Pros and Cons of WebP Images: 2026 Update

George the Panda on April 7, 2026

WebP is an image format created by Google, built on the VP8 video codec and designed for the web to replace JPEG and PNG with better compression. In 2026, it’s no longer the new kid on the block. Browser support is effectively universal. Two newer formats have emerged as competitors: AVIF, now widely supported, and JPEG XL, still finding its footing. And Google keeps nudging site owners toward next-gen formats through PageSpeed Insights. So, where does WebP actually stand? Here’s a clear-eyed look.

TL;DR

  • AVIF is now a serious alternative to WebP. It compresses better, retains more visual fidelity, and has broad browser support across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. For image-heavy sites, it’s worth considering alongside WebP.
  • WebP browser support is effectively universal. Every major browser supports it. The <picture> fallback is now optional rather than something you need to plan around.
  • The format decision is more nuanced than it used to be. WebP is still the right default for most sites. But for high-performance use cases, the emergence of AVIF and JXL means the optimal choice now requires a more nuanced, case-by-case evaluation.
  • Tooling has caught up. WordPress, Shopify, and most CDNs now automatically handle WebP. For many sites, switching is less a technical challenge and more a case of turning the right setting on.

What is WebP?

WebP is an image format created by Google in 2010, designed specifically for web use. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, transparency (via an 8-bit alpha channel), and animation. Think of it as one format doing the job of JPEG, PNG, and GIF combined, usually at a smaller file size. For anyone figuring out how to optimize images for web, it’s the most practical starting point.

The pros of WebP

Smaller file sizes

This is WebP’s main selling point, and it holds up. According to Google’s WebP compression study, WebP lossy images are 25–34% smaller than equivalent JPEGs, and WebP lossless images are around 26% smaller than PNGs at comparable quality. For a content-heavy website, that adds up quickly across a full image library.

Tinify compresses WebP files using the same smart lossy compression it applies to all major formats. This process can shrink WebP file sizes by up to 80% while preserving the original visual quality. As an image compressor, Tinify supports JPEG, PNG, animated PNG (APNG), WebP, AVIF, and JPEG XL (JXL): you can convert JPEG to WebP, convert PNG to WebP, or simply compress WebP images, all in the browser.

Universal browser support

The compatibility concerns that plagued early WebP adoption are effectively gone. In 2026, every major browser supports WebP: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. Internet Explorer is the sole holdout, and its global usage share is negligible. You no longer need a <picture> fallback just for WebP, though it’s still good practice if you want to be thorough.

One format for multiple use cases

WebP handles transparency like PNG and animation like GIF, which means you can standardize on a single format across most of your image library. Fewer format decisions, simpler workflows.

Both lossy and lossless compression in one format

Most formats are one or the other. JPEG is lossy only. PNG is lossless only. WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression in a single format, which means you can use it for photographs (where some quality loss is acceptable) and for graphics, logos, or images with text (where preserving every pixel matters). You don’t have to switch formats based on image type, because WebP handles both.

Better Core Web Vitals scores

Smaller images mean faster Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), one of Google’s key ranking signals. If you’re currently serving original camera JPEGs or unoptimized PNGs, switching to compressed WebP is one of the most direct ways to improve your PageSpeed score. Google’s PageSpeed Insights flags JPEG and PNG images as candidates for conversion to WebP or AVIF. If you’re wondering how to optimize photos for website performance, that’s the right place to start. For more on the relationship between image size and site speed, see our guide on how to resize images for a faster website.

Broad tooling support

WebP is supported by most image editing software, CMSs, e-commerce platforms, and CDNs. WordPress compresses and serves WebP natively. Shopify serves WebP automatically to supported browsers. Squarespace converts all uploaded images to WebP by default. The TinyPNG WordPress plugin made by Tinify compresses WebP, AVIF, JPEG, and PNG images automatically on upload.

The cons of WebP

AVIF and JPEG XL compress better

WebP’s biggest limitation in 2026 is that newer formats do the same job more efficiently. AVIF (the AV1 Image File Format, released in 2019) consistently produces smaller files than WebP at the same visual quality, with the advantage most noticeable on photographs and high-resolution images. Browser coverage is now broad enough that serving AVIF with a WebP fallback is increasingly practical for performance-critical sites. JPEG XL is also worth watching: Chrome 145 restores native JXL support, and it offers compression competitive with AVIF alongside some useful features like lossless transcoding from existing JPEGs.

Compression artifacts and dimension constraints

Pushing WebP compression too hard can introduce visible artifacts, especially in images with fine textures or intricate details. Tinify’s image optimizer analyzes each image individually to find the right balance automatically, so you don’t have to tune compression settings manually.

WebP also has a hard dimension cap: images cannot exceed 16,383 pixels in either width or height. For most web use cases, this isn’t an issue, but it’s worth knowing if you work with very large source images.

Not ideal outside the web

WebP is built for web delivery. It’s less suited for print workflows, professional publishing, or offline applications. Most print-on-demand platforms don’t accept WebP natively, and color accuracy can be an issue in print contexts. For those workflows, JPEG or PNG remains the standard.

Email clients don’t reliably support WebP

Web browsers have WebP covered, but email is a different story. Gmail only partially supports WebP, converting images to JPEG before delivery, which means transparent backgrounds break. Outlook on Windows doesn’t support WebP at all, showing a broken image instead. If your site sends transactional emails or newsletters that pull images from your media library, serving only WebP images can cause problems. The safest approach is to keep JPEG or PNG originals available as fallbacks for email contexts.

Figma doesn’t export WebP natively

Figma still doesn’t support WebP as a native export format. Designers working on web projects have to export as PNG or JPEG first and then convert separately, which adds friction to the workflow. 

Tip: The Tinify Figma plugin solves this directly. It exports and compresses to WebP (and AVIF) in one step, without leaving Figma.

Export Figma designs in WebP format using the Tinify Figma plugin.

Conversion at scale takes planning

For sites with large existing image libraries, converting everything to WebP takes time and the right tooling. Not all converters handle compression well, and some can produce WebP files that are larger than the original if settings aren’t dialed in. Using a purpose-built tool like Tinify’s image converter avoids this: it compresses and converts in one step, and its algorithm picks the right settings for each image.

Should you use WebP in 2026?

Yes, with one nuance.

WebP remains a solid, reliable choice for most websites. The file size savings over JPEG and PNG are real, browser support is effectively universal, and tooling is mature. If you haven’t made the switch yet, there’s no good reason to wait.

The nuance is that AVIF now competes seriously for the same role. The practical recommendation for 2026 looks like this:

  • For most sites (blogs, marketing pages, portfolios): Use WebP. It’s simple, well-supported, and a clear improvement over JPEG and PNG.
  • For image-heavy or performance-critical sites: Consider serving AVIF to modern browsers with WebP as a fallback, using the <picture> tag or a CDN that handles format negotiation automatically.
  • For animated images: WebP is still the safest choice. AVIF animation support varies across implementations, and JXL animation support is even more limited.
  • Keep an eye on JPEG XL: If Chrome enables JXL by default in a future release, adoption could accelerate quickly. It’s not a format to serve today, but worth factoring into longer-term planning.
Original PNG – 4MB
Panda image by Kerry Hu, WebP format
Compressed WebP – 713KB

How to convert your images to WebP

You can convert JPEG, PNG, AVIF, and JXL images to WebP directly on Tinify’s WebP converter. Upload your images, select WebP as the output format, and Tinify will convert and compress them in one go. It also works the other way: if you need to convert WebP to PNG or another format, the same tool handles that too. The free tool allows up to 3 conversions per session; the Web Ultra subscription gives you unlimited conversions. New to image compression? Our image conversion for beginners guide walks you through the basics.

For teams with larger workflows, Tinify has tools for every setup:

  • Tinify API: Handles compression and conversion in a single step, with direct export to Amazon S3 or Google Cloud Storage. Includes 250 free conversions per month.
  • Tinify WordPress plugin: Compresses and converts images automatically on upload, powered by the Tinify API. Includes 500 free compressions per month.
  • Tinify Figma plugin: Optimizes images directly from your design exports, no extra steps needed.
  • Tinify CDN: Automatically serves WebP images (and other supported formats) to browsers that support them, with no code changes required on your end.

Try it yourself

Convert images to WebP and see the file size difference.

Convert your images

WebP isn’t the newest format anymore, but it’s still one of the most practical ones. Converting your existing JPEG and PNG images to WebP will improve page speed and reduce bandwidth. If you want to go further, pairing it with AVIF gives you the best of both worlds. And if Chrome ships JPEG XL support by default, it may become the next format worth switching to.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

01. Is WebP better than JPEG and PNG? For web use, yes. WebP lossy files are 25–34% smaller than equivalent JPEGs, and WebP lossless files are around 26% smaller than PNGs, at the same visual quality. Note: Platform support has improved significantly, but it’s still worth checking your CMS and third-party tools before switching your whole library over.

02. Does WebP work in all browsers? Yes, in every browser that matters: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera. Internet Explorer doesn’t support it, but IE’s global usage share is negligible. 

03. Is WebP or AVIF better in 2026? That depends on your priorities. AVIF compresses better and browser support has caught up, but WebP is simpler to work with and supported across more tools and platforms. For most sites, WebP is still the right default. For image-heavy or performance-critical sites, serving AVIF with a WebP fallback via the <picture> tag gives you the best of both.

04. Does converting to WebP reduce image quality? Tinify’s smart lossy compression automatically finds the right balance, reducing file sizes by up to 80% with no noticeable quality loss. Lossy compression does remove some image data, but the difference isn’t visible to the human eye.

05. Can I convert PNG or JPEG to WebP for free? Yes. Tinify’s free online image converter lets you convert up to 3 images per session. Compression happens alongside conversion, so you get the smallest possible file in one step. Web Ultra removes that limit for unlimited conversions.

06. What is JPEG XL and should I use it? JPEG XL (JXL) is a new image format that offers compression comparable to AVIF. A significant advantage is its ability to losslessly transcode existing JPEGs, allowing the original file to recover later. Chrome 145 restores native JXL support, with partial support in Firefox and Safari too. Browser coverage is still in the early stages, so WebP and AVIF are the practical choices for now, but JXL is worth keeping on your radar.

07. How do I serve WebP on WordPress? Install the TinyPNG WordPress plugin (by Tinify). It compresses WebP, AVIF, JPEG, and PNG images automatically on upload, with 500 free compressions per month. WordPress has supported WebP natively since version 5.8.

Lossy vs Lossless Compression Explained for Image Optimization

George the Panda on March 31, 2026

Images are essential for engaging websites, but large file sizes can significantly slow down performance. If you’re wondering how to reduce image file size without noticeable quality loss, understanding image compression is the key.

In this guide, we’ll break down lossy vs lossless compression and show you how to optimize images effectively.

What is image compression?

Image compression is the process of reducing file size while preserving as much visual quality as possible.

There are two main approaches:

  • Lossy compression: reduces file size by permanently removing some image data
  • Lossless compression: reduces file size by removing unnecessary metadata

Both methods are widely used in modern image optimization, depending on the use case.

Lossy vs lossless compression: What’s the difference?

Understanding lossless and lossy compression is key to choosing the right approach.

Lossy vs lossless compression: Quick comparison

Lossless Compression Lossy Compression
Summary

Image Quality

File size

Image Quality

File size
Definition No data is removed Some metadata is permanently removed
Best Use Cases Logos, icons, UI elements Photos, backgrounds, large visuals
Compression Method Data deduplication, encoding optimization Data removal + perceptual optimization
Performance Impact Improves speed slightly Significantly improves page speed
Editability Fully reversible Not reversible
Typical Use on Websites Graphics requiring precision Most images for performance optimization

Pros and cons of lossless and lossy compression

Lossless Compression Lossy Compression
Pros – No loss of image quality
– Fully reversible 		– Much smaller file sizes
– Visually similar to original (at optimal levels)
Cons – Limited size reduction
– Larger files than lossy 		– Not reversible
– Quality loss at higher compression

When should you use each?

Choosing between lossless compression of images and a lossy compression method depends on how important image quality is compared to file size.

  • Use lossless compression when quality must remain exact. Lossless compression ensures every pixel is preserved, making it ideal when precision matters.
  • Use lossy compression when reducing file size is more important than perfect fidelity. A well-optimized lossy-compressed image often appears identical to the original to the human eye, while significantly reducing file size and improving load times.

How to reduce image file size without noticeable quality loss

Here’s how to do it in practice:

01. Use a modern file compressor

A reliable image compressor quickly reduces image size while maintaining visual quality.

Modern tools use advanced lossy compression and optimizations to remove only data that isn’t noticeable to the human eye. Tools like Tinify automate this process efficiently.

Panda George saves 81% on your image with Tinify’s smart lossy compression technique.
Panda George saves 81% on your image with Tinify’s smart lossy compression technique.

02. Choose the right compression method

Not all images should be treated the same.

  • Use lossy compression for photographs and complex visuals
  • Use lossless compression techniques only when every pixel must remain unchanged (e.g., logos or UI elements)

In most web use cases, a well-optimized lossy compression image will look identical to the original while being significantly smaller.

03. Convert to modern formats

Switching to modern formats is one of the most effective ways to reduce file size.

Formats like WebP, AVIF, and JPEG XL (JXL) use advanced lossy compression file types to deliver smaller images compared to traditional JPEG and PNG, without noticeable quality loss.

Cute panda image by Peter Burdon in JPEG format.
Original JPEG – 799 KB
Cute panda image by Peter Burdon. Tinify's lossy compression method convert JPG to AVIF.
Optimized AVIF – 152 KB

By converting a JPG to AVIF, Tinify’s smart lossy compression reduced the file size by 81%. Can you see the difference?

