Pixelate vs blur for face hiding - which is better?

Pixelate is the stronger guarantee. A heavy blur (40+ px) is practically irreversible but has theoretical reconstruction approaches. Pixelate at 20+ block size collapses each block into a single averaged colour - reconstruction would need information that's mathematically gone. Pick pixelate when stakes are high (legal, witness protection, children); blur is enough for casual social privacy.

What block size guarantees face anonymity?

20-30 px on a 12 MP photo gives unmistakeable censorship while keeping the head area clearly identifiable as 'a face'. 30-40 px for paranoid use cases. 50+ becomes overkill - blocks are huge but security gain is marginal.

Can I pixelate multiple faces in a group photo?

Yes - drag a separate ellipse over each face. Performance stays smooth even with 15+ regions on a single 12 MP photo.

Does this upload my photo to a server?

No. Pixelation runs entirely in your browser. Your faces never leave your device. Even cloud-cached thumbnails (a common privacy leak point) don't apply because nothing is uploaded.

Is auto-detection of faces available?

Not in this tool yet - it's on our roadmap. Currently manual selection: drag an ellipse over each face. Manual takes 5 seconds per face and gives you full control over coverage.

100% browser-side · No upload · Free

Pixelate Face in Photo

The classic 'TV blur' face censorship - drag an ellipse over each face, tune block size, save. Multi-face support, irreversible privacy guarantee, 100% browser-side.

Drop a photo to start

JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC up to 40 MB · stays in your browser

Never uploaded · 100% browser-side

No upload · stays in browserInstant · no waitingFree · no signup, no watermark

How it works

1
Drop your photo
Drag & drop or browse to upload. JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC up to 40 MB. We pre-place a default ellipse in the centre - move it onto a face.
2
Cover each face with an ellipse
Drag to position, corner handles to resize. Add a separate ellipse per face. Ellipses cover head shapes naturally - no rectangular edges cutting hair.
3
Tune block size, save
4-60 px. 16-30 px is the recognisable 'TV blur' look. 40+ for absolute irrecoverability. Save in any format - censorship baked in.

Why use this online tool

Stronger than blur

Pixelate at 20+ px collapses each block into one solid colour - facial features are mathematically lost. No reconstruction possible regardless of source resolution.

Ellipse default for face shape

Oval mask covers heads naturally with no harsh rectangle edges through hair or shoulders.

Multi-face support

Pixelate every face in a group photo - separate ellipse per person, all sharing the same block size for visual consistency.

Free, browser-side

Faces never leave your device. No upload, no signup, no per-face cost. Output has no watermark.

When to use it

Journalism / news photos requiring strict face anonymity
Court evidence / legal documents where faces must be irrecoverable
School / event photos with children's faces censored before public posting
Witness protection material with mathematically guaranteed anonymisation
Social posts where blur isn't strong enough for the privacy concern

Frequently asked questions

Pixelate vs blur for face hiding - which is better?: Pixelate is the stronger guarantee. A heavy blur (40+ px) is practically irreversible but has theoretical reconstruction approaches. Pixelate at 20+ block size collapses each block into a single averaged colour - reconstruction would need information that's mathematically gone. Pick pixelate when stakes are high (legal, witness protection, children); blur is enough for casual social privacy.
What block size guarantees face anonymity?: 20-30 px on a 12 MP photo gives unmistakeable censorship while keeping the head area clearly identifiable as 'a face'. 30-40 px for paranoid use cases. 50+ becomes overkill - blocks are huge but security gain is marginal.
Can I pixelate multiple faces in a group photo?: Yes - drag a separate ellipse over each face. Performance stays smooth even with 15+ regions on a single 12 MP photo.
Does this upload my photo to a server?: No. Pixelation runs entirely in your browser. Your faces never leave your device. Even cloud-cached thumbnails (a common privacy leak point) don't apply because nothing is uploaded.
Is auto-detection of faces available?: Not in this tool yet - it's on our roadmap. Currently manual selection: drag an ellipse over each face. Manual takes 5 seconds per face and gives you full control over coverage.

Related free tools

Blur Face in Photo

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Censor Photo Online

Block out faces, plates, IDs, NSFW areas, or screen content with hard mosaic censorship. Drag rectangles or ellipses, tune block size, save - 100% browser-side, no upload.

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Drag a rectangle over the plate and blur it instantly - safe for marketplace ads, insurance evidence, social posts, and used-car listings. Multi-plate support for shots with several vehicles.

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