP gives smaller files at the same quality but isn't accepted by every site.

Getting under a KB limit without wrecking the photo

Almost everyone who lands here has a form in front of them refusing an upload. Two minutes of context makes the difference between a photo that squeaks under the limit looking terrible and one that looks fine.

KB and pixels are two different limits

This is the single most common confusion. A portal asking for a photo under 50 KB is talking about file size — how much space the file takes. A portal asking for 200 × 230 pixels is talking about dimensions — how many dots wide and tall the picture is. Many Indian exam and KYC forms specify both, and they are not the same thing: you can have a small-dimension photo with a fat file size, and a huge photo squeezed into a few kilobytes. If a form gives you two numbers, you need to satisfy both, which usually means the resizer first and this page second.

The order that actually works

  1. Crop away what you do not need

    Background, floor, the edge of a door — every bit of it is costing you file size. A tighter crop is free quality.

  2. Reduce the dimensions

    A modern phone shoots photos several thousand pixels wide. A passport-style headshot for a form rarely needs more than roughly 600 pixels on its long edge. Dropping the dimensions removes detail nobody was going to see anyway.

  3. Then compress to the target

    Now the compressor has far less to throw away, and the picture that comes out at 50 KB looks noticeably better than if you had compressed the original directly.

A few things worth knowing

Why does my photo still look bad at the target size?

Because it is being asked to do too much. Compressing a 4000-pixel-wide photograph down to 50 KB means discarding almost all of its detail, and JPG shows that as blocky patches and muddy edges. Resize the dimensions down first — it is nearly always the fix.

What format do I get back?

JPG or WebP. Note that this means a PNG you put in comes back as a JPG or WebP — which is correct for photographs, since PNG is a poor format for them. For a signature or a scan of printed text, though, PNG stays crisp where JPG smears the edges, so resize that rather than compressing it.

Should I submit the WebP version to a government form?

No. WebP genuinely makes smaller files at the same quality, but many portals still reject it. Unless the form explicitly lists WebP as accepted, send the JPG.

My iPhone photo will not open here

iPhones often save as HEIC, which not every browser can read. Either set Settings → Camera → Formats to Most Compatible before shooting, or share the photo to yourself over WhatsApp first — that converts it to JPG on the way.