04. Resize images before compression

One of the most common mistakes is uploading images that are larger than needed.

Always:

  • Resize images to their display dimensions
  • Then apply compression

This reduces file size dramatically before compression even begins.

05. Automate your workflow

For high-volume websites, manual image optimization quickly becomes inefficient. 

With API integrations and plugins for WordPress and Figma, you can:

  • compress images automatically
  • convert formats on upload
  • maintain consistent performance 

Tools to compress images efficiently

The best approach combines automation and optimization:

  • A powerful image compression tool
  • Smart lossy compression methods
  • APIs for automation
  • CDN delivery for performance

Tinify brings all of this together. With George the Panda, you can:

  • Compress images
  • Convert formats
  • Automate optimization
  • Deliver fast images globally

Try compressing your images yourself

Reduce image file size in seconds without noticeable quality loss.

Start optimizing images

Final thoughts

Lossless compression vs lossy compression isn’t about picking one; it’s about using the right method for the right situation.

With the right image optimizer, modern formats, and optimized workflows, you can:

  • Reduce image file size
  • Maintain visual quality
  • Improve website speed and SEO 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

01. What is lossy compression?

Lossy compression is a method that reduces file size by permanently removing some image data. This approach is commonly used for photographs and formats like JPEG, WebP, AVIF, and JPEG XL (JXL), where smaller file sizes are prioritized while maintaining visual quality.

02. What is lossless compression of images?

Lossless compression of images reduces file size without removing any essential image data, preserving original visual quality. It may remove unnecessary metadata and optimize encoding, but the image itself remains unchanged. Common lossless compression examples include PNG files and certain optimized JPEG workflows.

03. What is the key difference: Lossless compression vs lossy compression?

Lossless compression preserves all essential image data and maintains original visual quality, while lossy compression removes some image data to achieve smaller file sizes. The choice depends on whether exact quality or maximum size reduction is more important.

04. Which file types use lossy compression?

Common lossy compression formats include JPEG, WebP, AVIF, and JPEG XL (JXL), all designed to reduce image file size with minimal visible quality loss. Tinify’s free image resizer supports all the above-mentioned file formats for compression and conversion. 

05. Can JPEG be lossless or lossy?

JPEG is typically a lossy compression format, but some workflows allow near-lossless or optimized compression depending on settings.

06. What is the best way to reduce image file size?

The best approach is to use an image file compressor and convert images to modern formats like WebP, AVIF, or JXL.

Compress PNG to WebP: Convert and Optimize Images for Faster Websites

George the Panda on March 24, 2026

PNG images are widely used on websites because they support transparency and high-quality visuals. However, PNG files can be much larger than necessary, which can slow down your website and impact performance.

One of the easiest ways to reduce image file size is to convert PNG images to WebP.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to convert PNG to WebP and why switching formats can significantly improve website performance.

How can I compress images from PNG to WebP? You can simply upload your PNG file to a WebP optimizer, which will automatically convert and compress the image. Then download the optimized file for use on your website – reducing file size while maintaining visual quality.

Why convert PNG to WebP?

If you’re using PNG images on your website, you’re often serving more data than necessary. Converting PNG to “next gen” formats like WebP often helps you deliver the same visuals with smaller file sizes.

WebP achieves this through more efficient compression, often reducing image size by 30% compared to PNG at similar quality levels.

This reduction has a direct impact on performance:

  • Faster page load times
  • Improved Core Web Vitals by using next-gen formats
  • Better mobile experience
  • Lower bandwidth usage
  • Stronger SEO performance

For websites with many images, switching from PNG to WebP is one of the simplest ways to improve speed without reworking your visuals.

That said, WebP is not always smaller than PNG. File size depends on the image itself. Simple graphics or already optimized PNGs can sometimes be just as small or smaller.

The advantage is that tools like Tinify automatically compare and optimize your images. You can convert to WebP and compress the PNG at the same time, and Tinify shows you which option gives the best result.

PNG vs WebP: What’s the difference?

PNG and WebP are both widely used image formats, but they serve different purposes.

Feature PNG WebP
Compression type Lossless only Lossy and lossless
File size Larger Smaller
Transparency Yes Yes
Image quality Perfect (no data loss) High (optimized for web)
Best use cases Logos, icons, UI elements Most image types
Browser support Universal All modern browsers

Since WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression, it can be used for a wide range of image types. It is designed for web performance, using efficient compression techniques to reduce file size while maintaining visual quality. If you want a deeper breakdown, see our guide on the pros and cons of WebP images.

That said, PNG is still preferred in some design workflows where exact visual precision is required. Because PNG preserves all image data, it’s ideal for design assets and graphics, but this also results in larger file sizes.

Common use cases for WebP

WebP is especially useful for:

  • E-commerce product images
  • Blog content and featured images
  • Landing pages and marketing visuals
  • Background images and hero banners

Reducing image weight in these areas improves both user experience and performance metrics.

How to compress PNG to WebP

You can compress and convert PNG images to WebP in just a few steps using a PNG to WebP converter like Tinify.

1. Upload your PNG images

Drag and drop your images into the image optimizer or select them from your device. No installation or account is required.

2. Automatically convert and compress

Our free image converter is designed for simplicity, automatically serving as both a PNG compressor and a WebP converter. It applies PNG compression and simultaneously converts your PNG to WebP. 

George the Panda saves you 79% by converting PNG to WebP.
George the Panda saves you 79% by converting PNG to WebP.

3. Download optimized images

Download your compressed WebP images to your device or to your Dropbox. 

You can also batch convert multiple images at once, making it easy to optimize entire websites or image libraries.

Compress and convert your images in seconds

Reduce PNG file size and convert to WebP in just a few clicks. Save up to 80% without losing quality.

Compress Images Now

When should you use WebP instead of PNG?

If you’re deciding between PNG and WebP, the choice usually comes down to performance versus precision.

Choose WebP for:

  • Website images and content visuals
  • Product images
  • Blog posts
  • Backgrounds and banners

Stick with PNG when:

  • You need pixel-perfect editing
  • You work with design tools that require PNG

Frequently asked questions

01. Does converting PNG to WebP reduce quality?
Tinify’s smart image compression reduces file size while keeping images visually identical to the human eye.

Panda image png
Original PNG – 418kb
Compressed WebP – 90kb

02. Is WebP supported everywhere?
WebP is supported by all modern browsers, making it safe for most websites today.

03. Can I convert multiple PNG files at once?
Yes, Tinify’s image converter supports batch processing, allowing you to optimize multiple images quickly.

Start converting PNG images to WebP today

Optimizing your images is one of the fastest ways to improve website performance.

By converting PNG to WebP, you can reduce file sizes, improve loading speed, and create a better user experience. Want to go further? Automate optimization with an image optimization API or deliver images faster worldwide using an image CDN.

How Adobe Express and Tinify Support Effortless Website Updates

George the Panda on December 29, 2025

Updating a business website usually happens in pieces. A new page here. A refreshed banner there. Maybe a blog post that finally gets the visuals it deserves. Over time, those small updates shape how the site feels—but without a clear process, they can also introduce inconsistency and unnecessary friction.

That’s why Adobe Express and Tinify work well together during website updates. Adobe Express supports visual creation and consistency. Tinify supports a simple, repeatable preparation step before images go live. Together, they help website updates feel more intentional and easier to manage.

The Short Version

Create visuals with consistency in mind. Finalize them once. Prepare images before uploading. Publish without second-guessing. That rhythm is what keeps website updates from turning into ongoing cleanup.

How to Think About Website Updates Before You Open Any Tools

Most website refreshes feel frustrating because teams jump straight into execution. Pages are edited while visuals are still in flux. Images are uploaded before decisions are final. 

The result isn’t bad work. It’s unnecessary churn.

A more structured approach starts by deciding when each type of work happens. Visual creation should have a clear beginning and end. Publishing should come later, once decisions are locked. When those phases are separated, tools stop competing with each other and start supporting a cleaner flow.

This is less about speed and more about reducing backtracking.

Where Adobe Express Supports Website Updates

Adobe Express is typically used during the creative phase of website updates, when visuals are being created, adjusted, and finalized.

In practice, it’s used to support common update tasks like:

Keeping creative work in one place makes it easier to maintain a consistent look and feel across the site as updates roll out over time.

This creative layer is where visual decisions are made and assets are finalized. Once visuals are approved, the next step is preparing image files for optimal performance on live websites.

Where Tinify Naturally Comes Into The Workflow

Tinify fits in after visuals are complete. Once images are finalized and approved for use, Tinify provides a consistent way to prepare those files for the web before they’re uploaded to a website, blog, or CMS.

Tinify reduces image file size without affecting visual quality or design decisions. This helps pages load faster, improving the experience for visitors and supporting SEO over time, since page speed is one of the factors search engines consider.

How teams use Tinify depends on their setup:

  • Manual compression: Upload images directly to Tinify before adding them to a website.
  • WordPress plugin: Automatically compress images when they’re uploaded to the media library, so every image follows the same preparation step without manual checks. 

Used consistently, Tinify becomes a quiet part of the routine. It’s not a tool teams debate or revisit. It’s a dependable final step before publishing that helps updates feel finished rather than rushed.

Common Friction Points During Ongoing Updates

When websites are updated over months or years, a few issues tend to surface:

  • Visuals look good individually, but feel mismatched together.
  • Blog graphics don’t resemble the rest of the site.
  • Homepage elements are updated often but inconsistently.
  • Images are uploaded without being optimized for performance.

Individually, none of these issues breaks a website. But over time, they create unnecessary follow-up work and make updates feel more complicated than they need to be.

A Practical Workflow to Handle Website Updates

Rather than treating every change like a redesign, many businesses follow a repeatable rhythm:

  1. Create or revise visuals in Adobe Express so they match current branding and layout goals.
  2. Finalize assets once they’re approved for real use—not drafts.
  3. Prepare finalized images with Tinify before uploading them to the site.
  4. Publish updates with fewer revisions and fewer follow-ups.

This flow supports steady improvement without disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is this workflow only for designers?
Not at all. It’s often used by marketing and content teams managing incremental updates like new pages, blog posts, or homepage changes.

Does Tinify change how images look?
No. Tinify reduces file size while preserving visual quality, so design and branding decisions stay exactly as intended.

Panda image before and after Tinify image compression for website updates.
Photo by Pascal Müller on Unsplash

Will this help with long-term consistency?
Yes. Using the same creation and preparation steps for every update helps teams maintain both visual consistency and site performance over time.

Smarter website updates don’t come from doing more—they come from doing things in the right order. Adobe Express supports the creative work of keeping visuals consistent and current. Tinify supports the final preparation step that makes those visuals ready for the web. Used together, they help website updates feel calmer, cleaner, and easier to repeat over time.

Convert HEIC Files Easily with Tinify

George the Panda on May 30, 2025

Images are an indispensable part of how we tell stories, whether it’s for personal or business use. But it can be challenging to share or display them if you are working with different formats. If you’ve ever tried sharing or editing HEIC files, you know the frustration that comes with compatibility issues.

Fortunately, Tinify offers a simple and efficient solution to convert your HEIC files into more universally supported formats like JPEG, PNG, WebP or AVIF — and it’s incredibly easy to use.

What’s the problem with HEIC-format images?

HEIC, or High-Efficiency Image Coding, was introduced as an advanced compression format to reduce file size while maintaining high image quality. While it’s widely used by Apple devices and some Android platforms, its adoption hasn’t been as widespread as other formats. As a result, many users face challenges when trying to open, share, or upload HEIC files— particularly on Windows computers or when uploading images to websites. 

For businesses sharing images across different devices or working on websites, this can cause your target audience to get frustrated and lose interest in your content.

Challenges in an open ecosystem that drive away viewers

The root of the problem lies in HEIC’s licensing and patent issues, which make it difficult for other platforms to natively support this format. For those in the Apple ecosystem, this is rarely an issue, but for others trying to work with HEIC files, it can be a real headache.

For instance, Windows users often encounter difficulties opening HEIC files without additional software or codecs. Non-Apple web browsers still do not support HEIC (as of Feb 2025), and this hurdle will continue as long as other quality alternatives continue to be more cost-effective.

Tinify’s algorithm leverages these alternatives, including WebP and AVIF. AVIF in particular has been developed to allow more compressible colors, yielding a superior picture quality with a small footprint that rivals HEIC.

Tinify’s bridges the HEIC-format gap

At Tinify, we believe that image optimization and conversion should be simple, fast, and accessible to everyone. That’s why we’ve introduced a free HEIC to JPG conversion service through our web interface (and also PNG, WebP, and AVIF!). Our smart compression algorithm ensures that every image is optimized for web use, maintaining excellent quality while significantly reducing file size.

By converting your HEIC files into universally supported formats, Tinify makes it easy to share, upload, and edit your images — no matter which device or platform you’re using. These widely supported formats can enhance compatibility with various applications and online platforms, ensuring that your images are accessible to a broader audience.

And for developers, we’ll soon offer API integration, allowing you to automate the process and convert HEIC images in bulk.

 

Tiny details make a big difference

While other providers offer HEIC file conversion, Tinify stands head and shoulders above because of our efficient compression algorithm and user-friendly interface. Our goal is to make things as simple as possible for both developers and non-technical users alike. There’s no steep learning curve or technical expertise necessary to use our service — just upload your HEIC file, and we’ll handle the rest.

Whether you’re a casual user looking to share photos with friends or a developer optimizing large volumes of images, Tinify allows you to get things done quickly and efficiently. Our service is designed to save you time and effort, with no complicated settings or confusing options.

The best part? You can rest assured that you can wow your audience with the most striking images. Tinify’s commitment to maintaining high image quality during the conversion process ensures that your photos retain their visual appeal, even after compression.

