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Last Updated Aug 07, 2023

The 8 Best image resize APIs

Emma Jagger

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Looking for ways to compress your images before you upload them? Doing this is a great way to get your website to load faster for your visitors. If you're building an app or a website that has an image upload feature, then you might be looking for a ready-to-go image resizing API to integrate with.

Today, we’re going to provide you with everything you need to know about image resizing APIs. We will also detail the best ones that yield the best results.

What Is an Image Resize API?

An image resize API is an online interface that allows you to compress images. This service allows you to keep the original image file untouched, while resizing it for faster and easier use. By optimizing your images, you’re also reducing its size. This ensures that your website loads quicker, giving you better rankings when people use search engines to find your page.

The downside of many image resize APIs is that your image often loses its quality. Sure, your site loads faster, but if your images don’t look attractive, you risk losing visitors. Fortunately, some image resize APIs use algorithms to scale down your master image. This ensures that your image’s original aspect ratio is maintained, thus preserving its clarity.

If you’re using an image resize API that doesn’t do this, there are some tricks you can employ to allow for higher-quality resizes. There are many benefits to optimizing your images. Sadly, there are also many website owners who fail to properly optimize their images.

You want to get the most out of your images, and your website. So let’s take a look at just a few of the things image optimization can do for you. 

  • Resized images require less bandwidth
  • Create thumbnails of your applications
  • Higher search ranking (better SEO)
  • More storage space on your server
  • Improved website loading speed
  • Backups are always faster

When resizing your images using an API, the key is to get the file at its lowest possible size while maintaining acceptable visual clarity.  Thankfully, image resize APIs make it easy to do this. So, what are some great APIs you can use to help optimize your workflow? Let’s have a look!

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What Are the 6 Best Image Resize APIs?

The best image resize APIs will maintain the visual clarity of your master image with a compression your server will appreciate. 

  1. EWWW Image Optimizer
  2. Aspose.Imaging for Java
  3. ImageRecycle
  4. MediaCrush
  5. Crush.pics
  6. Cloudflare

How to Use an Image Resize API?

An image resize API is incredibly easy to use. Most sites feature an easy drag ‘n drop tool that allows you to simply pull any image directly into the optimizer.

Once the file in question is placed, the API will work to reduce the overall file size, thus saving you bandwidth. You will then be presented with download links to save the resized file.

When using a plugin, you can quickly and easily optimize the images you need when building your website. 

1. EWWW Image Optimizer

With nearly a million users strong, EWWW Image Optimizer is a widely-trusted API that delivers results website owners can rely on. They provide some of the best compression around, with excellent image quality for your website.

They have an easy-to-use plugin that is equally impressive. Your website will load faster, and users will find that browsing your site is snappier as a result. 

Those who use WordPress will love EWWW Image Optimizer. The two work really well together, providing users with incredible image quality.

Related: WordPress image sizes

While EWWW Image Optimizer doesn’t offer a free trial, their Easy Image Optimizer starts at just $5 a month. This minimum plan includes Lazy Load, auto-compress and auto-scale, and the next-gen format of WebP auto-compression.

The lowest starts you off with 200 GB of bandwidth. But there are other plans available that go all the way up to 800 GB.

URL: https://ewww.io/

Pros

  • High compression rate
  • Fast and effective
  • Free backups

Cons

  • No free trial on paid plans

2. Aspose.Imaging for Java

When it comes to APIs for Java users, Aspose.Imaging for Java is the best around. This service allows Java users to change image files to a variety of formats for easier use.

This is one of the most stable Java APIs you’ll find. Not only does it handle popular formats with ease, but special ones like DNG, WebP, and DjVu are supported as well.

The following raster formats are supported with Aspose.Imaging:

  • PNG conversion API
  • JPEG2000
  • DICOM
  • JPEG
  • BMP
  • TIFF

You may download and try out this JPG conversion API for free. There’s a trial available if you’d like to get a feel for Aspose.Imaging. If you’d like to purchase the Java, .NET, or SharePoint API, the cost is $399. 

If you’d like access to all three platforms, Aspose offers a family pack for $559.

URL: https://products.aspose.com/imaging/java

Pros

  • Exceptional Java support
  • Handy family package
  • Reasonably-priced

Cons

  • The Aspose.Total business plans are pricey
  • Multiple conversions can slow performance

3. ImageRecycle

ImageRecycle provides users with one of the best image compression APIs around. Your website loads noticeably faster, with incredible image and PDF quality.

A nice bonus of ImageRecycle is that it maintains your image’s original visual clarity when compressing it. The difference in image quality is quite staggering when compared to lesser APIs.

Its biggest draw, perhaps, is its ability to optimize your website’s overall performance. Your loading times will be better, and an SEO ranking analysis will show great improvement.

To get an idea of what’s in store, let’s take a quick look at some of the features you’ll find when using ImageRecycle.

