The Arweave network provides long term, decentralized, censorship-resistant storage.
Arweave is designed to store data ( for a one-time fee) at least 200 years, given conservative estimates about the costs of future data storage.
Individuals and organizations can host websites, store historical documents, or preserve personal media on Arweave without the risk of monthly subscription lapses, link rot, or centralized censorship.
In order to promote use of the Arweave network, the company ArDrive.io subsidizes the storage of small files (< 100 KB) with their Turbo service.
This guide provides a walkthrough for making use of ArDrive.io’s free tier to permanently store small images (< 100 KB) on the Arweave network. [5], [7], [26], [27], [28], [29]
Install ImageMagick
ImageMagick is a command-line tool used to edit images. It is used here to shrink images to fit under the 100 KB limit [3], [4], [5], [6].
Windows: Download the Win64 dynamic installer from the official site. During installation, you must check Add application directory to your system path so the operating system recognizes the commands.
macOS: Open Terminal and type
brew install imagemagick.Linux (Ubuntu/Debian): Type
sudo apt-get install imagemagick.
Verification: Type magick -version in your terminal to confirm the installation is successful [5].
Compress or Resize Images
Use the following command to force an image to be under 100 KB:
magick input.png -resize 1200x\> -unsharp 0x0.75+1.5+0.05 -strip -define webp:method=6 -quality 42 output.webp
The flags function as follows:
input.png: The source file.-resize 1200x>: Resizes the image to a maximum width of 1200 pixels. The>flag ensures ImageMagick only downscales; smaller images are not enlarged.-unsharp 0x0.75+1.5+0.05: Applies an unsharp mask to enhance edge contrast, compensating for softening during resizing. The parameters represent radius (0), sigma (0.75), amount (1.5), and threshold (0.05).-strip: Removes profiles, comments, and metadata (EXIF/GPS) to reduce file size.-define webp:method=6: Sets the slowest, most exhaustive encoding method for maximum compression efficiency.-quality 42: Sets the lossy compression level. A value of 42 prioritizes file size reduction while maintaining structural integrity.output.webp: The final output file name.
Alternatively, for JPEG files, use:magick input.jpg -define jpeg:extent=100kb output.jpg [8], [9], [10], [11], [24], [25].
Create an ArDrive Account
Arweave utilizes a decentralized identity system known as a digital wallet [12].
Visit Ardrive.io and select Get Started.
Generate a 12-word seed phrase. Store this phrase physically; it is the only way to recover the account.
Download the Key File (.json). This file is required for login [12].
Upload Image to the Arweave Network
In the ArDrive dashboard, click + New > Create Drive [13].
Set the drive to Public to allow images to be hotlinked [13], [14].
Click + New > Upload File(s) and select the 100 KB image. ArDrive will indicate a cost of 0.00 [1], [7].
Create a Manifest for Human-Readable URLs
Manifests allow the creation of human-readable URLs such as:https://arweave.net/ENg2tljCiYFdORdj96d_KvGVHktjzHDAPN5jI1fNc8I/extropian-banner-1200-2.webp [15], [16].
To create a manifest:
Ensure the image is inside a folder within a Public Drive.
Inside that folder, click + New > Create Manifest.
Name the manifest and confirm. Wait for the transaction to be Confirmed on the blockchain [15], [16], [17].
Retrieve Your Hotlink URL
A single ID can access any file in that folder by its name [18], [19].
Click the manifest file in ArDrive to find its Data Tx ID (the Manifest-ID) [20].
Manifest URL Structure:
https://arweave.net/[Manifest-ID]/[filename.ext][19].
For example, if the Manifest-ID is:
ENg2tljCiYFdORdj96d_KvGVHktjzHDAPN5jI1fNc8I
and the Filename is
extropian-banner-1200-2.webp,
the URL is:
https://arweave.net/ENg2tljCiYFdORdj96d_KvGVHktjzHDAPN5jI1fNc8I/extropian-banner-1200-2.webp
Access Images via Alternative Gateways
If arweave.net is inaccessible, data remains available through alternative gateways [19], [22], [23]. For instance, using the ar-io.dev gateway, you can access the same image as above at this url:
https://ar-io.dev/ENg2tljCiYFdORdj96d_KvGVHktjzHDAPN5jI1fNc8I/extropian-banner-1200-2.webp
This tutorial illustrates how to install small files for free. However, you can upload files up to 5 GB via the Ardrive web portal if you’re willing to pay for the endowment costs. As of this writing (2025), 1 GB of permanent storage costs $8/GB.
