How to convert PNG to JPG (and back)
Converting between PNG and JPG is really just re-saving your image in a different format. Here's how to do it in your browser — plus a plain-English guide to which format you actually want.
The fastest way: the PixPolish converter
- Open the Image Converter and drop your file in — PNG, JPG or WebP, it doesn't matter. Nothing is uploaded; conversion happens in your browser.
- Pick the target format — the tool even pre-selects a sensible one (PNG in → JPG suggested, and vice versa).
- For JPG or WebP, set the quality. Around 80–90% keeps a photo looking sharp while keeping the file small. The preview and new file size update live.
- Download. Converting a whole batch? Drop several files at once and they'll download together as a ZIP.
Prefer working inside the full editor? Open the image, choose File → Save/Export, and pick the format there — same result.
How the two formats actually work
JPG was designed for photographs. It saves space by discarding fine detail your eye barely notices ("lossy" compression) — great for photos, but it means a little quality is lost on every re-save, and it cannot store transparency.
PNG stores every pixel exactly ("lossless"). Sharp edges, flat colors and text stay perfectly crisp, and it supports transparent backgrounds — but for photos the files are several times larger than JPG.
Side-by-side comparison
| JPG | PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| File size (photo) | Small | Large | Smallest |
| Transparency | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quality loss | A little (lossy) | None | A little (lossy) |
| Best for | Photos | Logos, screenshots, text | Everything on the web |
Don't forget WebP — the modern third option. It's typically 20–30% smaller than JPG at the same quality, supports transparency like PNG, and works in every current browser. If your image is going on a website, WebP is usually the best answer; if it's going to an old system or a print shop, stick with JPG/PNG.
Real-world scenarios
- Photos for a blog or shop → JPG or WebP at 80% — then run them through the compressor for good measure.
- A logo or a screenshot with text → PNG, so edges stay razor sharp.
- A product cut-out with a transparent background → PNG or WebP. Converting it to JPG fills the transparency with white — see the warning below.
- A form that only accepts JPG → convert your PNG with the converter at 90% quality; visually identical, universally accepted.
When NOT to convert
Every JPG/WebP re-save costs a little quality, so avoid pointless round-trips (JPG → PNG → JPG gains nothing and loses twice). Convert once, from the best original you have, and keep that original. And converting a JPG to PNG doesn't recover lost detail — it just makes a bigger file of the same picture.
Frequently asked questions
Does converting reduce quality? To PNG — never. To JPG/WebP — slightly, controlled by the quality slider; 85–90% is visually identical for photos.
Can I convert many files at once? Yes — drop multiple images into the converter and download the results as one ZIP.
Is anything uploaded? No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser.
Why did my PNG get a white background as JPG? JPG has no transparency; the see-through areas must become a color. Use PNG or WebP to keep them transparent.