  • Easy image reverting
  • WordPress plugin
  • PDF optimizer
  • CSS parsing

Additionally, the following platforms are integrated into ImageRecycle:

  • Magento 
  • Shopify
  • Joomla

You can also use the following languages thanks to ImageRecycle’s API integration:

Delivery of images is faster, with each loading clearly and accurately. ImageRecycle is notable for its amazingly easy-to-use user interface. 

If you’d like to try it out for a test spin, ImageRecycle offers a free, 15-day trial run. You only get 100 MB to play around with, but this should give you a good idea what you’re dealing with.

For 1 GB of content and 10,000 images, pay just a one-time fee of $10. If you require more, there’s a 3 GB package that includes 30,000 images for a one-time fee of $20. 

The best package, though, is the premium plan that gives you 10 GB of content and 100,000 images for a one-time fee of $50.

URL: https://www.imagerecycle.com/

Pros

  • Excellent image and PDF compression
  • User-friendly interface
  • Safe and secure
  • Free trial

Cons

  • Bulk uploads require changing settings every time
  • Limited free trial

4. MediaCrush

Need to share images and other media quickly and easily? MediaCrush makes it effortless and even keeps your image quality looking stellar.

One of the biggest bonuses with MediaCrush is its ability to make your files up to 3000% quicker.

Images load better while maintaining their clarity. If you like to use GIFs, MediaCrush excels at reducing their file size. Best of all, though, your GIFs look great after compression.

Looking for more features? Here are just a few of the benefits when you use MediaCrush:

  • Billions of API calls a month
  • Thousands of public APIs
  • Over 1 million developers
  • Image management API
  • Easy user interface
  • Global support
  • FREE!

That’s right, MediaCrush is a free image API. As of right now, the vendor is not charging for its services. Check out their website below to try out MediaCrush today.

URL: https://rapidapi.com/jdiez/api/mediacrush/pricing

Pros

  • High-quality GIF compression
  • Incredible conversion rates
  • Free to use

Cons

  • Website is tough to navigate
  • Still relatively new

5. Crush.pics

Are you tired of your website’s slow loading and overall performance? With Crush.pics, you’re getting access to excellent image optimization.

During testing, pages do indeed load much faster as a result of Crush.pics’ compression and optimization. This is made possible thanks to a clever algorithm that plays a big role in making your website run better. 

By reducing the use of bandwidth, you’ll save a great deal of server space. There are even full automation modes that let you set it and forget about it.

Looking for a handy WordPress plugin? You got it. Crush.pics makes it easier than ever to manage your images for fast and effective compression.

The user interface is a breeze to use, too. Simply drag and drop the image in question that you wish to compress. 

Even better, you get three different types of compression to work with. And this takes the guesswork out of your workload. 

Choose between Balanced, Conservative, or Custom. Balanced works to reduce the size as much as possible with compromising image quality. 

Conservative is designed to moderate the reduction while ensuring there is absolutely no loss in visual clarity. 

And with Custom, you get to decide the levels for compression and quality. This feature is intended for advanced users who know exactly what they want out of their images.

You’ll appreciate the affordable plan options, too. For just $4.99 a month, the Micro plan gives you 500 MB. The Pro plan provides you with 2 GB for only $9.99 a month. And for the Advanced plan, $19.99 a month gives you 5 GB.

URL: https://crush.pics/

Pros

  • Thousands of satisfied users
  • Increased loading speeds
  • Incredible compression
  • Easy user interface
  • Affordable plans

Cons

  • No free trial available to use

6. Cloudflare

Cloudflare is an excellent image resize API that works to programmatically control your image requests. 

You have access to a plethora of features that let you control image quality, resizing, conversions, and even work in WebP format. The images are responsive and allow for much faster loading. 

Cloudflare offers a suite of security features to prevent outside attacks. This works to limit access from visitors that are deemed to be potentially harmful.

Since requests are often made to an API from outside of a browser, it’s best to create a page rule when using Cloudflare.

To get your Cloudflare API key, take the following steps:

  • Go to the Cloudflare dashboard
  • Use the top right drop menu
  • Select My Profile
  • Go to Account
  • Click API Key

Cloudflare offers a free trial for users who wish to get a feel for their services. Business customers can upload an incredible 100,000 images a month. 

Conversely, Enterprise users get access to a staggering 10 million images! With services like this, it’s no wonder why so many people choose Cloudflare.

If you want a set of images each month, just pay $10 a month after the free trial for 100,000 images. 

If you wish to get more images after you have used the 100,000, you must contact Cloudflare’s sales team.

URL: https://api.cloudflare.com/

Pros

  • Incredible free trial with loads of images
  • Compatible with the WebP format
  • Excellent security in place
  • Robust features

Cons

  • Slower than some other APIs

What to Look For In an Image Resize API?

When it comes time to choose the right image resize API for your website, there are a few things you should consider. 

You want to ensure that the API in question is able to compress your image formats into smaller sizes that improve loading. This is perhaps the most important aspect of APIs for many users.

