Image formats,
without the guesswork.

Why convert an image at all?

The format that comes out of a camera, phone, design app or website is not always the right one for the next step. A photo may be in a format that a form, editor or publishing platform cannot open. A transparent logo may turn into a white rectangle in a format that cannot store transparency. A newer phone photo may not open in an older editor. Conversion helps match the file to its destination instead of asking every destination to understand every format.

JPG uses lossy compression, which can make photographic images much smaller than a lossless export. It is widely supported, so it is a reliable choice for profile photos, product listings, travel photos, email attachments and most workflows that do not need transparent pixels.

Choose JPG when: the image is a photograph, a smaller file matters, and a solid background is fine. Avoid repeated re-exports when quality is critical, because each lossy encode can discard more detail. JPG does not preserve transparency; SwitchPic fills transparent regions with the background colour you select.

PNG uses lossless compression and can preserve transparent pixels. It is a dependable fit for screenshots, text-heavy graphics, diagrams, labels, icons and logos. It may produce larger files than JPG for complex photographs, so it is not automatically the best option for every image.

Choose PNG when: exact edges, repeated editing or transparency matter more than the smallest possible file. A PNG export cannot restore detail already lost in a compressed source photo.

WebP supports lossy and lossless compression, plus transparency and animation in the format itself. For many website images it can offer a useful balance between visual quality and file size. Actual results depend on the source image, encoder and chosen quality setting.

Choose WebP when: you need a modern, compact web image and the platform you are using supports it. Some legacy systems and older image workflows may still prefer JPG or PNG.

AVIF can retain strong visual quality at compact file sizes and can support transparency and other advanced image features. Encoding availability varies by browser and device, which is why SwitchPic only displays AVIF as an output when the current browser reports support.

Choose AVIF when: you are optimising images for a compatible modern web workflow. For broad compatibility across unknown systems, keep a JPG or PNG version available as well.

HEIC and HEIF files can store efficient high-quality image data, but support varies between browsers, operating systems and older apps. Converting a phone photo to JPG can make it easier to upload to forms, share with people using different devices or open in familiar editors.

Choose JPG for broad compatibility or PNG when a lossless output workflow is needed. HEIC support in SwitchPic uses an optional decoder loaded on demand, so initial decoding can require an internet connection to fetch the library. The selected image is processed in your browser, not uploaded as a conversion job.

GIF is known for simple looping animations and a limited colour palette. SwitchPic converts an image to a still output and uses the first frame where the browser decoder exposes one; it does not preserve the animation as an animated output. If motion matters, keep the original GIF.

SVG describes vector shapes rather than storing a fixed grid of pixels. Converting it to JPG, PNG or WebP rasterises the drawing to a particular pixel size; the result will not scale infinitely like the original vector. Keep your SVG source when you need editable or resolution-independent artwork.

BMP is a straightforward bitmap format and can be comparatively large. It is less common for modern websites and day-to-day sharing, but converting a supported BMP image to JPG, PNG or WebP can simplify distribution and reduce file size.

Why convert sensitive photos here?

Many online converters ask you to upload a photo to a remote service, wait for a server to process it, then download the result. SwitchPic is designed differently: your selected image is read and converted locally by your browser, with a worker used where supported. There is no SwitchPic conversion server waiting to receive your photos, and no account or job queue is required.

That local-first design can be useful for family pictures, personal screenshots, private reference images or work-in-progress material that you would rather not send to a third-party conversion endpoint. It also avoids upload time, which is helpful when processing a batch or working with a slow connection.

Privacy still depends on your wider environment. SwitchPic uses system fonts and has no font-CDN request. Optional HEIC/HEIF and ZIP features request helper libraries from a CDN only when those features are used. Those requests expose ordinary network metadata to the resource provider, but the image is not intentionally sent as a file upload as part of those requests. Your browser extensions, operating system, device backups and anyone with access to your device are outside SwitchPic's control. For highly sensitive work, use a trusted device and browser, and keep the original files safe.

For the technical details, read the Privacy Policy. For a practical workflow, open the SwitchPic studio, add your batch, choose an output and download the results.

How SwitchPic keeps the workflow small

The studio is built around the task: pick up to 60 images, set one output format for the batch, convert with a high-quality default, then save individual results or download a ZIP. It does not require an account, a multi-step wizard or an upload queue.

Supported input depends on the browser and decoder. JPG, PNG and WebP are standard outputs; AVIF output is offered only when the browser supports encoding. Animation is flattened to a still image, conversion can remove metadata, and file size or memory limits may affect very large batches. Keep originals and check results before deleting anything important.