PNG is a versatile lossless format with transparency support. PNG opens in most environments, but another format such as JPG may suit some uses better.
JPG is the most widely used lossy format for photos. When you convert PNG to JPG, the file gets smaller and a solid background replaces transparency. See the comparison below for what changes.
This converter reads the file itself to confirm it is PNG, then converts it to JPG right in your browser. Your image is never uploaded.
PNG vs JPG: what's the difference?
| Item | PNG | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Transparent background | Yes | No |
| Animation | No | No |
| Introduced | 1996 | 1992 |
| Support in programs and upload forms | nearly everywhere | nearly everywhere |
| Shown directly in browsers | Yes | Yes |
| Photo file size (JPG = 1) | about 3× | baseline (1×) |
What is PNG?
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless format created in 1996 to avoid the patent problems around GIF. Because not a single pixel changes when you save and reopen it, it suits original artwork that goes through many edits.
What is JPG?
JPG (JPEG) is a lossy format standardized in 1992. It drops information the human eye is less sensitive to, making photos very small. It is the format cameras and smartphones save by default, so it is the one you meet most often.
What changes when you convert PNG to JPG
Transparent areas are filled with the background color you choose
JPG can't represent transparency. Transparent and semi-transparent areas are composited onto the background color in the options (white by default), so pick a matching color first if the image will be used on a dark screen.
Lossy compression is applied
PNG loses no quality, but JPG drops information the eye barely notices to shrink the file. Even next to the PNG original, the default quality of 90 is hard to tell apart, and the slider lets you tune size against quality.
You can adjust quality, size and background color
When converting PNG to JPG, you can use the quality slider (default 90), exact width-and-height sizing with margin fill, and percentage resizing. PNG is lossless, so lowering quality to around 80 usually still looks natural. Lower it when size matters, and raise it to 95 or more for archiving.
How the file size changes
JPG is far smaller than PNG (roughly 1/3 the size). This is for photos; for simple images such as logos and screenshots, PNG can actually come out smaller.
When to convert
- You need to shrink a PNG file for an email attachment or an upload size limit
- You're submitting to a place that doesn't need transparency (print, certificates, a product's main image) with a white background
- You're preparing an image for typical JPG uses (sharing photos, blog and online-shop product photos)
PNG → JPG: practical tips
Screenshots, document captures and text-heavy images get blocky artifacts around the letters as JPG. Photos are fine, but if the text matters, keep PNG or raise the quality to 95 or more.
A transparent PNG becomes JPG with the transparent areas filled by the background color. Choose white if the logo will sit on white paper, or a matching color for dark surfaces.
A PNG photo over 10MB typically shrinks to around 1MB as JPG, which helps you get under email and upload limits.