The Ultimate Guide to Image Conversion (PNG, JPG, WebP) & Why Privacy Matters
You have an image, but it's in the wrong format. It's a tale as old as the internet. Your website needs a fast-loading WebP, but you have a huge PNG. You need to email a photo, but your phone saved it as a non-standard HEIC. You just need a simple, fast image converter.
But in the rush to solve this common problem, most users overlook a critical question: When you convert an image online, where does your file go?
The Hidden Risk of "Free" Online Converters
Almost every online image converter you'll find operates on a server-side model. You upload your image, their server converts it, and you download the new file. This seems harmless, but it's a massive privacy compromise.
Your images aren't just pixels; they often contain sensitive EXIF data—your location (GPS coordinates), your phone/camera model, and the exact time and date the photo was taken.
When you upload a file, you are trusting a faceless company with that data. They promise to delete it, but you have no way to verify that. You're sending your private files to a server you don't control, all for a simple conversion.
The EverydayPDF Guarantee: Your Files Never Leave Your Device
This tool is fundamentally different. It's a 100% client-side image converter.
There is no upload. There is no server.
We use the native power of your own browser's Canvas API to perform the conversion. When you drop an image in the tool above, it's loaded directly into your browser's memory. The entire conversion process happens locally on your computer.
You can disconnect your internet, and this tool will still work.
This is a physical guarantee of privacy, not a flimsy promise. It's also dramatically faster, as there is zero upload or download time.
An Expert Guide to Image Formats: JPG vs. PNG vs. WebP
To use this tool effectively, you need to be an expert on what you're converting and why. Choosing the right format is the key to balancing quality, file size, and features.
1. JPG (or JPEG): "The Photographer"
What it is: The long-standing champion for all photographic images.
Compression: Lossy. This is its key feature. A "lossy" algorithm intelligently discards tiny bits of visual data that the human eye is unlikely to notice. This allows for massive file size reductions.
Pros: Incredible file size savings, universal compatibility (every device and browser on earth can read a JPG).
Cons: No transparency. If you save a logo as a JPG, it will have a solid (usually white) background.
When to use it:
For all photos and complex, colorful images.
When to convert to it:
Convert from PNG or HEIC to JPG when you need a much smaller file size for emailing or web use, and you do not need a transparent background.
2. PNG: "The Designer"
What it is: The king of high-quality graphics and web design elements.
Compression: Lossless. This is critical. "Lossless" means zero quality is lost. The file is compressed, but all the original data is preserved.
Pros: Full transparency support (alpha channel). This is what allows you to have logos, icons, or graphics with a see-through background. It also maintains perfect, sharp edges on text and lines.
Cons: File sizes are much larger than JPGs, especially for photos.
When to use it:
For logos, icons, screenshots, infographics, or any image that requires a transparent background.
When to convert to it:
Convert from JPG to PNG when you need to remove a background and save the image with transparency (though converting to PNG won't magically make the background transparent).
3. WebP: "The Modern Champion" (Google's Format)
What it is: The future. A modern format designed by Google to be the one-stop shop for all web images.
Compression: Both Lossy and Lossless. This is its genius.
- Its Lossy mode is 25-35% smaller than a JPG of the exact same quality.
- Its Lossless mode is ~26% smaller than a PNG, and it also supports transparency!
Pros: The ultimate format for web performance. It gives you the best of both worlds: tiny file sizes for photos and high-quality, lossless transparency for logos. Better website speed = better Google SEO rankings.
Cons: While now supported by all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge), it's not as universally compatible as a JPG... yet.
When to use it:
You should convert to WebP for almost all web use cases. Use "Lossy" for photos and "Lossless" for graphics.
💡 Pro Tip:
Converting all images to WebP is the #1 optimization for website speed and Core Web Vitals!
How to Use This Tool & Make the Right Choice
To make a website faster:
Convert all your JPGs and PNGs to WebP. This is the #1 optimization you can make for your site's SEO and Core Web Vitals.
To email a photo:
Convert your large PNG or HEIC file to a JPG at ~80% quality. The file size will be tiny and easy to send.
To get a transparent logo:
Ensure your source file (e.g., from Canva) is saved as a PNG or Lossless WebP. Do not use JPG.
Need to Do More Than Just Convert?
This free, private converter is just the beginning. We built it as an act of trust, to show you there's a safer way to handle your files.
Once your images are converted, you may need to add them to a report, a client proposal, or a legal document. That's why we built our Pro Suite.
With a simple, one-time purchase (OTP), you can unlock our full suite of 100% private, client-side tools, including:
- Image to PDF: Combine your newly converted images into a single PDF.
- PDF Merge: Combine that new PDF with your client's contract.
- PDF Sign: Securely sign the final document.
- PDF Protect: Add a password before you send it.
...all with the same 100% private, no-upload guarantee. It's the end of subscription fees and the end of privacy risks.
Ready for Professional-Grade Tools?
Upgrade to EverydayPDF Pro and get unlimited access to batch image conversion, PDF tools, and all our privacy-first utilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is this image converter really free?
A: Yes. 100% free, unlimited, and ad-free. We believe simple, essential tools should be available to everyone without compromising their privacy.
Q: Will I lose quality when I convert from PNG to JPG?
A: Yes, the conversion from a lossless format (PNG) to a lossy format (JPG) will result in some quality loss, but it's usually invisible above 85% quality. You gain a massive reduction in file size in return.
Q: Can I convert JPG to PNG with a transparent background?
A: You can convert a JPG to a PNG, but the new PNG will still have the solid background the JPG had. This tool converts formats; it doesn't remove backgrounds (though stay tuned for our AI tools!).
Q: Why should I use WebP instead of JPG or PNG?
A: WebP offers superior compression (25-35% smaller than JPG) while maintaining quality, supports transparency like PNG, and improves website loading speeds. It's the best format for modern web use and helps with SEO rankings.
Q: Does batch conversion require Pro?
A: Yes, converting multiple images at once is a Pro feature. Free users can convert one image at a time. Pro users get unlimited batch processing with automatic ZIP download.
Related Tools: Optimize your images further with our Image Compressor, Image Resize, and Image to PDF tools.