Frequently asked.
Quick answers to the questions we get most. If yours isn't here, the privacy page or contact form has you covered.
Popular questions
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What is the best free image compressor?
ToolBox Image is the best free image compressor because it runs entirely in your browser with no uploads, no file size limits, and no sign-ups. It supports JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, SVG, and HEIC using modern codecs like mozJPEG and libwebp compiled to WebAssembly — delivering high-quality compression with privacy you can trust.
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What is image compressor?
An image compressor is a tool that reduces the file size of digital images by re-encoding them with more efficient compression algorithms or lowering quality settings. This makes images load faster on websites, take up less storage space, and use less bandwidth — without a noticeable drop in visual quality when done right.
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What is the best image compressor for free?
ToolBox Image is the best free image compressor — no sign-up, no server uploads, no file size limits. It runs in your browser via WebAssembly, supports all major formats (JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, SVG, HEIC), and lets you batch-process images with full control over quality, resize, and metadata.
Privacy
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Are my images uploaded to a server?
No. Every step — decoding, resizing, recompressing, encoding — runs in your browser using WebAssembly and the native canvas. Your images never touch our servers, our CDN, or any third party.
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How does ToolBox Image protect my privacy?
ToolBox Image tools run entirely in your browser — your images never leave your device. We use Cloudflare Web Analytics for anonymous page view counts and Google AdSense for ads. Your images are never uploaded or stored on any server.
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Can I verify the privacy claim myself?
Yes. Open DevTools → Network → reload any page. Your images are never uploaded — all processing happens locally in your browser using WebAssembly. The only network requests are for Cloudflare Web Analytics (anonymous page views) and Google AdSense (ads).
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Do you log IP addresses?
Standard CDN HTTP logs exist for the time required to deliver the page (typically milliseconds). These are not enriched, not joined with any other data, and not used for analytics.
About the tools
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What file formats are supported?
JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, SVG, and HEIC. Output can be any of those as well, so you can convert between formats in the same pass.
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How does the compression work?
We re-encode your images using modern codecs (mozJPEG, libwebp, libaom-avif) compiled to WebAssembly. You choose a target quality, target size, or ‘lossless’ — and we pick the right encoder settings to hit it.
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Is there a file size limit?
No hard limit on the server (there is no server). The practical limit is your device’s available memory — most browsers handle 4K photos without breaking a sweat, and hundreds of small images can be batched in parallel.
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Will the quality actually suffer?
At smart defaults, the visual difference is imperceptible at normal viewing distances — but the file is dramatically smaller. Drag the before/after slider on the homepage to see for yourself.
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Can I resize as well as compress in the same run?
Yes. The Custom settings panel has a ‘Resize’ toggle with width / height / long-edge / fit / fill modes. The compressor will resize before encoding.
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Does removing metadata actually remove EXIF?
Yes. When ‘Remove metadata’ is on, the canvas-based re-encode never re-attaches EXIF, XMP, or IPTC. For SVGs we strip the
element. Originals are unaffected.
Account & pricing
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Do I need to create an account?
No. There is no sign-up, no email, no subscription. ToolBox Image is free and unlimited.
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Is it really free? What's the catch?
Yes, free. There is no catch. There are no upsells, no premium tier. The product runs entirely in your browser, so we do not have server costs to cover.
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Can I use this commercially?
Yes. Use it for personal projects, client work, products you sell, anything. The license is unrestricted for both personal and commercial use.
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Will you add a paid tier in the future?
Not for the core tools. We may add optional hosted services (like team workspaces or batch API access) at some point, but the browser tools themselves will remain free.
Image Redaction
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What is image redaction and how is it different from just covering something up?
Image redaction permanently modifies the underlying pixel data to hide sensitive information. Unlike placing a shape, sticker, or overlay on top — which can be removed or bypassed — redaction destroys the original content so it cannot be recovered. ToolBox Image Redactor applies the effect directly to the canvas pixel data for permanent modification.
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Which redaction mode should I use — blur, pixelate, or blackout?
For text and numbers (email addresses, phone numbers, API keys), use pixelate or blackout — they permanently destroy detail. For faces and visual privacy where appearance matters, blur provides a natural look with sufficient protection. Blackout is the most secure option for highly sensitive data like social security numbers and passwords.
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Can someone undo the redaction on a downloaded image?
No. The tool modifies the actual pixel data in the canvas — it doesn't place visual overlays. The downloaded image is a flat, rasterized PNG with no recoverable layers or hidden information.
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How do I blur or pixelate a face in a photo online?
Use ToolBox Image Redactor. Upload the photo, select Blur or Pixelate mode, adjust the brush size to match the face, and paint over the face region. All processing is local — no uploads required.
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Can I redact multiple areas in the same image?
Yes. The brush tool lets you paint over multiple areas in a single session. Each stroke applies the redaction effect. Use Undo to revert individual strokes if you make a mistake.
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Does ToolBox Image Redactor upload my images to a server?
No. All redaction happens locally in your browser using the HTML5 Canvas API. Your images never leave your device. You can verify this by checking the Network tab in your browser's developer tools — there are zero outbound requests during processing.
Still curious?
We probably covered it. But if not…
The Compressor is the live tool today — try it before anything else. We answer contact-form messages within 1-2 business days.