Our take: An online photo editor that shows a login pop-up but works without an account once you close it. In our test, no upload happened while opening and editing the photo, and the JPG save dialog shows the expected file size for each quality level. AI tools such as background removal need credits.
- ✓ Edit without sign-up — tested
- ✓ No upload while editing — tested
- Shows file size before saving
- ! AI tools need credits
- ? China access — not tested yet
Our test
Tested 28 Sep 2026 · Chrome desktop · Pixlr Express · standard test image v2 (3000×2000 JPG, 2.64 MB)
How we checked privacy: We opened the photo in the editor and reviewed the browser’s network log. No request sent the photo to a server. Pixlr says edit history is kept temporarily in the browser cache and is lost if you clear it. AI tools run online; we did not test them.
Data sheet
Every row shows how we know it
| Sign-up | Not required (close the login pop-up) Tested |
|---|---|
| Large photos | Open at original 3000 px, 1920 px or 1280 px Tested |
| Save formats | JPG, PNG, WebP, PDF, PXZ (Pixlr document) Tested |
| JPG quality | High 2.4 MB · Medium 1.2 MB · Low 611 KB (shown in save dialog) Tested |
| File handling | Basic editing runs in the browser Tested |
| AI tools | Background removal, denoise, face swap and more use credits Tested |
| Paid | Plus from US$1.99/month billed yearly: no ads, unlimited saves Official |
| Watermark | — Not tested |
| Access from China | — Not tested |
When to use it
Pick it to crop and color-correct a photo without installing anything, then save a JPG at the size you need. The save dialog shows the size for each quality level, which helps when preparing images for social media or a web shop.
Before you use it
A news pop-up and a login window appear first; close both. The default save quality (High, 90%) barely shrinks the file, so choose Medium. AI features such as background removal use credits and need an account.
How to use it
- Open Pixlr Express on pixlr.com and close the pop-ups.
- Press “Open image” or drag a photo in; for large photos choose original, Full HD or web size.
- Edit, press “Save”, pick a format and quality (High/Medium/Low), check the size and save.
Alternatives
Last verified 28 Sep 2026 · Found something outdated? Tell us. · Official pricing