The faster your page loads, the better chance you have of it being seen by search engines. You want an API that will benefit your website and its images.

For that, you want to make doubly sure that the image quality is not compromised in any way during the compression process. This means that you should watch for features that ensure our original image’s quality is maintained.

This improves your chances of visitors enjoying your content. A page with poor image quality will turn people away, regardless of how quickly the page loads for them.

What Functions Can It Perform?

A good, high-quality image resize API will perform several functions. They are a great way of producing thumbnails for your applications. A great way to implement this is to take a screenshot using Website Screenshot API.

By maintaining your image’s high level of visual clarity, you’re giving your potential customers a good expectation of whatever it is you offer. If you want to give your customers a better user experience, consider making use of a User Avatar API.

Furthermore, image resize APIs serve to improve your traffic by vastly improving your website’s loading time. People are quick to leave your website and look elsewhere if images don’t load quickly and clearly.

Good image resize APIs also work to give you the best compression rates versus the best image quality. The best ones will give you a balanced output that looks great and is easy on your bandwidth use.

Compatibility/Ease of Use

The best image resize APIs generally work with a variety of image formats. This ensures that there are no issues when it comes time to upload them to your server.

You want to be able to have a format that is easy to work with. At the same time, you want the API you’re using to have a user-friendly interface.

The best image resize APIs make use of drag and drop features that make it a breeze to optimize your images. Once you have selected the image you want compressed, the API will display the bandwidth saved, as well as the file size compressed.

Some image resize APIs have excellent security measures in place to ensure that your content remains yours. This serves to keep outside sources from stealing your images and other content.

It pays to check each image resize API to ensure that they have the features you and your website require. Always do this before signing up, as you don’t want to waste your money on an API that doesn’t meet your needs.

Speed 

Many of the top image resize APIs excel at compressing your images. They do this quickly, allowing you to upload bulk amounts of content. 

This is handy for those who plan on using a lot of media on their website. If you only plan on using a few images for compression and uploading, speed may not be the most important feature to you.

You may want to save money by choosing a lesser image resize API that compresses at a much slower rate. But if you are going to be using lots of images, it’s best to spring for a better, more reliable image resize API.

Price

The good news is that even the best image resize APIs have relatively reasonable pricing. If you require an API that delivers a lot of storage, you can expect to pay quite a bit more.

That being said, the monthly rates for smaller content is only a few dollars. These bode well for smaller content creators who only plan on using limited media on their website.

Smaller image resize APIs start out at around $5 a month. Conversely, if you require a lot of content, you can expect to pay hundreds of dollars. 

Fortunately, this is usually a one-time fee that gives you a great deal of access.

Image Resize API FAQ

What are the best image resize APIs?

The top image resize APIs include EWWW Image Optimizer, ImageRecycle, Cloudflare, MediaCrush, Crush.pics, and Aspose.Imaging for Java.

What does an Image Resize API do?

In short, it takes the images you wish to use on your website and condenses the image’s file size. This makes it easier to upload them to your server for use.

In doing so, you are saving lots of bandwidth in the process. These compressed images not only load faster, but they allow your website to operate more smoothly, as well.

How much does an Image Resize API cost?

Image resize APIs that are needed for minimal use usually run between $5 and $10 a month. This often includes several thousands of images for you to upload.

Premium image resize APIs can run hundreds of dollars. However, they also include gigabytes of data for you to use. Users who wish to upload a great deal of content will want to go with these types of image resize APIs.

How do I get my Image Resize API key?

The API key is instrumental in allowing your computer to work with the image resize API that you are using. Whenever you pay for their service, an API key is often provided to you.

When you finally get your API key, it is used by inserting it into your URL. It’s also possible to make your own program that does this for you.

How much coding do I need to know to use an Image Resize API?

Thankfully, image resize APIs are a great deal easier to use than other APIs. This is due in large part to the user-friendly interfaces that often accompany the software.

As long as you know how to upload the compressed image files for use on your website, you should be in good shape.

Can I use a free Image Resize API with no key?

This is not possible to do, as the API key is required for you to get the full benefits of the image resize API. By not having a proper API key, you’re not going to get the controls you want to work with your images.

If you wish to try out some other free API keys, check out Email Verification API, or Phone Validation API. Both won’t cost you a thing and are free to try out.

The API key gives you access to a plethora of options. Without one, you simply won’t be able to take advantage of the benefits that the API provides.

Conclusions

Image resize APIs play a big role in allowing your website to flourish. Without them, you may not get the traffic you were planning on getting.

These tools have made it easy to get the most out of your images and your website. By compressing your files to their least possible size, you’re saving a great amount of bandwidth by using them.

Since the best image resize APIs maintain your original image’s visual quality, you can look forward to providing your visitors with the best content possible.

4.9/5 stars (6 votes)

Emma Jagger
Engineer, maker, Google alumna, CMU grad
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