How often do you need to download a webpage fast and see it freeze? In some cases, this happens due to cheap hosting that simply cannot cope with the load. Sometimes, it may be caused by the lack of site code optimization or poor caching. This issue is typical for almost all types of sites: personal blogs, news sites, online stores, etc.
So, the size of the images on the page may be too large. Due to this, the page weight can reach 5-6 МВ. Slow loading affects users’ experience and the site’s SEO promotion.
Optimization services use different algorithms and compression settings, so, the results will differ. Therefore, it is important to find a middle ground here, when both the size and the quality of the pictures are sufficient.
Some services can be costly, but there is always a way for bloggers to save some money on other things. For example, look at the webpage offering paper writing services. Its loading time is only 0.9 seconds despite the large and high-quality photo and online price calculator. This is a perfect example of efficient optimization.
Many graphic editors complete compression with subsequent quality degradation. There are also specific programs that can optimize images, but today we will focus specifically on online services. They do not demand any additional software. Thus, the visitors can compress files directly in the browser window.
1. TinyJPG / PNG
Well, let’s start with the most popular and well-known online service TinyPNG. It allows users to optimize two formats – JPG and PNG. It can work with up to 20 images at once, but those should weigh not more than 5 MB. The compressed pictures can be downloaded both one by one and all together in an archived file. Also, it can save the results in Dropbox.
Yet, it does not allow the user to do things like change the compression quality, horizontal or vertical size of the output. In some cases, the size of the original photo can be rather large. Such images include professional photos from a 20-megapixel camera.
It makes little sense to upload a photo in such a high resolution to the site without reduction. For this purpose, one could use other tools, such as Photoshop. But if the original resolution does not need a reduction, this service would be great for the job.
2. Compressor.io
This is a similar online service. Yet, it has a couple more features. It supports four formats:
- JPG
- PNG
- GIF
- SVG
The size of the uploaded file is restricted to no more than 10 MB. This site works with one item at a time. However, there is an opportunity to select two types of compression – lossy and lossless, for JPG and PNG files.
There is no way to change the resolution of the output image, which is a significant con. You can save the output file both to your computer and cloud storage – Dropbox or Google Drive.
3. IMGonline
This service is a bit more comprehensive than the previous two. It supports five image formats:
- BMP
- GIF
- JPEG
- PNG
- TIFF
IMGonline also provides more image compression parameters. The user can reduce the picture’s size either in percentages or in megapixels.
Users can resort to the subsampling function (to secure smooth color transitions), conversion to progressive JPEG format, and quality adjustment. The website also allows you to choose whether to preserve or delete EXIF and other metadata (GPS coordinates, information about the camera, shooting date, etc.).
4. Web Resizer
This one can work with three formats – GIF, JPG, and PNG with a maximum size of no more than 10 MB. It has a lot of additional settings, particularly for the JPG format.
In terms of classic quality settings, one can choose the image size and rotation, its sharpness, exposure, contrast, and saturation. The user can set a frame for the picture and crop odd parts. In general, this site grants a fairly wide range of tools. The only drawback is that it doesn’t have the bulk upload function.
5. ezGIF
Even though the name gives a hint saying “GIF”, this service allows working with the 3 most common formats – GIF, JPG, and PNG. The maximum file size is 35 MB. A great feature of this site is the option to specify the URL of the image to be downloaded. The list of functions is bigger than those from the before-mentioned services.
This is kind of a mini image editor. As any reputable editor, it can convert pictures to different formats, add effects, overlay text, and watermarks.
6. iLoveIMG
This complex tool supports the three formats (GIF, JPG, and PNG). It can process files in bulk. Unregistered users may upload up to 15 images at a time. A 30-item limit is available for the registered users. Users can upload files both from their computers and from their cloud storage – Google Drive or Dropbox.
iLoveIMG has many tools such as adding text and watermark, cropping, converting to other formats, and even a meme generator. The only inconvenience is that the user cannot perform several operations with an array of images at once. Each item should be altered separately, one at a time.
7. photopea.com
This service has a much more complex interface than all the mentioned ones. But it also takes first place in terms of functionality. Its users can crop photos, add blur and text, etc. There are almost as many functions as in full-fledged photo editors.
Photopea.com allows changing the image resolution. It is great for the cases when the site has no gallery to open the images in full size.
The main advantage of this service is its extensive functionality. Among the few disadvantages, the one worth noticing is the lack of smart compression.
8. Jpegmini.com
This is a batch optimization service designed for the complex resizing of images. This is convenient for those whose blogs or websites need constant updates and demand new photos.
It will be handy for the owners of online stores, news portals, and bloggers. The service helps to make the optimization process faster and fully automatic without deterioration of images. The interface is identical to the previously described services.
9. Google PageSpeed Insights
Last but not least, a well-known service Google PageSpeed Insights. It was designed for comparative tests of sites’ uploading speed. Seemingly, it has nothing to do with compression functions.
Yet, the feature has been recently added to this service. Now, it helps identify the issues causing loading speed decrease and compress images instantly. After a complete site analysis, the user will see a button suggesting to Download optimized files.
Conclusion
The importance of image optimization exceeds the framework of fast loading. Ignoring this factor means losing additional traffic. Moreover, it poses a threat of slowing down the site engine and dropping off top search results.
Full-size files will increase page load time which may affect the user’s interest in the content. On average, visitors close the pages that take more than 3 seconds to load.
Google has long made it clear that it prefers fast-loading websites and blogs. So, using compressed images allows any website to load faster and improve search engine rankings.
