Image Convert

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless raster format that supports transparency. It is the go-to choice when you need crisp edges, text overlays, logos, screenshots, or any image where pixel-perfect quality matters more than file size. Because PNG does not discard any data during compression, the resulting files tend to be larger than JPG or WEBP equivalents. Use PNG when you need a transparent background, when you are working with graphics that have sharp lines or text, or when you plan to edit the image further and want to avoid generational quality loss.

JPG (JPEG) is the most universally supported image format in existence. It uses lossy compression, which means it discards some visual data to achieve dramatically smaller file sizes. For photographs and complex images with smooth gradients, JPG delivers excellent results at quality settings of 80 to 95 percent. The trade-off is that JPG does not support transparency, and repeatedly re-saving a JPG file will gradually degrade quality. Choose JPG for photos, social media uploads, email attachments, and any situation where wide compatibility and small file size are priorities.

WEBP is a modern format developed by Google that combines the best qualities of PNG and JPG. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, and it handles transparency just like PNG. At equivalent visual quality, WEBP files are typically 25 to 35 percent smaller than JPG and significantly smaller than PNG. Most modern browsers — including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — support WEBP natively. It is an excellent choice for web developers looking to improve page load times without sacrificing image quality, and it works well for both photographs and graphics.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is fundamentally different from the other formats on this list. Instead of storing pixel data, SVG files contain mathematical descriptions of shapes, paths, and text. This means they can be scaled to any size — from a tiny favicon to a billboard — without any loss of sharpness. SVG is ideal for logos, icons, illustrations, and diagrams. However, SVG is not suited for photographs because representing complex color gradations as vectors would result in enormous file sizes. ConvertKr can accept SVG as an input and rasterize it to PNG, JPG, or WEBP at whatever resolution you need.

Which format should you pick? As a general rule, use JPG for photographs when file size matters, PNG when you need transparency or lossless quality, WEBP when you want the smallest possible file with excellent quality for the web, and SVG for logos and icons that need to look sharp at every size. If you are unsure, WEBP is often the safest modern choice for web use, while PNG remains the safest choice for archival and editing workflows.

Why Convert Images Between Formats

Different image formats serve different purposes, and no single format is ideal for every situation. A photographer might shoot images that end up as high-resolution PNGs but needs JPGs for email attachments. A web developer may receive logos as PNGs but wants WEBP files to reduce page load times by 25–35 percent. A graphic designer might export illustrations as SVGs but needs rasterized versions for social media platforms that do not accept vector files. Image conversion bridges these gaps, letting you take any image and produce the exact format that your workflow, platform, or audience requires — without quality loss when done correctly.

Understanding Lossy vs. Lossless Compression

The most important concept in image conversion is the distinction between lossy and lossless compression. Lossless formats like PNG preserve every single pixel of the original image — what you put in is exactly what you get out. This makes PNG perfect for graphics, screenshots, logos, and anything with text or sharp edges. Lossy formats like JPG and WEBP (in lossy mode) achieve dramatically smaller file sizes by discarding visual data that the human eye is unlikely to notice. At quality settings of 85–95 percent, the difference from the original is virtually imperceptible, but the file might be 5–10 times smaller. The trade-off is that each time you re-save a lossy image, a tiny amount of additional quality is lost — so it is best to keep a lossless master copy and export lossy versions only for final distribution.

When to Use PNG

PNG is the best choice when you need pixel-perfect accuracy, transparency, or plan to edit the image further. Screenshots, UI mockups, logos, icons, text overlays, diagrams, charts, and illustrations all benefit from PNG's lossless compression. If your image has a transparent background — such as a logo that needs to sit on top of different colored backgrounds — PNG is the only raster format among the traditional options that supports full alpha transparency. The downside is file size: a PNG photograph can be 5–10 times larger than an equivalent JPG. For photographs where transparency is not needed, JPG or WEBP will give you much smaller files with excellent visual quality.

When to Use JPG

JPG is the universal standard for photographs. Virtually every device, application, email client, and social media platform supports JPG, making it the safest choice for maximum compatibility. JPG excels at compressing photographs and images with smooth gradients, producing small files with minimal visible quality loss. It is ideal for emailing photos, uploading to social media, embedding in documents and presentations, and publishing on websites where browser support for WEBP might be a concern. The key limitation is that JPG does not support transparency — any transparent areas become white (or whatever background color the converter uses). For this reason, avoid JPG for logos and graphics that need transparent backgrounds.

When to Use WEBP

WEBP is a modern format that combines the best qualities of PNG and JPG. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, handles transparency, and consistently produces files 25–35 percent smaller than JPG at equivalent quality. For web developers, switching from JPG to WEBP can noticeably improve page load times, which in turn improves user experience and SEO rankings. All major modern browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — support WEBP natively. The only reason to avoid WEBP is when you need to share images with users on very old browsers or legacy systems that lack WEBP support. In those cases, JPG remains the safer fallback.

Batch Conversion Tips

When converting large batches of images, consistency is key. Choose a single target format and quality setting that works for the majority of your images. For a batch of product photos going on your website, WEBP at 85–90 percent quality gives you the best balance of size and quality. For a batch of graphics and logos, PNG ensures everything stays crisp and transparent. After converting, use the "Download All as ZIP" button to grab every file at once rather than downloading individually. If some images in your batch have different requirements — say, most are photos but a few are logos — consider running two separate conversion passes with different settings rather than compromising on a single setting for all.

Optimizing for Web Performance

If you are preparing images for a website, image format choice directly affects page speed. Google's PageSpeed Insights and Core Web Vitals metrics penalize large, unoptimized images. As a general rule: use WEBP for photographs and complex images, PNG for graphics with transparency that must stay crisp, and SVG for logos and icons (which do not need to be converted at all for web use). Set JPG and WEBP quality between 80–90 percent for web use — anything higher produces diminishing returns in visual quality while significantly increasing file size. For further optimization, combine format conversion with the Image Compress tool to squeeze out additional bytes, or use the Image Crop & Resize tool to reduce image dimensions before conversion.