A recent XDA story noted that flipping one toggle in Google Photos can reclaim about 15 gigabytes overnight. The toggle, called Storage Saver, re-encodes new backups to a smaller preset instead of the original resolution. It works, but it only touches photos going into Google Photos, and it takes away the controls that people who care about file size actually want. A dedicated image compressor app does the full job on your device: pick a folder, set a target size or quality, keep or drop EXIF, and export a new copy in seconds. We tested seven of the most-installed compressors on the Play Store and Aptoide to see which ones save real space without softening the picture. This is the shortlist of the best image compressor apps for Android in 2026.
What to look for in an image compressor app
Batch mode is the difference between a one-off resize and clearing a camera roll. Any compressor worth installing lets you select dozens of photos and process them in one pass. Format switching matters almost as much. JPEG is fine for photos, but WebP typically drops another 25 to 35 percent at the same visual quality, and modern Android has read the format since 2016.
A quality slider with a live preview beats a fixed small, medium, large preset every time. Look for EXIF handling too, since shared photos leak GPS coordinates and camera serial numbers by default. Two more things matter: no forced login, since a compressor is a utility and not a social network, and no watermark on the output. If the free tier stamps a logo on your image, keep scrolling.
Quick comparison table
| App | Best for | Batch | Free plan | Ads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo Compress & Resize | Most people | Yes | Full features, ad-supported | Yes |
| Image Size by Codenia | Exact pixel targets | Limited | Full features, ad-supported | Yes |
| Photo Compressor & Resizer | Fast defaults | Yes | Full features, ad-supported | Yes |
| Photo Resizer by Z Mobile | Everyday camera roll | Yes | Full features, ad-supported | Yes |
| Image Converter | Format switching | Yes | Full features, ad-supported | Yes |
| Resize Me! | Clean interface, no login | Yes | Core resize and compress | Minimal |
| JPEG PNG Image File Converter | Format-only edits | Yes | Full features, ad-supported | Yes |
The apps
1. Photo Compress & Resize by Lit Photo, best overall for most people
Photo Compress & Resize has been sitting near the top of the compressor category on Google Play for years, and the reason is boring competence. Load a batch, drag the quality slider, and it shows the original and compressed size side by side before you confirm. Output goes to a new folder so the source images are untouched. The app also handles resizing by percentage, longest edge, or exact pixels.
Where it falls short: the free version shows a full-screen ad after every export, which gets old on batches larger than 20. There is no WebP output either, only JPEG.
Pricing:
- Free: full compression and resize with ads
- Paid: one-time in-app purchase removes ads
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: The best default choice if you want a working compressor without a learning curve.
2. Image Size by Codenia, best for exact pixel dimensions
Image Size - Photo Resizer is the one to install if you know exactly how big the output needs to be, whether that is a 1080 pixel Instagram square or a 250 KB attachment for a form. You can lock the aspect ratio, work in centimeters, millimeters, inches, or pixels, and set a target file size and let the app back into the quality setting. Five million downloads, active development, and no forced signup.
Where it falls short: batch mode is limited compared to dedicated bulk tools, so if you need to run 500 photos through it you will feel the pauses. The output naming convention is also rigid.
Pricing:
- Free: full feature set with banner and interstitial ads
- Paid: in-app purchase removes ads
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: Get this if you resize photos to a specific spec, not for general storage cleanup.
3. Photo Compressor & Resizer by Pocket App Maker, best free bulk workflow
Photo Compressor & Resizer keeps the interface plain and the shortcuts fast: batch select from the gallery, pick a quality percentage, and the app processes and saves in a single tap. It also lets you rename the output batch and pick a custom output folder, which is more control than most free tools give. A million downloads and steady updates keep it high in the store rankings.
Where it falls short: the app is ad-heavy, and a couple of the ad networks it uses show a video interstitial before a large batch completes.
Pricing:
- Free: entire feature set is free with ads
- Paid: no paid tier
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: Pick this when you want a free tool that will crunch through 100 photos in a row.
4. Photo Resizer by Z Mobile Apps, best for the everyday camera roll
Photo Resizer is the “clear my last month of photos” tool. It has clean batch selection, a live preview of the resize, and a compress toggle you can leave on. The output folder is user-selectable, and the app remembers your last quality setting between runs, so you can build a habit around it.
Where it falls short: like most free compressors, it inserts an interstitial ad every few exports. Compression is standard JPEG, no WebP output.
Pricing:
- Free: full feature set with ads
- Paid: subscription removes ads
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: A steady daily driver for regular camera roll cleanup.
