Free Base64 Encoder & Decoder
Encode text to Base64 or decode Base64 back to text instantly. Handles Unicode and URL-safe Base64.
- Free, no signup
- Live conversion
- Data stays in your browser
How to use Base64 Encoder / Decoder
- Choose Encode or Decode.
- Paste your text — the result appears as you type.
- Turn on URL-safe if you need Base64url (- and _ instead of + and /).
- Copy the output, or use Swap to reverse the conversion.
Features
- Live conversion as you type
- Full Unicode (UTF-8) support, including accents and emoji
- URL-safe (Base64url) output option
- The decoder accepts standard and URL-safe input, with or without padding
- Swap input and output in one click
- Runs locally — tokens and payloads never leave your browser
What can you use Base64 Encoder / Decoder for?
Base64 turns binary or text data into plain ASCII characters, which is useful for embedding data in URLs, emails and JSON payloads. This tool encodes or decodes Base64 text instantly, right in your browser.
Base64 represents binary or arbitrary text using only 64 printable ASCII characters, which lets it travel safely through systems — like URLs, emails and JSON — that weren't designed to handle raw binary data or special characters. Encoding wraps data for that kind of transport; decoding reverses it back to the original text.
- Embedding a small image or file directly inside CSS, HTML or a JSON payload as a data URI.
- Decoding a Base64 string found in an API response, JWT token or log file to read its contents.
- Encoding credentials or tokens for headers that require Base64 formatting.
- Passing text safely through systems that don't support certain special characters.
Tips for better results
- Base64 is encoding, not encryption — anyone can decode it, so never use it as a way to hide sensitive data.
- Encoded text is roughly 33% larger than the original, which matters when embedding it in size-limited places.
- If decoding fails, check for missing padding (trailing = characters) or line breaks copied in by accident.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Base64 tool free?
Yes, encoding and decoding Base64 text is completely free.
Does this tool send my data anywhere?
No. Encoding and decoding happen locally in your browser.
Can I decode Base64 back to text?
Yes, switch to Decode mode and paste your Base64 string.
Is Base64 encoding the same as encryption?
No. Encoding is fully reversible by anyone with the encoded string — it provides no security, only a way to represent data safely in text-based formats.
Why does my decoded output look like garbled text?
That usually means the input wasn't valid Base64 to begin with, or it was actually encoding binary data (like an image) rather than plain text.
Is Base64 a form of encryption?
No. Base64 is a reversible encoding with no key, so anyone can decode it. Never use it to protect passwords or other secrets.
What is URL-safe Base64?
It replaces + and / with - and _ (and usually drops the = padding) so the result can sit inside a URL or a JWT without extra escaping.