 

How does it work?

Here’s how you can convert HEIC files using Tinify:

1.    Visit tinypng.com.

2.    Drag and drop your HEIC files into the upload box.

3.    That’s it! The files will automatically convert to JPG format and can be downloaded with a single click.

Need more? You can also use our simple settings to choose other formats, like WebP, PNG, or AVIF. No fuss, and no technical knowledge required.

Try it right now for free!

Ready to make HEIC file conversion simple? Try Tinify for free today at tinypng.com and experience how easy it is to work with your images. Whether you’re a casual user or a developer, Tinify is here to make your image optimization and conversion process as smooth as possible.

But wait, there’s more!

With Tinify, you not only gain access to a powerful image conversion tool, but also have a wide suite of services to easily compress and deploy images according to your needs.

Tinify Developer API

Tinify Image Optimization CDN

Tinify Web Pro & Ultra

Improve Your Workflow: Compress Images in 5 Easy Steps with Tinify Make.com Integration

George the Panda on December 23, 2024

What is the Tinify Make.com integration?

The Tinify Make.com Integration lets you use Tinify’s image compression directly within your Make.com workflows.

Make.com is a platform that helps users automate tasks without coding. It connects apps and services to make your work easier. For example, you can set up a workflow where new Shopify or Woocommerce orders are directly sent to a Google Sheets spreadsheet

Why use Tinify Make.com integration for Image Compression?

When creating a website, image compression is often an overlooked step. However, using compressed images is important for improving your website’s loading speed, which is essential for keeping visitors happy and improving retention rates. By using the Tinify Make.com Integration, you can automate image compression, saving you time while boosting your site’s performance.

Real-Life examples of Tinify Make.com integration

Many companies use the Tinify Make.com Integration in different ways. Automating image compression saves time and helps businesses grow. Here are some examples:

  • E-Commerce Workflows
    Online stores like Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Adobe Commerce, and Squarespace can now use Tinify through Make.com. Automating image tasks to improve site speed and customer experience.
  • Shared Drive Automation
    Automatically compress and convert images in shared drives like Google Drive or Dropbox. This ensures all your images are web-ready without the need for manual work.

How to set up the Tinify Make.com integration in 5 simple steps

  1. Get Your Tinify API Key
    To use the integration, you’ll need your Tinify API key. You can get it from tinify.com/developers. If you already have an account, log in to your dashboard and select the API section.
  2. Add the Tinify Module in Make.com
    In Make.com, add the Tinify module to your scenario. Click on the module to set up a new Tinify connection.
  3. Enter Your Tinify API Key
    When prompted, enter your Tinify API key. If you don’t have one yet, visit tinypng.com/developers. Enter your name and email to get your API key instantly.
  4. Explore the Integration Features
    To find the Tinify app on Make.com, search “Tinify” in the plugin directory. The integration offers different features, including:
    • Compressing an image
    • Converting an image
    • Converting an image to WebP
      Converting to WebP reduces image sizes without losing quality, which helps your website load faster.
  5. Automate Your Image Tasks
    With the integration setup, you can automate image compression. For example, compress images uploaded to Google Drive automatically.

See the Tinify Make.com integration in action

Watch this quick video to see how easy it is to automate image conversion to WebP using the Tinify Make.com Integration with Google Drive.

Credits: Callinetic

Conclusion

The Tinify Make.com Integration offers an easy, no-code way to automate image compression. By adding Tinify to your Make.com workflows, you can save time and improve your website’s performance.

3 reasons why marketing professionals recommend TinyPNG

George the Panda on September 18, 2024

Marketers and web consultants, who often manage clients’ large volumes of images, need efficient tools to compress images for the web and streamline their workflows while delivering content. Enter TinyPNG, an image compression and conversion tool developed by Tinify that has gained a dedicated following in the industry. In this blog post, we’ll explore 3 compelling reasons why TinyPNG is a go-to solution for professionals and how it can transform your image optimization workflow.

Why is image compression important for marketers and web consultants? 

Image compression is important for marketers because it affects how well a website performs and how users feel about it. When images are compressed, they take up less space, which helps websites load faster. This is especially important since many people use mobile devices to browse. Optimized images help pages load quickly, even on slow connections, improving user experience and encouraging visitors to stay on your website longer. 

Smaller image files also use less bandwidth, which can lower hosting costs—this is a big plus for websites with lots of images, like blogs, portfolios, and online stores. 

Additionally, Google considers page speed in its ranking system, and compressed images help improve load times, boosting your Google PageSpeed Insights score. A faster website can lead to better search rankings and more organic traffic. Quick loading times also lower bounce rates; when users don’t have to wait for images, they are more likely to stay, check out your content, and become customers. Google states that if page load time increases from one to five seconds, the chance of users leaving the page rises by 90%. This is especially crucial to e-commerce websites, where more engagement can lead to higher sales and better SEO performance.

1. Efficiency in batch image compression

TinyPNG is great for compressing lots of images at once, which is perfect for speeding up websites. Marketing agencies and businesses that handle thousands of images rely on TinyPNG to quickly compress many images at a time. This feature helps professionals save time and effort by optimizing multiple images simultaneously, making sure web pages load quickly. Whether updating their platform or refreshing e-commerce sites, TinyPNG simplifies their tasks.

🚀 Want to compress your images in bulk? Tinify’s Web Pro subscription was designed specifically for users who need to optimize their website images, a key factor in achieving faster loading speeds. Just drag and drop your photos, and let Web Pro do the rest. 

“The Web Pro subscription allows us to optimize our images for faster websites and mobile applications for our clients”

Nader Stouhi

Managing Partner and Developer at Nascode

2. High-quality image compression

Another reason TinyPNG stands out is its exceptional image compression quality for the web. TinyPNG efficiently compresses PNG and JPEG images, reducing file sizes without significantly compromising quality. 

This is crucial for optimizing website performance, as smaller images load faster and improve user experience. TinyPNG employs advanced compression algorithms that ensure images remain sharp and visually appealing, even after significant size reduction. 

The best part is that users don’t need to manually adjust compression settings or inspect images for artifacts. TinyPNG’s smart algorithms handle all the optimization automatically, preserving image quality without any extra effort from users. 

This seamless process eliminates the need for constant checks and adjustments, allowing users to focus on other important tasks while still delivering clear and professional images. TinyPNG’s efficient compression ensures that marketing materials look professional and work well for web design, social media, or advertising campaigns.

“Every instance of using Tinify has resulted in improved performance. Loading times have significantly decreased, with some extreme cases of websites going from a 20-second load time to just 2-3 seconds. While Tinify plays a role in this improvement, it’s also a combination of clean and scrupulous coding practices and other optimization tools like WP Rocket and Lightspeed.”

Guy Walder, Founder of TheGuy

Read the the customer story: Web development agency TheGuy optimizes websites with Tinify’s Web Pro

3. User-friendly interface

A user-friendly interface is essential for busy marketers and web consultants who need to quickly compress images for their websites. TinyPNG’s interface is easy to use and straightforward, making image optimization a breeze. Users appreciate its simple, clean design, which makes the whole process easy and stress-free. This simplicity is why they keep coming back.

What customers say: Marketer Rachael Woods improves clients’ websites with TinyPNG’s online image compressor

Rachael Woods, the owner of Woods Marcon, a marketing agency based in Northwest Washington, exemplifies the benefits of TinyPNG’s user-friendly interface. Rachael, skilled in SEO and website assessments, noticed that many of the sites she worked on had large images that caused slow loading times. She needed a solution to boost website performance by optimizing images effectively.

Rachael explains that in her role, she frequently assesses websites and often finds that oversized images are a common issue that slows down loading speeds. She emphasizes that optimizing these images is crucial, especially given the growing number of mobile users. This task is a fundamental aspect of her work, whether she is developing SEO-friendly structures or assisting clients in improving their websites. She realized that TinyPNG’s simple drag-and-drop image compression tool was ideal for her requirements.

“What I love about TinyPNG is that I can upload a whole batch of images, have them processed together, and then download them all at once. I’ve tried other tools that offer many features, but they’re not as convenient for batch processing. I often need to compress multiple images quickly, and other tools usually require you to do it one at a time, and I don’t have time for that.”

Rachael Woods, Marketing consultant and owner of Woods MarCom

Read the customer story: Marketing Consultant Rachael Woods upgrades to Web Ultra for easy bulk image compression

5. Ability to convert to WebP

WebP is a modern image format developed by Google that offers advanced image compression. Since its introduction in 2010, it has become popular among marketers and web professionals for its excellent performance. WebP provides better compression than traditional formats like JPEG and PNG, which means smaller file sizes without losing quality. This helps web pages load faster and improves SEO. 

TinyPNG makes it easy to convert images to WebP, helping users meet modern web standards and improve website performance. Users appreciate how smoothly TinyPNG handles the conversion, leading to faster load times and better SEO, which keeps visitors engaged and boosts site performance.

What customers say: Marketers simplifying WebP conversion and image optimization with TinyPNG

Alexandre Laurin, an eCommerce consultant, and Aaron Van Gorp, Managing Director at a marketing agency, chose TinyPNG’s Web Ultra to solve their image optimization issues. Alexandre required a way to handle unlimited images quickly, while Aaron needed to convert many images to WebP, which was difficult with standard tools. TinyPNG’s Web Ultra subscription offered an easy solution by allowing bulk compression and conversion, greatly boosting website performance and satisfying Google PageSpeed standards. Both experts enjoyed time savings and high-quality image optimization, improving their clients’ websites with ease.

“Web Ultra allows me to optimize unlimited images in bulk. By compressing and converting my clients’ images to WebP, I typically save up to 70%. That’s why I’ve been suggesting Tinify to my clients for a while now.”

Alexandre Laurin

eCommerce Consultant in Montreal
“We had to convert about 300 images to WebP and doing it manually in Sketch or Photoshop was not practical. Thanks to TinyPNG, I was able to easily batch convert and compress them, meeting Google PageSpeed’s requirements.”

Aaron Van Gorp

Managing Director, Lucent Design Co. 

🚀 Are you ready to convert your images into the WebP format? With Tinify’s Web Ultra subscription, you can convert as many photos as you want to WebP, which typically reduces file sizes by about a third compared to standard JPEGs and PNGs.

Conclusion

Marketing professionals should consider several key factors when selecting an image compression tool. It’s important to ensure high-quality compression that reduces file size without losing image quality. Compatibility with different file formats like PNG, JPEG, and WebP is also crucial. For those dealing with many images, batch processing can improve efficiency. The tool should be user-friendly, and aspects like speed and cost need evaluation. Good customer support, thorough documentation, and secure handling of images are essential. We believe Tinify checks all these boxes — are you ready to give it a try?

TinyPNG is a reliable tool for compressing and optimizing images, making it popular among marketers, web consultants, and anyone wanting to enhance website speed.

Marketing professionals recommend TinyPNG for three main reasons:

  1. Efficient image compression: TinyPNG reduces image file sizes without sacrificing quality, which speeds up website loading times, lowers bandwidth usage, and improves SEO by enhancing Google PageSpeed scores.
  2. Batch image compression: It allows users to compress and optimize multiple images at once, saving time for those managing large volumes of content, and is ideal for businesses with extensive image needs.
  3. User-friendly interface: Its simple, intuitive design makes it easy to use, and results in quick and effective image optimization.

Additionally, TinyPNG supports converting images to WebP format, offering advanced compression and better performance.

For those prioritizing website speed, user experience, and SEO, TinyPNG is a must-have tool. Whether you’re optimizing images for marketing, improving visuals for web design, or enhancing product images for your clients’ online stores, TinyPNG provides the results you need.

Don’t let slow images slow down your website. Try TinyPNG today and see how it can transform your image compression process, making your work quicker, simpler, and more efficient.

Image compression for high-traffic websites: How TinyPNG supports enterprise-level image optimization

George the Panda on September 18, 2024

High-traffic websites face unique challenges in maintaining performance and user experience. One significant aspect that can dramatically impact these factors is image optimization. This blog post explores how TinyPNG supports enterprise-level image optimization with its advanced features, including API integration, bulk processing capabilities, and an Image CDN.

The importance of image optimization

Images are essential for any website, especially for high-traffic blogs and e-commerce sites, where visual content is key in engagement and conversions. However, high-quality images often come with large file sizes, which can slow down your website. Slow loading times can lead to higher bounce rates and lower user satisfaction, ultimately affecting revenue.

Here’s why image optimization is crucial:

  1. Improved load times: Optimized images load faster, which enhances the overall user experience and can positively impact your website’s search engine ranking.
  2. Reduced bandwidth: Smaller image files mean less data transfer, which can reduce your hosting costs and improve website performance.
  3. Enhanced SEO: Faster websites are favored by search engines, leading to better visibility and higher rankings.
  4. Increased conversions: A faster, more efficient website leads to a better user experience, which can increase conversion rates and customer retention.

How TinyPNG supports enterprise-level image optimization

High-traffic websites need to efficiently optimize large volumes of images. This is where TinyPNG’s enterprise solutions come into play. Let’s explore the features and benefits that make TinyPNG an ideal choice for enterprise-level image optimization.

1. API Integration: Compress your images with TinyPNG’s API

TinyPNG offers robust API integration, making it easy to incorporate image optimization into your existing workflows. Tinify’s API allows you to automate the compression process, ensuring that all images uploaded to your site are optimized in real-time.