5. Image Converter by csDeveloper, best for switching formats to save more
Compression is only half the story. Image Converter is built around format conversion, so it moves photos between JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, and PDF in bulk, which is where the biggest savings live for anyone still storing PNG screenshots. Compression is applied at the same step, so you can turn a folder of 40 MB PNG screenshots into 4 MB WebP in one pass.
Where it falls short: the interface is functional rather than pretty. The EXIF-stripping option is off by default, so remember to enable it before sharing.
Pricing:
- Free: convert and compress with ads
- Paid: pro removes ads and adds batch renaming rules
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: The one to get if you have a folder full of PNG screenshots eating your storage.
6. Resize Me! by XnView, best paid option for a clean experience
Resize Me! comes from the team behind the desktop XnView viewer that photographers have used for two decades. The Android app carries that seriousness over: no login, minimal ads on the free tier, and a compact interface that stays out of the way. The paid unlock is a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, which is rare in this category.
Where it falls short: it does not do format conversion, so if you want to go from PNG to WebP you will need a second tool.
Pricing:
- Free: core resize and compress, minimal ads
- Paid: one-time purchase for the full feature set
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: The pick for anyone who will pay two dollars once and never see an ad in a utility again.
7. JPEG PNG Image File Converter by handyCloset, best surprise pick for lossless PNG shrinking
JPEG PNG Image File Converter made the list for a specific job: turning PNG screenshots into JPEG or WebP without going through the format-switching dance in other apps. Batch support is here, output folder control is here, and it keeps the original filenames with a suffix so you can find things later. The developer has kept it updated with no aggressive monetization.
Where it falls short: it does not offer a real quality slider for JPEG output, only preset levels. Preset levels are fine for most work but limiting if you want to tune a batch by feel.
Pricing:
- Free: full functionality with a small banner ad
- Paid: no paid tier
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: An unfussy converter for the moment you realize your Downloads folder is 60 percent screenshots.
How to pick the right image compressor app
The right image compressor app for Android depends more on your habit than on any feature list. If you want the simplest tool that gets out of the way, install Photo Compress & Resize and be done. If you need photos at exact dimensions for a form or a social post, Image Size by Codenia is faster than any generic compressor. If you are on a tight budget and refuse to pay for a utility, Photo Compressor & Resizer by Pocket App Maker keeps every feature free.
If you are cleaning months of camera roll on a regular schedule, Photo Resizer by Z Mobile fits into that habit best. If your storage problem is really a screenshot problem, Image Converter by csDeveloper solves it in one batch by moving PNG to WebP. If you will pay two dollars once for a clean UI with no ads, Resize Me! is the pick. If you want a lightweight PNG-to-JPEG converter and nothing else, JPEG PNG Image File Converter does that one job well.
Do not install more than one. Compressors leave temporary files behind, and running two in parallel doubles the disk usage while you sort out which one you like. Pick one, run a batch of ten photos as a test, and check the output folder and file sizes before you set it loose on your whole library.
FAQ
Do image compressors reduce quality?
Yes, by design, but the drop is often invisible. JPEG at 80 percent quality looks the same to the human eye as the original in almost every case, and it usually saves 40 to 60 percent of the file size. You start to see loss at 50 percent quality or lower, or on images with large blocks of flat color, like screenshots and simple graphics.
What is the best free image compressor for Android?
Photo Compress & Resize by Lit Photo is the best free default for camera photos. Photo Compressor & Resizer by Pocket App Maker is the best free option for large batches, since it has no paid tier and does not gate any features. Both are ad-supported but neither paywalls the actual compression.
Does Google Photos actually compress photos in the cloud?
Yes. Storage Saver, formerly called High quality, re-encodes photos on upload. It caps images at 16 megapixels and videos at 1080p, and applies stronger JPEG compression. It only affects new uploads, so existing library items stay at their original size unless you run the “Recover storage” option to convert them in place.
Will compressing photos remove EXIF data?
Only if the app is set to do so. Most compressors keep EXIF by default, which means GPS coordinates and camera model information travel with the photo when you share it. Check the settings for a “remove metadata” or “strip EXIF” toggle before sharing photos publicly.
Is WebP better than JPEG for compression?
Almost always yes for storage purposes. WebP typically produces files 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPEG at the same visual quality, and it supports transparency, which JPEG does not. Every current Android device can display WebP, and every current chat app can send it.
Can I compress photos without losing the originals?
Yes. Every compressor on this list writes to a new file or a new folder rather than overwriting the source. Confirm the output folder in the app’s settings before your first batch, then verify a couple of output files opened correctly before deleting the originals.
