Converting to PNG will not restore lost quality. JPEG compression is permanent — whatever detail was discarded when the JPG was made is gone. PNG preserves exactly what the JPG contains, artifacts and all. It prevents further loss on re-saving; it cannot undo past loss.
When PNG is the right choice
- Software, a form, or a print pipeline that requires PNG
- You are about to edit and re-save repeatedly and want to avoid generation loss
- You need a lossless master before further processing
If your goal is a smaller file rather than a lossless one, convert to WebP instead — it beats both JPG and PNG on size and still supports transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why convert JPG to PNG?
Usually compatibility or editing. Some software, print pipelines and upload forms expect PNG. PNG is also lossless, so if you are about to edit and re-save an image repeatedly, working in PNG avoids the generation loss that happens each time a JPEG is re-encoded.
Does converting JPG to PNG improve quality?
No — and this is the most common misunderstanding. JPEG compression is lossy and permanent: detail discarded when the JPG was created cannot be recovered. Converting to PNG preserves exactly what is in the JPG, artifacts included, in a lossless container. It stops further quality loss; it does not undo past loss.
Will the PNG be bigger than the JPG?
Almost always, often several times bigger, because PNG stores every pixel losslessly while JPEG discards data to save space. That is the trade you are making: a larger file in exchange for lossless compatibility. If size matters more, keep the JPG or convert to WebP.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. The JPEG decoding and PNG encoding run entirely in a Web Worker on your device using WebAssembly. Your files never leave your browser.
Does this add transparency?
No. PNG supports transparency, but a JPG has none to carry over, so the result is fully opaque. To actually make a background transparent you need a background-removal tool — a format conversion cannot do it.
Checking images at scale?
Bulk-audit hundreds of URLs at once or hit a dimensions API from your own code.
Related tools
- PNG to JPG converter — the reverse, for smaller files.
- JPG to WebP converter — smallest of the three.
- Image formats compared: WebP vs PNG vs JPEG.