Key benefits of an image compression API:

  • Automation: Automatically compress images as they are uploaded, saving time and reducing manual effort.
  • Consistency: Ensure all images meet your optimization standards, maintaining quality and performance across your website, without the need to individually check each one.
  • Scalability: Handle large volumes of images effortlessly, making it ideal for high-traffic websites and large-scale operations.
  • Real-time optimization: Set up your API to automatically compress images as they are uploaded. This ensures that every image on your site is optimized without any manual intervention.
  • Custom workflows: Integrate the API with your content management and digital asset management systems to create custom workflows tailored to your needs.
  • Flexibility: The API supports various programming languages and platforms, making it adaptable to your existing tech stack.
Case study: Better user experience with Tinify’s image compression API

Websites that create ads can benefit from using an image compression API to improve ad performance and meet digital advertising standards by keeping high-quality visuals and reducing file sizes.

Adpiler and ResponsiveAds used Tinify’s API to enhance their digital content, leading to better performance and user experience. Adpiler integrated Tinify’s API to compress HTML5 ads, making them load faster and ensuring compliance with ad size requirements for platforms like Google. This integration improved the approval process and guaranteed quicker ad downloads without compromising quality. 

Similarly, ResponsiveAds adopted Tinify’s API to manage the complex demands of ad compression, resulting in significant load time reductions, improved reliability, and consistent performance during peak traffic. 

Key takeaway: A website that uploads hundreds of product images daily can set up the TinyPNG API to automatically compress these images upon upload. This ensures that all images are optimized for speed and quality, improving the overall user experience. 

“The best part is that we don’t have to bother about it. We simply send an API request, receive the optimized images back, and know that they are compressed while maintaining their quality. This is fantastic because otherwise, we would have to develop our own solution, which isn’t our core business but certainly benefits our customers.”

Jorrit Baerends, Founder of Adpiler

2. Bulk processing capabilities: Compress, convert and resize with TinyPNG

High-traffic websites often deal with massive image libraries. Manually optimizing each image is not feasible. TinyPNG’s bulk processing capabilities allow you to compress hundreds or thousands of images simultaneously, streamlining your workflow and ensuring all your images are optimized efficiently. These features are available on both our online tool and API. Additionally, you can convert your images to JPEG, PNG and WebP. TinyPNG’s image compression API also allows users to resize and crop their images. 

Key benefits of bulk image compression with TinyPNG:

  • Efficiency: Compress large batches of images quickly, freeing up time for other tasks.
  • Batch image optimization: Compress and convert thousands of images in a single batch, drastically reducing the time required for manual optimization.
  • Cost-effective: Reduce bandwidth and storage costs by minimizing the size of your image files.
  • Ease of use with TinyPNG’s online tool: A simple drag-and-drop interface makes bulk processing straightforward and user-friendly.
  • Integration with storage solutions for API users: Combine bulk processing with cloud storage solutions like Amazon S3 for seamless optimization and storage of large image libraries. 
Case study: Large-scale image optimization with TinyPNG

Tul, a B2B marketplace app for construction materials in LATAM, faced issues with app speed and data transfer costs due to large image files. By integrating Tinify’s API for image compression, they improved app speed, reduced costs, and maintained high image quality, leading to increased user satisfaction. 

Similarly, eD-ONLINE, a digital agency in Malaysia, reduced image sizes by 70-80% with Tinify’s Web Pro subscription, which gives them access to unlimited compressions through Tinify’s website. This optimization allowed them to efficiently handle high-volume projects with up to a thousand images daily, improving download times for image-heavy content, especially in rural areas with slow internet connections. 

Key Takeaway: An e-commerce website with an extensive archive of images can use TinyPNG’s bulk processing to compress all existing images. This not only improves the load times for archived articles but also frees up storage space and reduces bandwidth usage. This helps ensure that all product images are optimized for speed and quality, enhancing the shopping experience. 

“We handle a substantial number of images. For instance, in some of our active projects, we optimize around a thousand images per day. So we use Tinify extensively, especially in our e-learning projects, to reduce the size of image files.”

Chiang Loong Tan, Executive Director of eD-ONLINE

3. Image CDN: Image optimization and faster websites with Tinify CDN

High-traffic websites and platforms with lots of images often have trouble dealing with large amounts of high-quality visuals. It’s not practical to manually resize and compress each image. Image optimization is important, but there are other things to think about for keeping busy websites running smoothly. Using an Image CDN (Content Delivery Network) – such as Tinify CDN – is a helpful upgrade that makes sure images are delivered fast and stay high-quality. By using servers in different places, images are stored and sent to users from the closest server, cutting down on delays and making loading times much faster.

Tinify CDN's homepage

Key Benefits of an Image CDN:

  • Reduced latency: Improves performance by reducing latency and balancing load across servers.
  • Fast delivery: Quickly delivers images using a global network of servers.
  • Global distribution: Distributes images across multiple servers worldwide for faster access.
  • Automatic compression: Automatically compresses images as they are uploaded, saving time and reducing manual effort.
  • Optimization of static content: Optimizes other static content like JavaScript files and CSS stylesheets, enhancing overall website speed.
  • Caching static files: A CDN reduces server load by caching static files, thereby reducing the number of requests to your server.
  • Bandwidth costs: A CDN can lower bandwidth costs by serving cached files from edge servers.
Case study: How Tinify CDN speeds up high-traffic websites

STAFFLINK, an Australian digital solutions provider for the real estate industry, used Tinify CDN to speed up the delivery of high-resolution property images. This helped improve loading times on their real estate websites, making it better for potential homebuyers. By leveraging Tinify CDN, STAFFLINK streamlines the image delivery process for their clients. They now simply upload raw images to their Amazon S3 bucket and Tinify takes care of resizing and compression, eliminating the need for manual resizing efforts. This is especially important for real estate websites with high-resolution property images.

Immer, a Dutch web development company, also uses Tinify CDN to compress images and improve web performance. This allowed them to efficiently handle image-heavy websites and maintain high performance and user experience.

Key takeaway: An image CDN improves image-heavy websites by automatically compressing high-resolution images, leading to faster loading times and easier image delivery.

“We are very focused on performance because the websites we build have very large quantities of images and they have to be very high-resolution. To give you an example, we serve up about 200GB of images alone from one website. So it didn’t just speed up the website when we use Tinify CDN, it was speeding up that import process.”

Matt Neal, Project Manager at STAFFLINK

Conclusion

Optimizing images is essential for high-traffic websites. TinyPNG provides enterprise solutions for large websites, including API integration, bulk processing, and an Image CDN. Enhance your website’s performance, decrease load times, and enhance user experience with TinyPNG.

Ready to upgrade your image optimization? Discover TinyPNG’s enterprise solutions to transform your website into a fast, efficient, user-friendly platform.

Image conversion for beginners: A simple step-by-step tutorial

George the Panda on September 18, 2024

Image conversion is a fundamental skill for anyone working with digital media, whether you’re a graphic designer, photographer, or tech enthusiast. If you’re new to the world of image conversion, this tutorial will guide you through the basics, helping you understand the process and convert images with ease.

What is image conversion?

Image conversion is changing an image from one file format to another. This can be necessary for various reasons, such as reducing file size, ensuring compatibility with specific software, or preparing an image for a particular use case (e.g., web, print, social media).

Common image formats

Before diving into the conversion process, it’s helpful to understand some of the most common image formats:

  • JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): Ideal for photographs and images with many colors. Offers lossy compression, which reduces file size but can affect quality.
  • PNG (Portable Network Graphics): Supports lossless compression, and maintains high quality. Perfect for images with transparency and graphics.
  • GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): Best for simple graphics and animations. Supports limited colors and can be used for small animations.
  • BMP (Bitmap): An uncompressed format that retains high image quality but results in large file sizes.
  • TIFF (Tagged Image File Format): Often used in professional photography and publishing. Supports lossless compression and multiple layers.
  • HEIC (High-Efficiency Image Coding): Developed by MPEG, this format offers high compression efficiency while retaining excellent image quality. It supports advanced features like multiple images (live photos) and better detail preservation. Often used in Apple’s ecosystem.
  • WebP: Developed by Google, this format provides superior lossless and lossy compression for images on the web, reducing their file size. It supports transparency (like PNG) and animation (like GIF), making it versatile for web use.

Why should you convert your images to smaller sizes for websites?

One of the most significant factors affecting website performance is the size of the images used. Converting images to smaller sizes improves various aspects of a website, from user experience to search engine optimization (SEO).

1. Faster loading times

  • Speed matters: The loading speed of a website is directly related to user satisfaction. According to studies, 53% of mobile users abandon websites that take longer than three seconds to load. Large images are one of the main reasons behind slow-loading websites.
  • First impressions count: Visitors are more likely to stay and interact with a website that loads quickly. Fast loading times lead to a better first impression, increasing the likelihood of conversion and engagement.
  • Universal access: Optimized images make your website more accessible to users with varying internet speeds and devices, including those in regions with slower internet connections.
  • PageSpeed Insights: Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights assess website performance, including image optimization. Smaller images help achieve better scores, indicating a well-optimized site.
  • Core Web Vitals: Metrics such as Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) are influenced by image sizes. Optimized images contribute to better Core Web Vitals, enhancing overall site performance.

2. Improved SEO rankings

  • Google’s Algorithm: Search engines like Google consider page load speed as a ranking factor. Faster websites are more likely to rank higher in search results, driving more organic traffic to your website.
  • Mobile optimization: With the rise of mobile-first indexing, having a mobile-optimized site is crucial. Smaller images enhance mobile site performance, aligning with Google’s preferences.
  • Reduced bounce rates: Faster load times lead to lower bounce rates, as users are less likely to leave a site that loads quickly. Lower bounce rates positively impact SEO.
  • Increased dwell time: A faster, more responsive site encourages users to spend more time exploring your content, further boosting SEO performance.

3. Bandwidth and hosting savings

  • Storage savings: Smaller image files take up less storage space, reducing the costs associated with web hosting.
  • Reduced bandwidth: Smaller images consume less bandwidth, which is especially beneficial for users with limited data plans or slower internet connections. Additionally, lower bandwidth consumption can result in lower hosting fees, particularly for websites with high traffic volumes.
  • Lower server load: Smaller image files reduce the load on your server, allowing it to handle more simultaneous users without performance degradation.

A step-by-step guide to image conversion

To convert your images to and from PNG, JPEG and WebP, you can use Tinify’s free image converter. No account creation or new software installation is required. For unlimited image conversions, you can upgrade to Web Ultra.

1. Upload your image: Simply choose the image you want to modify and click or drag it into the converter. 

2. Select PNG, JPEG or WebP as the output: Opt for “convert your images automatically” and choose your preferred image format to convert. The image conversion process will start on its own. Alternatively, you can choose “select all” and pick the format that results in the smallest size.

3. Download the converted image: After the conversion is complete, just click the download button to keep the WebP image on your device. 

💡 Bonus: Tinify’s image converter also compresses your images automatically. It shrinks file sizes by up to 80% without compromising quality, leading to speedier page loading. 

Common problems in image conversion and how to solve them

Image conversion can lead to issues like quality loss, file size problems, and compatibility errors. As a newbie in image conversion, it’s important to know how to solve them to ensure optimal results.

Problem 1: Loss of image quality

Issue: Converting an image from one format to another can result in a noticeable loss of quality, especially when using lossy compression methods.

Solution:

  • Use lossless formats: Use lossless formats like PNG or TIFF if quality preservation is crucial.
  • Adjust compression settings: If using a lossy format like JPEG, adjust the compression settings to find a balance between file size and image quality. Another option is to use tools that can determine the optimal conversion ratio for you, like Tinify’s image converter which can automatically convert images.
  • Maintain original files: Keep a copy of the original file. This way, you can return to the original quality if needed.

Problem 2: Image file size issues

Issue: Converted images can sometimes still end up being much larger than anticipated, affecting storage and loading times.

Solution:

  • Choose the right format: Use formats suited to your needs. JPEG is good for photos with smaller file sizes, while PNG is better for high-quality graphics. For the web, WebP is recommended as it offers smaller image file sizes.
  • Resize images appropriately: Resize your images before conversion to the dimensions you need to avoid unnecessary large file sizes.
  • Use image compression tools: In addition, tools like TinyPNG can help reduce file size without significant quality loss.

JPEG vs WebP. The picture on the right was converted to WebP using Tinify’s image converter. The new image file size is significantly smaller. Photo by Lukas W. on Unsplash

Problem 3: Incompatibility with software, browsers or other platforms

Issue: Some formats may not be supported by certain platforms, leading to issues when opening or displaying the images.

Solution:

  • Check compatibility: Before converting, check the requirements of the software or platform to ensure compatibility. For example, WebP images are not supported by Internet Explorer browser and SquareSpace website builder.
  • Convert to common formats for web: Use widely supported formats like JPEG, PNG, or WebP for better compatibility.
  • Update software: Ensure that you are using the latest version of your software, as it may support more formats.

Problem 4: Transparency loss

Issue: Some formats do not support transparency, leading to a loss of transparent areas in the image.

Solution:

  • Use PNG, GIF or WebP for transparency: Both PNG and GIF formats support transparency. Choose these formats when transparency is needed. WebP is often better for transparent images due to its superior compression efficiency and quality, resulting in smaller file sizes.

Problem 5: Metadata loss

Issue: Converting images can strip out metadata, which includes important information like copyright details, camera settings, and more.

Solution:

  • Use software that preserves metadata: Some tools offer options to preserve metadata during conversion. Tools like Adobe Photoshop or ExifTool can help.
  • Manually add metadata: After conversion, manually add back important metadata if it has been lost. 

Problem 6: Unexpected file corruption

Issue: Sometimes, converted files may become corrupted and unusable.

Solution:

  • Use reliable tools: Use well-known and trusted conversion tools to minimize the risk of corruption.
  • Check files immediately: Always check the converted files immediately after conversion to ensure they are not corrupted.
  • Backup files: Keep backups of your original files to avoid losing important data.

