What converting to PNG does — and doesn't — do
Converting to PNG locks the image in a lossless format, so future edits and re-saves won't degrade it further. It does not restore detail the JPG already lost, and it won't make the background transparent on its own.
If you need a transparent background, you'll still have to remove the background in an editor — but starting from a PNG gives that editor a clean file to work with.
We tested it: three phone photos
Converting real phone photos from JPG to PNG:
| Photo | JPG | PNG | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixel 2 | 4.16 MB | 20.94 MB | 2.9 s |
| iPhone 6 Plus | 3.51 MB | 17.01 MB | 2.4 s |
| Galaxy S7 Edge | 3.97 MB | 17.55 MB | 2.9 s |
Every photo grew about 4–5×. Converting to PNG doesn't restore detail the JPG already lost; it only stops further loss when you edit and re-save. Convert when an editor or a site specifically needs PNG, not to improve quality.
Good reasons to convert
- A website, app store listing or print service asks specifically for PNG.
- You're going to edit the image several times and want to avoid repeated JPG compression.
- You're placing the image in a design that will be exported as PNG anyway.
File size will go up
PNG files of photos are usually several times larger than the JPG. If size matters more than editing, keep the JPG.
Frequently asked questions
Will converting JPG to PNG improve quality?
No. It preserves the image exactly as it is now, but can't bring back detail lost when the JPG was created.
Will the background become transparent?
No. The PNG looks identical to the JPG. Transparency has to be added in an editor.
Is it free?
Yes — no daily limit, no watermark, nothing uploaded.