How to Compress App Screenshots Without Losing Quality
Make store screenshots and marketing images smaller without visible quality loss: which format to use, which quality to pick and how to check the result.
2 min read
Large screenshots slow down your website, fill up your repository and can go over store upload limits. The good news: most screenshots can lose half their size or more without any visible difference, as long as you pick the right format and quality.
Why compress screenshots?
- Store limits. Google Play accepts screenshots of up to 8 MB. Detailed PNG screenshots can go over that.
- Faster pages. Screenshots on your landing page load faster and help your page rank better.
- Smaller projects. Marketing folders and repositories stay manageable.
Pick the right format
| Format | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Flat UI, text, icons | Lossless by default. Shrinks a lot when colors are reduced. |
| JPG | Photos, gradients, store screenshots | Small files. No transparency. |
| WebP | Websites | Smaller than JPG at the same quality. Supports transparency. |
For store uploads, stay with JPG or PNG: Google Play asks for JPEG or 24-bit PNG screenshots, and the App Store accepts JPEG and PNG. Use WebP for your website, where every modern browser supports it.
Which quality should you use?
| Use | Format | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| Store screenshots | JPG | 80–90 |
| Website images | WebP | 75–85 |
| Flat UI with few colors | PNG | 256 colors (quality around 99) |
| Images with fine text | JPG or WebP | 85–95 |
Start in the middle of the range, then compare. Lower the quality until you notice a difference, and go one step back.
Compress a screenshot step by step
- Open the Image Compressor and upload your screenshot.
- Set the quality to 80.
- Choose the output format: keep the original, or switch to JPG or WebP.
- Drag the comparison slider over areas with text, gradients and sharp edges.
- Download the compressed file.
Everything runs in your browser, so even unreleased designs never leave your device.
How to check the result
Zoom in on the places where compression shows first:
- Text: small labels should stay sharp, without blurry halos.
- Gradients: smooth backgrounds shouldn't turn into visible bands.
- Edges: icons and buttons should keep clean outlines.
If you see problems, raise the quality a little or switch formats. Flat interfaces often look better as PNG, while photos and gradients look better as JPG.
More tips
- Resize first. An image that is twice as large as needed has four times the pixels. Export screenshots at the size you actually use.
- Keep the originals. Compress copies, never your only file, and avoid compressing the same JPG again and again.
- Use JPG for Google Play when in doubt. Compressed PNGs with a reduced palette are 8-bit images. If Play Console refuses one, convert it to JPG.
Preparing new screenshots? Create them with the Play Store Screenshot Maker first, then compress them if you need smaller files.