Problem 7: Incorrect resolution

Issue: Converting images without paying attention to resolution settings can result in images that are too low or too high in resolution.

Solution:

  • Set resolution before conversion: Adjust the resolution settings in your conversion tool before converting the image.
  • Use appropriate resolution: Use a resolution suitable for your end use – 300 DPI for print and 72 DPI for web.

Problem 8: Limited batch conversion options

Issue: Converting multiple images at once can be time-consuming if your tool doesn’t support batch processing.

Solution:

  • Use batch conversion tools: Tools like TinyPNG and Adobe Bridge offer batch image conversion features.
  • Automate with scripts: For advanced users, writing scripts to automate batch conversion can save time and effort. You can use Tinify’s API in your scripts to automate batch image conversion.
batch image converter with Tinify's online image converter

Tips for successful image conversion

  • Check quality settings: Some tools allow you to adjust the quality settings. Higher quality usually means a larger file size. Tinify’s image converter takes care of this for you by choosing the best quality vs. size ratio, ensuring your images look the same without any noticeable loss in quality.
  • Maintain aspect ratio: Ensure that the aspect ratio (the ratio of width to height) remains consistent to avoid distorting the image.
  • Backup original files: Always keep a copy of the original image in case you need to revert any changes.
  • Use appropriate formats: Choose the right format for your needs. For example, use JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparency, GIF for animations and WebP for online use.

Conclusion

Knowing how to convert images is important for website owners. This guide explains the process of changing image file formats to make them smaller, compatible, or suitable for specific purposes. 

It’s important to convert images to smaller sizes for better website performance, faster loading times, improved SEO rankings, and lower bandwidth costs. 

You can simplify this process by using Tinify’s free image converter, which allows you to convert your images to and from JPEG, PNG and WebP, so you don’t have to worry about quality loss, file size issues, and compatibility problems.

Image compression plugin: Better images with TinyPNG’s WordPress Plugin

George the Panda on August 15, 2024

A fast-loading website is more important than ever. It leads to more conversions and a better user experience. Compressed images have a big influence on that. If you have a WordPress website and want to speed up loading times, the TinyPNG WordPress plugin might be helpful. But what exactly is this image compression plugin and how can you speed up your WordPress website by compressing your pictures?

Why compress images?

Optimizing the size of your images is crucial for ensuring a fast and efficient website. Large image files are one of the biggest reasons behind slow websites as many website owners overlook the size of their images when they upload them into their WordPress websites. While they may look good on the page, this isn’t enough to guarantee the best user experience.

At the same time, the size of your images impacts your SEO, as faster websites rank higher in search results, which results in more visitors and conversions. 

Some experts recommend that your images shouldn’t be more than 1MB, but Shopify advises users to keep image files under 70KB. 

Additionally, as a rule of thumb, your website shouldn’t take more than 3 seconds to load as 40% of users will immediately leave it.

Before you keep on reading, you can use Tinify’s Analyzer to discover how much time you can save on page loading by compressing your images.

Does WordPress automatically compress images?

You might be wondering, does WordPress automatically compress images? The answer is yes, but only to a certain extent. WordPress does compress pictures upon upload, but this default compression might not be sufficient for optimal performance and could make images blurry. To prevent this, an image compression plugin comes in handy.

The image on the right illustrates how WordPress automatically reduces the size of your uploaded pictures by changing the resolution to “Large.” However, this makes the image look quite blurry. If you choose “Full size,” you will notice a clear difference. In this way, a better solution is to select “Full Size” and use a specific image compression plugin to maintain high quality.

Why use an image compression plugin for WordPress?

Having a lot of images on your website takes time to load. A simple way to decrease the loading time of your website is to compress images. An image compression plugin for WordPress can further reduce the file sizes of your images beyond the default compression WordPress provides. This ensures your website loads quickly, improving both SEO and user experience.

For websites made in WordPress, Tinify has an image compression plugin for WordPress that can help you optimize your JPEG, PNG, and WebP images. 

How does the TinyPNG WordPress plugin work?

Your website’s images are compressed through Tinify’s API service to reduce file sizes. The optimization process is tailored to each image, ensuring the best results. Once compressed, the smaller images are sent back to your WordPress site, replacing the originals. 

On average, JPEG images are compressed by 40-60% and PNG images by 50-80% with no visible quality loss. This leads to faster loading times and significant savings in storage space and bandwidth. Every day, roughly three million images are optimized by Tinify!

How to compress images in WordPress

The TinyPNG WordPress plugin allows you to reduce the size of images using the Bulk Optimization tool or by manually selecting them. 

Additionally, it offers 3 options for handling newly optimized images: optimize after upload, optimize during upload, or not compress at all. The last option is ideal for website development to avoid unnecessary compressions.

The image compression plugin allows you to compress 500 images each month for free. The exact total depends on the number of thumbnail sizes that are in use in your WordPress installation. That means that with a standard WordPress installation, you can optimize roughly 100 images each month for free. 

Features of TinyPNG’s image compression plugin for WordPress

  • Optimize images as you upload them
  • Improve single images in your media library
  • Quickly optimize all images in your library
  • Resize large images upon upload for better display
  • Speed up JPEG image loading with progressive encoding
  • Keep copyright info and other data in original images
  • Compress animated PNG files
  • Pick which image sizes to optimize

If you’re looking for a straightforward solution, the TinyPNG WordPress plugin is the way to go. According to our users, TinyPNG is easier to use than other plugins. “It does the job” is common feedback – that and “I love the panda!”. Moreover, users appreciate the convenience of avoiding subscriptions in case they surpass the free monthly limit of 500 compressions. Instead, they can easily pay for additional images for a minimal cost.

“It may sound like TinyPNG only helps in reducing file size, but if you think about the Technical SEO side of the website, it helps to improve both page loading speed and PageSpeed Insights scores.”

Robin Thebe, WordPress Developer

Read the full review: WP Guru: TinyPNG – Compress and Reduce PNG, JPG and WEBP Image File Size by Up to 90%

How to install the TinyPNG WordPress plugin?

The image compression plugin is easy to install on your WordPress website. Instructions are listed on this page. Once installed, you can also switch to a paid account which removes limits and allows you to optimize as many images as you like. 

1. Install the plugin and create an account
Begin by installing the TinyPNG plugin on your WordPress site. Once installed, go to Settings and click on “Compress JPEG & PNG images”. Follow the instructions to create an account. 

2. Select when newly uploaded images should be compressed
You have the option to decide how the plugin should handle newly uploaded images. There are three available options to choose from:

  • Option 1: Compress new images in the background (recommended)
    This is the fastest method for image compression and involves automatically compressing your images in the background. However, please note that this option can potentially cause issues with some image plugins.
  • Option 2: Compress new images during upload
    The second option is to compress new images during upload. This option takes a bit longer but provides higher compatibility with other plugins.
  • Option 3: Do not compress new images automatically
    Lastly, you can also choose not to compress new uploads automatically. In this case, you can manually select the images you want to compress in the Media Library. This is also the recommended option while doing development work on your website.

3. Select image sizes to be compressed
When you upload an image to your WordPress website, WordPress automatically generates different thumbnail versions of it, which can be seen in the Settings > Media section. 

The TinyPNG plugin will compress each of these different sizes of images, which means that if you have 100 images and 5 different sizes, the plugin will perform 500 compressions. To manage which image sizes get generated and compressed by the plugin, uncheck any image sizes that you don’t want to use or compress with the plugin. This allows you to customize the plugin according to your preferences and optimize only the images that are important for your website.

4. Resizing of original images
In addition to image compression, the plugin also provides the ability to resize your original images, which can save storage space. Resizing your images involves setting a maximum width and height for all images uploaded to your website. This process takes one additional compression for each image that is larger than the specified dimensions.

5. Preserving metadata
Lastly, the plugin also allows you to preserve certain metadata. If you do not select any metadata to preserve, all data will be removed during the compression process. However, if you want to preserve certain metadata, you can select the specific data that you wish to keep.

6. Save settings
After making changes to your plugin settings, it’s important to save your changes to ensure that they are applied to your website. To save your settings, simply click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the Settings page.

How to measure the impact of image optimization on blog performance

To understand the full impact of image optimization on your WordPress website, it’s essential to track various performance metrics. Here are some key metrics to focus on:

  1. Page load time: A critical metric that directly affects user experience and SEO.
  2. Bounce rate: The percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page.
  3. Average session duration: The average time a visitor spends on your site.
  4. Conversion Rates: The percentage of visitors who complete a desired action, such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase.

To measure these, you can record your current performance metrics using tools like Google Analytics, GTmetrix, and Pingdom. If you are using TinyPNG, the plugin provides a dashboard showing the total savings and compression statistics, helping you monitor the effectiveness of your optimization efforts.

Once you use an image compression plugin for WordPress like TinyPNG to reduce the file size of your images, you can track the same metrics to see the improvements. Compare page load times, bounce rates, session duration, and conversion rates before and after optimization.

Based on the data, make further adjustments. If certain pages are still slow, check for other factors like server speed or unoptimized code. Continuously monitor and refine your optimization strategy to maintain optimal performance.

Testimonial: LearnWorlds improved blog speed with Tinify

LearnWorlds, an online learning platform, had trouble with slow-loading blog pages due to high-resolution images. They tried free tools at first, but they didn’t work well. They used Tinify to automatically compress large images without losing quality, making their web pages load faster:

1. Improved performance: Image sizes were reduced to less than 1 MB, making the website faster and improving Google search rankings.
2. SEO benefits: Faster loading times helped with SEO, leading to better search engine rankings.
3. Easy workflow: Tinify made the optimization process smoother, saving time and fitting well into their workflow.
4. Cost-effective: Tinify was a cost-effective tool for compressing 500 to 1000 images per month.

“In many cases, we are getting very high-resolution images from our design department to upload to the blog. This would mean articles with >3 MB of images if we were to use those.”

Nick Malekos, SEO Manager at LearnWorlds

Conclusion: TinyPNG WordPress plugin in short

The TinyPNG WordPress plugin is a great tool for optimizing your website’s performance by compressing images. It improves page load times, user experience, and SEO without sacrificing quality. 

Whether you have a big website or a personal blog, this plugin is easy to use and seamlessly integrates with WordPress. It offers features like automatic compression, bulk optimization, and customizable settings for metadata and resizing. 

Start enjoying faster and more efficient image handling on your website by installing the TinyPNG plugin today. If you have any questions about the plugin or feedback, let us know at support@tinypng.com, or find us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Best image compression software: A friendly comparison of Photoshop, Canva, Preview and Tinify (TinyPNG)

George the Panda on February 5, 2024

When it comes to image compression, most people are introduced to this concept through familiar apps they use daily – for example, Photoshop, Canva, or even Preview. These apps offer image optimization features, aiming to reduce file sizes without sacrificing image quality. 

However, they often fall short of offering a seamless experience. 

While reducing the file size of only one picture with traditional image editing software is as easy as it sounds, the same can’t be said when you have to do it dozens or hundreds of times. This is usually the turning point for our users, who end up on Tinify’s website when searching online for better solutions out of frustration. If this is you right now, keep on reading – let’s explore why Tinify might be a better choice for compressing your images.

What is image compression?

In simple terms, image compression is the process of reducing the size of an image file without sacrificing its visual quality. The goal here is to strike a balance between file size and image quality to ensure your website loads quickly and smoothly.

Picture this: you stumble upon a website that takes forever to load. Frustrating, right? Slow-loading websites can be a major turn-off for users, resulting in high bounce rates and losing potential customers. This is where image compression comes to the rescue! By reducing the file size of your images, you can significantly speed up your website’s loading time, making your visitors happier and more likely to stick around.

4 reasons image compression is important

  1. Faster loading speed: Compressed images are smaller in size, which means they require less bandwidth to load. This translates into lightning-fast loading times and a seamless browsing experience for your users.
  2. Improved user experience: A website that loads quickly is a website that keeps users engaged. By optimizing your images, you ensure that your audience can access your content without any frustrating delays or interruptions.
  3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) boost: Did you know that search engines take website speed into account when ranking search results? By compressing your images, you’re not only pleasing your visitors but also giving your SEO efforts a nudge in the right direction.
  4. Reduced bandwidth usage and hosting costs: Smaller image files mean less data consumption, making your website more cost-effective to host. This is especially important if you have a high-traffic website or if you’re on a limited hosting plan, as well as if your users access your website through mobile data. 

How TinyPNG compares with traditional image editing software

TinyPNG vs. Canva

Canva is a great graphic design platform for people with little design experience. At Tinify, we’re fans of its simplicity in creating social media graphics. While the free subscription offers a vast array of options, image compression is only available to paid users. 

The image compression option works both for PNG and JPG images. For PNGs, it is only a matter of ticking off a box, but users have the option to choose the level of compression of JPEGs. The compression algorithm works well; however, it is a tiresome process, as they don’t provide any indication of how much one can compress each image without any visible loss in quality. All we are left with is to guess, pick a percentage, download the image, check it, and repeat the process once again until we find the optimal degree of compression. 

Screenshot-image-compression-Canva

Photo by Elena Loshina on Unsplash

Alternative to Photoshop to reduce image files

This is why we heard from some Tinify users that they first create their graphics on Canva and later use Tinify/TinyPNG’s website to quickly compress their images. Our drag-and-drop feature allows them to cut on time because our algorithm automatically picks the best optimization level. All they have to do is drag and drop their images on our website and wait to download them. As one user said:

“It’s great, I don’t have to do anything – just drag and drop and that’s it. We did try using Canva’s compression feature but it’s okayish. Instead, with Tinify we can get a reduction of 50-60% in image size.”