[1] ArDrive, Pricing, ArDrive, 2026. This page confirms that ArDrive offers free permanent storage for files under 100 KB using the Turbo bundling service. https://ardrive.io/pricing
[2] AR.IO, Upload Data, AR.IO Documentation, 2026. Details the technical integration of Turbo for subsidized small file uploads on the Arweave network. https://docs.ar.io/build/upload
[3] Greg Zaal, How to Install ImageMagick Properly, Adaptive Samples, 2024. A guide explaining the necessary installation options for Windows and Linux to ensure command-line accessibility. https://blog.gregzaal.com/install-imagemagick/
[4] ImageMagick Studio LLC, Download ImageMagick, ImageMagick, 2026. Official source for pre-compiled binaries for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. https://imagemagick.org/script/download.php
[5] ImageMagick Studio LLC, Command-line Processing, ImageMagick, 2026. Official documentation on the structure of ImageMagick commands and how to verify installation via the terminal. https://imagemagick.org/script/command-line-processing.php
[6] ImageMagick Studio LLC, Command-line Options, ImageMagick, 2026. Comprehensive list of available flags for the magick and mogrify commands used in image manipulation. https://imagemagick.org/script/command-line-options.php
[7] AR.IO, Paying for Uploads, AR.IO Documentation, 2026. Explains that uploads under 100 KiB are subsidized and do not require Arweave tokens or credits. https://docs.ar.io/build/upload/turbo-credits
[8] Mark Setchell, Resize image to specified size (<100 kB), Stack Overflow, 2015. Technical solution providing the specific jpeg:extent syntax for forcing an image under a kilobyte threshold. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/19254142/resize-image-to-specified-size-100-kb
[9] ImageMagick Studio LLC, Defines, ImageMagick, 2026. Technical details on the jpeg:extent define flag used to reach target file sizes through iterative quality adjustment. https://imagemagick.org/script/defines.php
[10] Transloadit, Automating image resizing and format conversion, Transloadit, 2024. Explains how to use the mogrify tool for batch processing images into specific directories while maintaining file names. https://transloadit.com/devtips/automating-image-resizing-and-format-conversion-with-imagemagick/
[11] Sunny Srinidhi, Best options parameters for ImageMagick to compress JPEGs, Stack Overflow, 2021. Details advanced compression flags like -strip to achieve maximum file size reduction with minimal visual impact. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7261855/best-options-parameters-for-imagemagick-to-compress-jpegs-files-to-the-minimal-s
[12] ArDrive, Getting Started with ArDrive, ArDrive, 2024. Step-by-step instructions for generating Arweave wallets and securing the necessary key files and seed phrases. https://ardrive.io/how-to-get-started/
[13] ArDrive, How to create a permanent link, ArDrive, 2026. Guide explaining the creation of public drives to ensure uploaded content is visible to the global permaweb. https://ardrive.io/how-to-create-a-permanent-link
[14] Permaweb Cookbook, ArDrive, Permaweb Cookbook, 2025. Community resource describing the process of deploying content and using the Arweave File System for permanent storage. https://cookbook.arweave.net/guides/deploying-manifests/ardrive.html
[15] ArDrive, Arweave Manifests 101, ArDrive, 2022. Introduction to manifests and how they enable friendly-name routing and logical grouping of permanent web content. https://ardrive.io/manifests
[16] ArDrive, Arweave Manifests: How to get your NFT Project onto ArDrive, ArDrive, 2024. Detailed walkthrough for generating manifests using the ArDrive web interface to group multiple files under one ID. https://ardrive.io/manifest-demo
[17] AR.IO, Manifests, AR.IO Documentation, 2026. Technical specification for how gateways resolve manifest transactions into specific directory paths and file keys. https://docs.ar.io/build/upload/manifests
[18] AR.IO, Access Data, AR.IO Documentation, 2026. Documentation of the URL schema and gateways required to retrieve data stored on the Arweave network. https://docs.ar.io/build/access
[19] Developer DAO, Accessing Data on Arweave, Developer DAO Academy, 2026. Educational resource explaining the role of gateways and path manifests in rendering permanent data. https://academy.developerdao.com/tracks/arweave-101/2
[20] ArDrive, How to use ArDrive with OpenSea, ArDrive, 2026. Visual guide demonstrating where to locate specific Data Tx IDs within the ArDrive dashboard. https://ardrive.io/using-ardrive-with-opensea
[21] ArDrive, Dapp history of ArDrive, ArDrive, 2026. Log of permanent transaction IDs associated with different versions of the ArDrive application. https://ardrive.io/dapp-history-of-ardrive
[22] Reddit r/Arweave, Decentralized Arweave Gateways, Reddit, 2022. Community discussion on the redundancy of the Arweave network and accessing data through multiple gateway providers. https://www.reddit.com/r/Arweave/comments/tfnt1j/decentralized_arweave_gateways/
[23] AR.IO, Data API, AR.IO Documentation, 2026. Documentation for the raw data retrieval endpoints used to bypass gateway-level processing and rendering. https://docs.ar.io/apis/ar-io-node/data
[24] ImageMagick Studio LLC, WebP Encoding Options, ImageMagick, 2024. This documentation details specific WebP defines, noting that target-size triggers multiple encoding passes to meet a byte-count limit. https://imagemagick.org/script/webp.php
[25] ImageMagick Studio LLC, Command-line Options: Sharpen, ImageMagick, 2024. Documentation for the sharpen flag and how radius and sigma values affect image clarity. https://imagemagick.org/script/command-line-options.php#sharpen
[26] Arweave Team, The Permanent Information Storage Protocol, Arweave Whitepaper, 2023. This foundational document explains how the protocol guarantees long-term data persistence for its users. https://www.arweave.org/files/arweave-lightpaper.pdf
[27] Reflexivity Research, Arweave Overview, Reflexivity Research, 2024. This analysis highlights the user advantages of permanent storage over traditional cloud subscription models. https://www.reflexivityresearch.com/all-reports/arweave-overview
[28] AR.IO, What is Arweave?, AR.IO Documentation, 2024. This resource describes the permaweb’s user experience and the benefits of a “pay once, store forever” philosophy. https://docs.ar.io/learn/what-is-arweave
[29] CoinMarketCap, What Is Arweave (AR) And How Does It Work?, CoinMarketCap, 2026. This overview discusses the practical value of the AR token in securing permanent data access for the global community. https://coinmarketcap.com/cmc-ai/arweave/what-is/
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