Jaroslaw Rozanski, Founder of Wide Angle Analytics

TinyPNG vs. Preview

Apple’s Preview is an image and PDF viewer with editing capabilities. MacOS users have the option to compress their JPEG, HEIC, and JPEG-2000 (a next-gen image format), as well as convert their images. In the same way as Canva, users can choose the level of compression, from “least” to “best”. Although the changes are immediate, Preview still requires a certain amount of guessing. 

Screenshot-image-compression-with-Preview

In addition, while Preview offers a batch compression option, it doesn’t work when you’re trying to compress different image types. Furthermore, this option requires you to apply the same compression level to every picture, lacking the ability to personalize the optimization level for each individual image.

Alternative to Preview to reduce image files

With Tinify, you don’t have to worry about spending unnecessary time picking the best compression levels. Our unmatched compression algorithm ensures each image is meticulously analyzed to determine the best optimization level. Unlike other tools such as Preview, which are powerful in their own right, Tinify takes a web-focused approach, making sure each image is the smallest size possible to load faster on webpages, increasing web speed and, consequently, SEO rankings and conversions.

Moreover, what sets Tinify apart is its ability to handle large volumes of images effortlessly.  The tools presented require manual adjustments to optimize images for online platforms, making them less efficient for batch compression tasks. Alternatively, with Tinify’s bulk compression feature, you can upload multiple images at once, saving you valuable time with just a few clicks.

TinyPNG vs. Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a comprehensive graphics editing software that offers a wide range of features. It is a professional-grade tool used by graphic designers, photographers, and artists for tasks such as photo editing and graphic design. As an image editing software, it also provides the ability to compress images.

Just like Canva, you have the flexibility to adjust the compression level for JPEGs to optimize image file sizes. However, when it comes to PNGs, the only option available is to select “smaller file (8-bit)” which reduces the number of colors and consequently decreases the file size. It’s worth noting though, that some users have reported that this option may not always work effectively for transparent backgrounds, so keep that in mind.

Screenshot-image-compression-with-Photoshop

Alternative to Photoshop to compress images in bulk

Photoshop also has a batch option available under “File > Scripts > Image Processor”. However, this feature requires you to choose a single compression level for all the images, which means it may not provide the maximum file size savings. So why waste time with manual adjustments when you can rely on TinyPNG’s user-friendly interface and efficient batch compression? Try Tinify today and see the difference it can make for your website’s performance!

“Image compression is something I need to pay attention to because designer portfolios always have a ton of images, and we have to juggle between resolution and size. I used the Preview app as well as Photoshop but the files were still really big. Someone recommended Tinify and I was like “This is what I needed the whole time”.

Raven Mo, Designer

Why Tinify is the best image compression tool

Key features of TinyPNG 

One of Tinify’s greatest strengths is its simplicity and user-friendly interface. With a few clicks, you can easily upload your images and let Tinify work its magic, allowing you to optimize images quickly and effortlessly.

  • Efficient compression: Tinify employs smart compression techniques to reduce file sizes while preserving image quality.
  • Ease of use: Tinify/TinyPNG’s website is straightforward, allowing users to simply upload their images and download the compressed versions without the need for complex configurations.
  • Web-focused optimization: The tool is specifically geared towards web developers and designers who want to enhance website performance by minimizing image file sizes.
Tinify's image compression website

You can easily compress and convert your images for free using Tinify’s web interface. It’s the ideal solution for new business owners who are building their websites from scratch or people who have a blog on the side. With Tinify, you can compress up to 20 images for free in one go, saving you time and effort.

“Tinify was exactly what I needed – simple and straightforward. Unlike other image optimization services that seemed dubious and complicated, Tinify’s drag-and-drop tool was a perfect fit. It helped compress our web images by over 70%, resulting in faster load times.”

Ahmed Saleh, Founder of Rupt

If you’re a bit more tech-savvy, you can also subscribe to Tinify’s free image compressor API and enjoy up to 500 free monthly compressions. This is especially useful for WordPress users, as Tinify integrates seamlessly with it. By downloading the TinyPNG WordPress Plugin, you can automate the image compression process during uploads. Unlike Tinify’s API, other tools like Photoshop, Canva, and Preview lack this direct integration, requiring manual exporting and optimization of images before uploading them to your website.

Conclusion

When it comes to image compression, Tinify/TinyPNG stands out as the top choice among Photoshop, Canva, and Preview. Tinify is the go-to tool for web developers and designers with its specialized compression algorithm, user-friendly interface, ability to compress images in bulk, and web-focused optimization. By choosing Tinify, you’ll not only streamline your workflow but also enhance the overall user experience on your website by reducing loading times and optimizing bandwidth.

How to resize images to make them smaller for a faster website: dimensions vs. file size

George the Panda on February 5, 2024

How to resize images? Isn’t it the same as compressing them? We’ve noticed that many of you have questions about reducing the size of your images. We understand that this is especially common among e-commerce users, like those using Shopify. E-commerce stores often have a maximum pixel limit for images, which can cause confusion when compressing images doesn’t solve error messages such as the “Exceeds 20 Megapixels” in Shopify. That’s why we’ve written this blog post to help clarify things for you.

When it comes to optimizing images for the web, there’s a fundamental difference between reducing file size and altering pixel dimensions. 

Let’s break it down for you. 

Reducing file size, which is what tools like Tinify focus on, means compressing images to save storage space (measured in MB, or megabytes). On the other hand, altering pixel dimensions means changing the actual number of pixels in an image (measured in MP). 

In simpler terms, Tinify reduces the file size of images in terms of storage (MB), not in terms of dimensions. It tackles the weight of the image file, not its size in pixels.

If you want your images to have a smaller size in terms of megapixels, you’ll need to resize them before using Tinify. By reducing both the pixel dimensions and the file size, you can significantly enhance the performance of your website.

Now, let’s dive into image resizing and how it can benefit your e-commerce business.

How to resize images: change dimensions

Image resizing refers to adjusting the dimensions of an image (MP), not its file size in terms of storage (MB). While resizing an image impacts its file size, the main objective is to consider the website’s design and enhance user experience. So, if your website doesn’t actually require large images, it’s best to avoid using them. For instance, the best Shopify product image size is 2048 x 2048 pixels. This means that your images don’t need to be larger than these dimensions.

Resize images

And what happens when you don’t resize your images?

You score low on web performance, particularly in the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), one of the three Google Core Web Vitals metrics. LCP indicates the time it takes for the most significant element on a web page to fully appear. Usually, this element is an image and that’s why resizing large images is crucial. When images are excessively large, they require more data to be downloaded, resulting in slower page rendering. However, by resizing images appropriately, you can reduce the file size and optimize the delivery of visual content. This, in turn, leads to faster LCP and overall improved website performance. 

According to Google, the LCP should be below 2.5 seconds (within the green threshold). Screenshot of PageSpeed Insights for tinypng.com.

Benefits of dimension-based image resizing for e-commerce:

  • Reduced image file sizes translate to faster load times.
  • Smoother browsing experience for visitors.
  • Optimized images contribute to better search engine rankings.
  • Smaller image sizes potentially reduce storage costs.

Now that we’ve covered the benefits of dimension-based image resizing, let’s talk about how to resize your images.

How to resize images on your laptop

Most operating systems come with built-in image editing tools that can help you resize your images effortlessly. Whether you’re using Windows or macOS, you can use these tools to adjust the dimensions of your images. Here’s a simple guide for both:

For Windows users:

1. Open the image you want to resize using Paint, which is usually pre-installed on your computer.

2. Click on the “Resize” option under the “Home” tab.

3. Enter the desired dimensions or percentage for the image.

4. Save the resized image with a new name or overwrite the original image after making a backup copy.

For macOS users:

1. Open the image you want to resize using the Preview application, which comes pre-installed on your Mac.

2. Click on the “Tools” tab in the menu bar and select “Adjust Size.”

3. Enter the desired dimensions for the image.

4. Save the resized image with a new name or overwrite the original image after making a backup copy.

Remember to always keep a backup copy of the original image before making any changes. This way, you can revert to the original version if needed.

Now that you understand image resizing, let’s move on to image compression and how it can further optimize your resized images.

How to compress images: maximum size reduction 

Once you resize your images, you can further optimize them by using an image compression tool like Tinify. Image compression focuses on reducing the file size of your images (in terms of megabytes) by compressing the data, without altering the dimensions.

Different compression algorithms are used to achieve a reduction in file size while maintaining visual quality. For example, Tinify uses smart lossy compression techniques to reduce the file size of WebP, JPEG, and PNG files. By selectively decreasing the number of colors in the image, fewer bytes are required to store the data. The effect is invisible to the naked eye but it makes a big difference in file size.

Image compressor API: original images are heavier in size and slow down websites

Photo by Pascal Müller on Unsplash

Benefits of image compression for e-commerce:

  • Faster loading speeds for improved user experience.
  • Enhanced SEO through faster page loading times.
  • Mobile optimization for better performance on smartphones.
  • Bandwidth conservation, vital for areas with limited connectivity.
  • Cost efficiency by reducing storage and bandwidth needs.

Both original and compressed images have the same dimensions, but the compressed versions are lighter. For instance, the first picture (also shown below) was compressed almost 70% with no loss in quality. Screenshot of tinypng.com

How to compress images using Tinify: online and API

To optimize your resized images with Tinify, visit Tinify’s website or integrate Tinify’s API within your development environment:

  • If you prefer a user-friendly web interface, head to Tinify’s website. Drag and drop your images directly to compress them. 
  • For developers seeking a smooth integration, Tinify offers an image compressor API that can be directly incorporated into your development workflow.

In both instances, Tinify’s advanced compression algorithms will automatically analyze and compress your images while preserving their visual quality.

After using Tinify, replace the original images on your website with the resized and optimized versions. Smaller image file sizes contribute to faster loading speeds, improved user experience, and reduced bandwidth usage. Ultimately, this leads to higher visitor engagement and increased conversion rates.

How to make your images even smaller: convert to WebP

There are some nifty tricks and tips you can implement to make your images even smaller. One way is by using “next-gen” images, which are newer file types designed to render faster on the web. These include formats like WebP, AVIF, HEIF, and JPEG 2000. Among them, WebP has gained popularity due to its wider browser support.

WebP, developed by Google, is an innovative image format that offers the best of both worlds – superior image quality and smaller file sizes compared to JPEG or PNG formats.

Photo by Lukas W. on Unsplash

Advantages of using WebP

  • Reduced file size: WebP images can be up to 34% smaller than equivalent JPEGs and 26% smaller than PNGs, without compromising image quality. This means faster page load times and a smoother browsing experience for your visitors.
  • Transparency support: WebP supports alpha channel transparency, making it an excellent alternative to PNG for graphics and logos with transparent backgrounds.
  • Browser compatibility: WebP is supported by major web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. For browsers that do not support WebP, such as Internet Explorer, fallback options can be implemented to ensure a seamless experience for all users.

How to convert to WebP

If you’re using Shopify, you’re in luck! Shopify automatically serves WebP images to supported browsers and falls back to the original formats for unsupported browsers. However, for websites that don’t support this feature, you’ll need to find a way to convert your existing images to the WebP format. 

Remember to always check if your CMS supports WebP – e.g. e-commerce Squarespace still can’t host WebP format. This can have an impact on your SEO rankings since Google is pushing for next-gen images as shown in PageSpeed. For example, some website owners have reported a significant dip in their website performance and SEO rankings just because they weren’t able to adopt WebP yet.

Luckily if your website supports WebP, you don’t need to get lost in a sea of online tools and libraries to convert your images. Tinify now offers a new feature that allows you to convert images using our web interface or automating the process through our API. With Tinify, you can convert WebP, JPEG, and PNG pictures hassle-free. One of the greatest benefits of using Tinify’s image converter is that it not only converts your images but also compresses them, resulting in the smallest possible file size.

Converting the same JPEG images to WebP resulted in even smaller file sizes without noticeable changes in image quality. Screenshot of tinypng.com

Conclusion

To clarify, Tinify focuses on reducing the file size of images in terms of storage (MB) rather than dimensions (pixels). If you want your images to have a smaller size in terms of megapixels, you can resize them before using Tinify. Resizing your images can further decrease the file size, benefiting your website.

To achieve the best results, follow this order: first, resize your image by reducing its pixels, then compressing it with Tinify. Lastly, consider converting it to WebP and finally upload it to your website.

Use an image compressor API for better and faster website load time

George the Panda on January 18, 2024

An Developer API is a quick solution to compress a lot of images on your website in no time. Instead of manually uploading all your photos within an online compression tool, an API can do it all at once. It saves you a lot of time and besides, compressed images make your page speed way faster. It has a positive influence on how long users will stay on your webpage. But what is an API and how can you compress images with it?

Tinify’s image converter: Effortlessly convert images online with new tool

George the Panda on September 25, 2023

👏 Introducing Tinify’s Beta image converter tool!

Did you know that the idea for Tinify started on a train? It was one of those light-bulb moments when a web developer was tasked with creating a heavy-image website that simply wouldn’t load on mobile data for him. By the time the website finally loaded, his commute was over – well, perhaps it wasn’t as bad, but you get the idea. So, this got his team thinking: How can we make images load faster? It was from this point that Tinify, also known as TinyPNG, was born.

That was 10 years ago. Now, things have changed. New kinds of image files make websites load faster. People are using a format called WebP, which is smaller than the old ones like JPEG and PNG. While compressing images is still one of the quickest and most efficient fixes for slow websites, choosing the best image format and opting for next-gen formats are becoming equally important. To keep up with this trend, we’re introducing a new feature: Tinify’s image converter online tool.

Why is Tinify the best image converter tool?

Converting images online isn’t new – a quick search on Google will lead you to dozens of websites that convert images in multiple formats to JPEG or even WebP. But Tinify gives you a two-in-one tool by letting you do more than just convert images; you can also make them smaller with no quality loss all in one go. 

With Tinify’s image converter tool, you can now drag-and-drop your images and convert them from and to WebP, PNG and JPEG. Free and Web Pro users can convert three images per session. In the near future, users looking for limitless conversions can sign-up for Web Ultra, a new tier that includes both unlimited image conversions and compressions. Plus, every converted image gets automatically compressed, ensuring your website loads faster with the smallest file sizes.

How to convert images online with Tinify

Tinify’s image converter helps you find the best image version for optimal performance. You can choose from all available formats (JPEG, PNG, and WebP) and select the one with the smallest file size.

Whether you need to convert a high-resolution image to JPEG or you want to jump on the WebP trend, all you have to do is slide the converter button to the right, select the image format output, and you’re good to go! The interface is as simple as possible so you don’t waste time in complex configurations:

How to pick the best image format – from JPEG and PNG to the trendy WebP

Keep in mind that each image format has a distinct impact on your image size and, consequently, your website’s performance.

Since PNGs are generally larger than JPEGs, use them only for web graphics, logos, charts, and illustrations, especially when transparent backgrounds are required. JPEGs work best for photographs, but these days users are embracing the WebP trend.

Replacing PNG and JPEG images with WebP can further reduce loading times. In fact, Google introduced WebP precisely to serve as a superior alternative to these traditional image formats. Tinify users have been using WebP increasingly, with a growth of over 80% compared to 2022. In the picture below, you can see that WebP performs better than other formats: 

Developers also have the option to convert and compress images using Tinify’s API developer subscription, with the first 500 compressions/conversions available for free. Soon, online users will be able to sign up for unlimited conversions. For more updates on Tinify’s latest features, follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

TL;DR

Web image formats have evolved, with WebP emerging as a smaller alternative to older formats like JPEG and PNG. Compressing images remains important, but choosing the right format is equally crucial for faster website performance. Tinify has unveiled a new feature – an online image converter tool that not only converts images but also compresses them seamlessly without quality loss. Try out our beta version on Tinify’s homepage.

Customer story: Learning platform LearnWorlds improved blog speed with Tinify’s API

George the Panda on August 15, 2023

“By having a lossless solution to optimize the images, we are usually reducing the image load of articles to under 1 MB, improving the speed and the Web Vitals”.

Nick Malekos, SEO Manager at LearnWorlds

LearnWorlds is an online learning platform and learning management system (LMS) that enables individuals, businesses, and organizations to create and deliver courses, training materials, and educational content to learners. It is designed to facilitate the creation of engaging and interactive online courses with various multimedia elements such as videos, quizzes, discussions, and assignments. 

Their website is filled with resources, templates, and articles to help users elevate their online courses. With this, one of their main concerns was to make sure that the number of images uploaded to illustrate their content did not translate into slow-loading pages. To overcome this challenge, their web development team recommended Tinify as a top solution for compressing images automatically on their blog. In this case study, we delve into LearnWorlds’ experience with Tinify’s service and the benefits they gained.

LearnWorlds' Website

Background

Before using Tinify, LearnWorlds employed various online free tools to optimize images on their blog, including converting them to WebP format or resizing them. According to Nick Malekos, SEO Manager at LearnWorlds, this was necessary when dealing with high-resolution images received from their design department:

Picture of Nick Malekos, SEO Manager at LearnWorlds

“In many cases, we are getting very high-resolution images from our design department to upload to the blog. This would mean articles with >3 MB of images if we were to use those.”

Nick Malekos, SEO Manager at LearnWorlds

Resizing images to fit the specific dimensions of a blog is one of the first steps to decrease their file size and cut on loading time. Next to this, adopting next-gen image formats such as WebP is a new way to make images smaller to speed up websites.

Unfortunately, free online solutions often resulted in quality issues and did not yield the desired performance improvements, says Nick. At the same time, optimizing images with no automation tools can become time-consuming, especially for a company like LearnWorlds that uploads several informative articles for their users.

LearnWorlds' website

LearnWorlds discovers Tinify

In their quest for an improved solution, the LearnWorlds’ web development team came across Tinify’s API Developer subscription as a way to automate image compression for their blog. Nick explains that this shift was a “big hands-off improvement” and adds:

“By having a lossless solution to optimize the images, we are usually reducing the image load of articles to under 1 MB, improving the speed and the Web Vitals”.

Nick Malekos, SEO Manager at LearnWorlds

Once they subscribed to Tinify’s API Developer plan, LearnWorlds automated the optimization of blog images, streamlining the process and enhancing web performance and Google Web Vitals, a set of metrics that measures the likelihood of a great user experience. 

From an internal perspective, this allowed their team to spend less time tweaking the file size of their images. Compared to the free image optimization tools they used previously, Tinify provided a significant improvement in image quality and overall performance. LearnWorlds found Tinify to be highly user-friendly. Their developers seamlessly integrated the service into their workflow, making it an effortless and efficient solution for optimizing images on their platform. Furthermore, with a monthly usage ranging from 500 to 1000 image compressions, Tinify’s service proved to be a cost-effective addition. 

Ultimately, as Nick mentioned, it improved their blog’s SEO by compressing images, reducing their size, and thereby contributing to faster loading speeds which helps LearnWorld rank higher on search engines.

Conclusion

LearnWorlds faced a challenge when dealing with high-resolution images received from their design department. Without proper optimization, these images would have led to articles with over 3 MB in image load. By utilizing Tinify’s lossless compression, LearnWorlds reduced the image load of articles to under 1 MB, significantly improving website speed and overall Web Vitals. The seamless integration and user-friendliness of Tinify’s API service made it the ideal choice for the LearnWorlds’ web development team in ways that free online tools couldn’t make it. 

Do you want to improve the load times of your company’s blog? Read more about Tinify’s API Developer here.

Tinify’s easy recipe for SEO basics and image compression

George the Panda on May 23, 2023

It’s probably safe to assume that any website owner reading this knows about SEO, which is about improving your website’s ranking on search engines to increase traffic. That should be doable, right? But on second thought, how exactly does that work?

In this blog post, we’ll help you with this by going through SEO basics. Think of your SEO as a three-course meal and the search engine as a fancy Michelin inspector: to get that star, you must excel equally on the three dishes. For your website, these are: on-page (content), off-page (authority), and technical. Let’s don that chef’s hat!

By the end of this post, you’ll know…

  • Exactly what to focus on to make your content more SEO-friendly.
  • Some actions you can take outside of your website to improve its popularity.
  • Basic technical improvements with little tech expertise – like compressing your images.
  • Further links on SEO if you want to learn more about this topic.

Time to prepare the food!

How to improve your on-page SEO?

On-page SEO is all about content. It includes tasks such as optimizing text, title and header tags, internal links, and URLs. 

  • URLs: When creating URLs, make sure to make them short, and include one or two keywords that represent your page best.
  • Title and header tags: The title and heading tags of your page (e.g. H1, H2, and H3 tags) should also include keywords. By following these tips, you can improve the chances of your content appearing in featured snippets on Google.
  • In addition, sub-sections bring structure and help users and search bots to easily read your content. Backlinko suggests website owners write question-based tags. After conducting a study with over 5 million Google search results, they found that question-based title tags have an above-average click-through-rate (so, more visitors).
  • Internal links: This refers to linking to pages within your own website. Make sure to incorporate relevant links so visitors can explore other pages.
  • Meta description: This is the description that shows up in search results below the page title. Make it brief, engaging, and informative. Semrush recommends keeping it under 120 characters, so mobile and desktop users can skim through the full summary of the page.
On-page SEO basics: A short meta description.

Lastly, quality text! After all, this is the backbone of your website. For pages that you’d like to optimize for SEO purposes, the recommended length is 1500 words. Besides, remember to include your keyword in the first 100 words of your first paragraph. 

Of course, not all pages need to be visible in search engines, so these tips apply to formats such as blog posts and product landing pages. If you’re a WordPress user, you can find free plugins (we use RankMath) that guide you through all these steps.

For ideas on what to write, conduct keyword research. Mailchimp compiled a basic guide on how to do this, but overall, track your analytics to understand what words visitors use to find you. Tools like Google Search Console can give you a good overview of keywords that are performing well on your website. 

In addition, if you’re new to SEO, you can target long-tail keywords – i.e. searches with three or more words – which are usually more specific but have lower competition. For instance, an example of a short tail would be “hotel”, and a long one “Amsterdam hotel twin room”. When looking at keywords, try to find what is the intent of your users behind those words. It’s all about getting into their shoes and figuring out what they are looking for.

How to improve your off-page SEO?

Off-page optimization is about all the actions taken outside of your website to improve its search engine rankings. This includes social media activity, directory listings and most important, backlinks. The latter refers to a link from one website to another one. When this happens, it’s like giving that website a vote of confidence, telling search engines that the content on the linked website is relevant and valuable.

All in all, the cornerstone of off-page SEO is authority building. Ahrefs refers to it as the “strength” of a particular domain to rank high in search engines. 

It is worth noting that SEO experts can’t reach an agreement on how important this is for SEO. While some point it out as playing a big role, others say that there is no proof that search engines like Google evaluate authority. Search bots are like black boxes, which means no one can ever say for certain how they work. Nonetheless, website popularity is a good indicator of how well your website is performing. Bluehost put it this way: a website referring back to yours is like word-of-mouth marketing.

If you want to check how your domain rates in authority, you can use MOZ’s domain authority checker, which tells you how likely your website is to appear in search engine result pages. In addition, Semrush also provides a backlink analytics tool, which also gives you an authority score.

Off-page SEO basics: Check how your domain authority.

Once you analyze your score, you can start by:

  • Building high-quality backlinks: Focus on building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites relevant to your industry or niche. You can use techniques like writing guest posts, asking websites that mention your brand to link to your website, as well as finding broken links related to your content and suggesting your website as a replacement. This will help you rank your website higher.
  • Focusing on social media: Social media platforms can be a great way to build brand awareness, increase engagement, and drive traffic to your website. Make sure to optimize your social media profiles and share high-quality content regularly.
  • Improving online reputation: Your online reputation can affect your SEO rankings. Encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews and address negative feedback right away.
  • Optimizing local SEO: If your business has a physical location, optimizing your website for local SEO can help improve your rankings in local search results. Claim your business on Google My Business, and make sure your NAP (name, address, phone number) is consistent across all directories.

How to improve your technical SEO?

The third and last thing to improve is your website’s technical SEO, which involves optimizing technical aspects to help search engines crawl, index, and rank it more effectively. In other words, the idea behind this is to make it easier for search bots to find your web pages, understand what they are about, and finally return the page that matches what users are searching for. 

One key element of technical SEO is website speed. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your website doesn’t take longer than 3 seconds to load as 40% of users will quit it. You can use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify areas of improvement and optimize your website for faster loading. In this stage, you might find that your images are too heavy – this is one of the top reasons for a slow website. Fortunately, you can quickly fix this!

Firstly, you can check how much loading time you can save by compressing your images through Tinify’s Web Page Image Analyzer. Some experts recommend that your images shouldn’t be more than 1MB, but Shopify advises users to keep image files under 70KB. 

Technical SEO basics: Check your website speed.

To achieve this, you can compress your images on Tinify’s website, or use our Developer API. Our lossy compression algorithm is designed to automatically deliver the best optimization results without compromising image quality (this means that the changes are imperceptible to the human eye). Compressed images take up less space and require less bandwidth to load. This will significantly help improve your website’s loading speed, and in turn, increase your website’s ranking on search engines. 

Besides this, here are other tips you can implement that don’t require extra technical expertise:

  • Create an SEO-friendly site structure: Make sure your website has a clear and organized structure, with easy-to-use navigation and URLs that are simple to read and understand. All pages should be easy to find in a matter of a few clicks – this will also help search bots understand your content.
  • Create a Google Search account and submit your sitemap: Submitting your sitemap is like giving Google a map of all the pages on your website. This helps Google find and show your pages in search results faster and more accurately. It also helps you see how your website is doing in search results and any problems to fix. For a more detailed explanation, read Semrush’s article on this.
  • Make your website mobile-friendly: Mobile devices now account for the majority of internet traffic, so it’s crucial to have a mobile-friendly website. Use responsive design or dynamic serving to ensure your website is optimized for mobile devices. Most website templates – e.g. WordPress, Squarespace – are already prepared for this. Nonetheless, evaluate your website’s mobile version with Google PageSpeed Insights in case improvements are needed. 
  • Fix technical errors: Identify and fix technical errors like broken links, 404 pages, and duplicate content. Use tools like Google Search Console to monitor your website and identify errors.

And that’s it – you can now take your apron off… Well, not quite! Remember that SEO is a long-term strategy, which means that you won’t be able to see any results immediately. According to a survey conducted by Arhfes, it typically takes between 3 to 6 months to see any improvements, while Marketing Lab suggests up to one year, especially for new websites as they have less content and backlinks than older ones. It’s a slow-burning process, but eventually, you’ll see an increase in website traffic. Lastly, you need to consistently go back to these steps so you keep ranking higher. 

TL;DR:

SEO basics can be divided into three:

On-page SEO (content):
  • Optimize URLs, titles, and headers with relevant keywords.
  • Use internal links to relevant pages.
  • Write a concise and informative meta description.
  • Create quality content that’s at least 1500 words long and includes keywords.
  • Conduct keyword research to understand what words visitors use to find you.
  • Use tools like Google Search Console and RankMath to guide you.
Off-page SEO (website authority):
  • Building high-quality backlinks from reputable websites relevant to your industry is crucial for ranking higher.
  • Social media can help build brand awareness, increase engagement, and drive traffic to your website.
  • Online reputation affects SEO rankings, so encourage positive reviews and address negative feedback.
  • Optimizing your website for local SEO can improve your rankings in local search results.
  • Tools like Moz and Semrush can help you analyze your website’s authority score.
Technical SEO:
  • Make sure your website loads within 3 seconds and compress heavy images to reduce loading time.
  • Create an SEO-friendly site structure with clear navigation and simple URLs.
  • Submit your sitemap to Google Search for faster and more accurate indexing.
  • Make your website mobile-friendly with a responsive design or dynamic serving.
  • Fix technical errors such as broken links, 404 pages, and duplicate content.

Finally, remember that it might take up to a year to see any results but a consistent effort to improve your website’s SEO will eventually lead to more traffic.

Looking for an image size reducer? Learn 5 techniques to better optimize large images beyond compression

George the Panda on January 31, 2023

“Make PNG smaller”, “how to compress JPEG to 50KB”, and “image size reducer” are a few of the things users type to find a way to compress large images into small ones. However, there is more that users can do than compress their images. While this is key – after all, that’s what Tinify is about! – there are other ways to make sure your images are the smallest size possible.

Large images can slow down your website, which may lead to a negative user experience and even lower search engine rankings. While this may sound obvious, it is common for new bloggers and inexperienced website users to overlook this. The excitement of seeing our little corner of the internet come to life can make us blind to more technical points – like whether our website is taking two seconds more to load than what is recommended. 

So, if your website visitors are first presented with a loading symbol before accessing your content, keep on reading!

Let’s go over some tips and techniques for optimizing large image files to ensure that your website stays fast – including using an image size reducer:

  1. Use the right image format
  2. Use the right image dimensions
  3. Compress your images with Tinify’s image size reducer tool
  4. Convert your images to WebP
  5. Use lazy loading and image caching

“Panda promise” that this will work!

Use the right image format

The first step in optimizing large image files is to choose the right image format. The reason for this is that image formats make a big difference in terms of file size. For example, PNGs end up being larger in size than JPEGs. That’s why JPEG, the most common image format, is the best choice for photographs, while PNG should be used for web graphics, logos, charts, and illustrations, particularly because it handles transparent backgrounds.

Knowing these differences will help you save your images in the right format, which will ensure your website isn’t populated with image formats that are larger than necessary.

Use the right image dimensions: resize and crop images

Another factor that can affect the size of an image file is its dimensions. It’s usual for new website owners to overlook the size of their images, but with this, they might end up uploading too many large images.

Since most websites only display images at a specific size, find out the recommended sizes and resize your images according to them. For example, if you want to upload a header image to WordPress, your image doesn’t need to be larger than 1048×250 pixels. In the end, resizing decreases the file size even further, which will make your website load faster. 

You can resize and crop your images with built-in software on your computer. For Windows users, you can check this link for instructions on how to resize images using Paint. For macOS users, you can use Preview – learn how to here.

If you’re a technical user, you can sign-up for Tinify’s Developer API, which gives you the chance to resize your images within your code, as well as smart cropping options.

Use an image size reducer: Compress your images with Tinify

Another effective way to optimize large image files is to compress them. Image size reducer tools compress the file size of an image by removing unnecessary data and reducing the number of colors. Compression tools are quite effective at reducing the size of large images without any noticeable loss in quality.

According to the e-commerce platform Shopify, a good rule of thumb is to keep your image file size below 70KB. This can be difficult to achieve with large images, and that is why they recommend using image size reducer tools, like Tinify.

You can use Tinify as your go-to image size reducer tool.

While some compression tools give you the chance to choose the level of compression, Tinify’s algorithm is designed to optimize images to their fullest extent at the click of a button. So, when you upload an image to Tinify, we will analyze each image, and based on this, the best optimization level will automatically be determined. There’s so much website owners have to worry about that it’s important for us that they can save time in the process of optimizing their pictures.

If you have a website, you can use Tinify’s analyzer to discover how much loading time you’ll save by compressing your images.

To compress them, you can drop them directly to Tinify’s homepage and upload the compressed image back to your website. Free users have a limit of 5MB per image, but if you find yourself stuck with larger images, you can take advantage of our Web Pro subscription. For WordPress users and developers, there’s an easier way to compress images. All you have to do is to create a Tinify API account, and all your images will automatically be optimized for free up to 500 compressions. 

Convert your images to WebP

Okay, perhaps now your website loads faster than ever – no loading symbol to exhaust your visitors! However, when you add your website to Google’s web analyzer, you realize that more can be done to optimize your images… Like converting them to next-gen image formats. Unlike JPEG and PNG, next-gen image formats were created for web use, which means they’re smaller in size to load faster. 

One example of this is WebP, created by Google. It is similar to JPEG and PNG, but it can produce smaller image file sizes while maintaining the same quality. In this way, you can replace your PNG and JPEG images with WebP to cut even more on loading time. The downside is that this image format only works in modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, etc), so you need to have a fallback option for Internet Explorer and older browsers. 

You can convert your images to WebP online or with Photoshop, and compress them after with Tinify. If you’re a technical user, you can take a look at Tinify’s API to automatically convert your PNG, JPEG, and WebP images. We hope to make this feature available to browser users later this year.

Use lazy loading and image caching

Once you’ve optimized your images, you can also implement a few things on your website to make them load in the best possible way. 

One trick is to implement lazy loading, a technique that delays the loading of images until they are needed. In other words, you can use lazy loading to defer the loading of images until the user scrolls down to the part of the page where they’re displayed. This can improve the initial loading time of the page and reduce the amount of data that needs to be transferred over the network. 

To implement lazy loading, you can use a lazy loading plugin or JavaScript libraries, such as LazyLoad, Lozad.js, and unveil.js. You can also use HTML attributes: the loading attribute can be used to specify the loading behavior of images. The attribute can be set to lazy which will only load the image when it comes into view. This is a native browser feature and is supported by most modern browsers. All in all, these tools allow you to specify which images should be lazy-loaded and when they should be loaded.

Lastly, another technique you can implement is image caching. It’s a technique that involves storing copies of images in a cache which stores the image temporarily in a proxy server or a browser cache. Image caching can be useful for reducing the amount of data that needs to be transferred over the network. It can also help to reduce the load on servers, as it reduces the number of requests that need to be handled. 

For example, a web browser will typically cache images that are downloaded as part of a webpage, so that they don’t need to be re-downloaded each time the user visits the page – this is one of the reasons why cookies exist. You can use a caching plugin for this, or a CDN (Content Delivery Network) so your images are served to users from a server that is geographically closer to them.

If you’re curious about this, Tinify’s CDN might be for you! Tinify’s CDN caches optimized versions of images, which makes it an “all in one” tool for reducing, compressing and caching your images.

TL;DR

If you’re stuck with large images that slow down your website, remember that using only an image size reducer might not be enough to solve this issue. Here are 5 ways to reduce and optimize large image files:

  • Use the right image format: JPEG for photographs and PNG for web graphics, logos, charts, and illustrations.
  • Use the right image dimensions: resize and crop images to the appropriate size by checking the appropriate dimensions for your website.
  • Compress your images with Tinify: Large images can be compressed by a lot with our image size reducer tool without any noticeable loss in quality.
  • Convert your images to WebP, a modern image format that can provide smaller file sizes than JPEG or PNG.
  • Use lazy loading to only load images when they are needed, and image caching to store images so they are served faster to your users.

Take advantage of next-gen images to make your website faster

George the Panda on January 12, 2023

One of the most read posts in Tinify’s blog is about WebP, a next-gen image format that offers better compression for a faster website. WebP – together with HEIF, AVIF, and JPEG 2000 – is slowly replacing the usual JPEG and PNG image formats. But while they aren’t new, only now more and more users are jumping on the bandwagon and serving images in next-gen formats. If you’re behind on this, don’t worry – the beginning of this new year is perfect timing to take your visuals to the next level.

In this blog post, we talk about:

  1. What are next-gen images and examples;
  2. Which next-gen image format is the best for your website;
  3. What are the advantages of using next-gen images;
  4. How to convert your images to next-gen formats using Tinify.

Ready? Let’s dive in!

What are next-gen images?

Next-gen (short for next generation) images are newer file types that were designed to render faster on the web. Unlike traditional image formats such as JPEG and PNG, they offer better compression, meaning that they can be smaller in file size while still maintaining high quality. 

These new formats include WebP, AVIF (AV1 Image File Format), HEIF (High-Efficiency Image File Format), and JPEG 2000 (JP2). Here is a summary of the key differences between these formats:

  • Compression algorithm: JPEG 2000 uses a wavelet-based compression algorithm, while WebP uses the VP8 and VP9 video coding formats, HEIF uses the HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) standard, and AVIF uses the AV1 video coding format. Wavelet-based compression can offer better compression ratios and image quality than the block-based compression algorithms used by VP8, VP9, and AV1, but it can also be more computationally intensive to decode.
  • File size and compression ratio: AVIF has the potential to achieve the best compression ratios and smallest file sizes of these formats due to its use of the AV1 codec. HEIF may also have an advantage in terms of compression ratio and file size due to its use of the HEVC codec. JPEG 2000 and WebP may have slightly larger file sizes, but can still offer good compression and image quality.
  • Features: All of these formats support lossless and lossy compression, as well as transparency. WebP also supports animation and color profiles, while HEIF supports 16-bit color depth and the ability to store multiple images in a single file. AVIF and JPEG 2000 do not currently support animation or color profiles.

Which next-gen image format is the best for your website?

In terms of compression ratio and file size, AVIF probably yields the best results. JPEG 2000 might also offer good compression ratios, but its wavelet-based compression algorithm can be more computationally intensive to decode, which may affect its performance in some applications.

In terms of browser support, WebP is currently the most widely supported of these formats. It is supported by all modern browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari. AVIF and HEIF are also supported by many modern browsers, although their support is not as widespread as WebP. JPEG 2000 is less widely supported than the other formats, with limited support in some modern browsers.

Overall, all these formats offer good compression and image quality, but WebP has become the go-to next-gen image format due to its wider browser support. According to Google, WebP can reduce file sizes by up to a third compared to JPEG and PNG images. The only catch is that it is not supported by older browsers, such as Internet Explorer. However, a way around this is to have JPEG or PNG as a fallback and serve these instead in older browsers.  

What are the advantages of using next-gen images?

There are a few different ways in which using next-gen image formats can help you optimize your website. One is that they can help reduce the file size of your images, which can speed up your website’s load time. Another way is that they can improve the quality of your images, making them look better and more professional.

Moreover, next-gen images can also help you save money on bandwidth costs. This is because they are typically more efficient than traditional image formats, meaning that they use less data to achieve the same quality level. This means that you won’t have to pay as much for bandwidth when using next-gen image formats.

In a nutshell, these are the major benefits:

  • Smaller file sizes: Next-generation image formats are typically more efficient at compressing images, which can result in smaller file sizes. This can be especially beneficial for websites that need to load quickly.
  • Improved image quality: Some next-generation image formats offer improved image quality, especially at smaller file sizes. This can be useful for images that need to be displayed at a high resolution or with a lot of detail.
  • Enhanced features: Some next-gen images offer enhanced features that are not available with traditional image formats. For example, some next-generation image formats support transparency or animation, which can be useful for certain types of images.
  • Better performance: Next-gen images can often be decoded and displayed more quickly than traditional image formats, which can improve the overall performance of a website.
  • Reduced bandwidth usage: Using smaller file sizes can help to reduce the amount of bandwidth required to transfer images, which can be beneficial for websites with a large number of visitors or a global audience.

If you are still in two minds on whether you need to convert your JPEG and PNG images on your website, remember that even a one-second difference in loading time can have a big impact. According to Website Builder Expert:

  • A 1-second delay reduces customer satisfaction by 16%.
  • 40% of users wait no more than 3 seconds before abandoning a website.

Besides this, using next-gen images can help you boost your SEO. One of the biggest recommendations of the web analyzer Google PageSpeed Insights is to switch to next-gen image formats, such as WebP. So, if you want to rank higher on Google’s search engine, converting your website images to next-gen formats is worthwhile.

How to convert your images to next-gen formats

Since we launched the new image converter feature for Tinify API users, WebP has been the most converted image type – around 80%. If you’re an API user looking to improve your website speed, this new feature allows you to do that in just one step, simply by making a “convert request” in your code. The Tinify algorithm will automatically convert and compress your images. This assures that you have the smallest version possible of your image without losing quality. API users can find all the information needed to start converting their JPEG, PNG, and WebP images here. 

Next-gen images: JPEG vs. WebP example
Can you spot the difference?

For non-developer users – such as WordPress users – you’ll need to use a WebP image converter tool. For this, you can upload your pictures into Tinify’s online image converter. This new online feature allows you now to not only compress but also convert your PNG, JPEG and WebP images. After it, you must upload them manually to your website. In the future, along with image compression, we’ll also offer the image converter feature to Web Pro users. Keep an eye out for this on Twitter or LinkedIn!

TL;DR:

  • Next-gen images are designed to be faster on the web and offer better compression, allowing for smaller file sizes while maintaining high quality;
  • Examples of next-gen image formats include WebP, AVIF, HEIF, and JPEG 2000;
  • WebP is the most widely supported of these formats, but fallback options are necessary for older browsers;
  • Next-gen formats will improve your website speed and SEO, according to Google;
  • Tinify users can convert PNG and JPEG images to WebP with the new image converter feature. 

WebP images: why should you use them to improve your website?

George the Panda on December 7, 2021

WebP is an image file format created by Google that is meant for web use. It enables small file sizes while preserving quality. There is barely a contrast between your original picture and the WebP image and there can be minimal quality loss or no loss. By using your files in WebP format on your website you save a lot of data storage which ensures that your website loads faster.