Need broad compatibility?
Choose JPG for photographs, PNG for graphics that need transparency, PDF for fixed documents, MP3 for portable audio, and CSV for simple tables.
FORMAT DECISIONS
Choose the right file format
Start with what the receiving app needs. Then compare compatibility, quality, transparency, editability, and expected size.
Need the smallest useful file?
Use WebP or AVIF for modern web images, MP3 for audio, and ZIP for compressible documents. Changing format does not guarantee a smaller result.
Need to keep every detail?
Choose PNG for pixel graphics and WAV for uncompressed audio. A lossless output cannot restore information already removed from a compressed source.
| Format | Best for | Strength | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | Photos, email, broad compatibility | Small files and universal support | Lossy; no transparency |
| PNG | Screenshots, graphics, editing | Lossless pixels and transparency | Often larger for photos |
| WebP | Modern websites and sharing | Good size with transparency support | Some older apps reject it |
| AVIF | Modern web delivery | Excellent compression and HDR capability | Encoding and app support vary |
| HEIC / HEIF | Apple photo storage | Efficient, high-quality phone photos | Many Windows and web workflows reject it |
| SVG | Logos, icons, diagrams | Scales without becoming blurry | Not suitable for ordinary photos |
| Fixed documents and page sharing | Consistent layout across devices | Harder to edit; scans need OCR | |
| DOCX | Editable word-processing documents | Rich formatting and collaboration | Layout extraction to text is limited |
| MP3 | Portable music and voice | Small and widely playable | Lossy audio |
| WAV | Audio editing and archival workflows | Uncompressed and broadly editable | Very large files |
| ZIP | Packaging several files | Keeps names and folders together | Does not improve already compressed media |
| CSV / TSV | Tables and data exchange | Simple and spreadsheet friendly | No formatting or formulas |
| JSON | APIs and structured data | Nested, machine-readable data | Not naturally tabular |
| XML | Feeds and older integrations | Attributes, namespaces, and schemas | Verbose and complex |
Common conversion paths
Choose a path based on the destination rather than assuming that a newer format is always better.
- For a photo upload that rejects Apple HEIC files, use HEIC to JPG.
- For transparent graphics in an older workflow, use WebP to PNG or AVIF to PNG.
- For a set of scans or photos that should travel as one document, use JPG to PDF or PNG to PDF.
- For editable audio in a compatible browser, use MP3 to WAV, FLAC to WAV, or M4A to WAV.
- For tabular data and APIs, compare CSV to JSON, JSON to CSV, and XML to JSON.
Three checks before converting
- Confirm the destination app accepts the output format.
- Decide which properties must survive: transparency, animation, selectable text, metadata, page order, or audio fidelity.
- Open the downloaded result before deleting or sharing the original.
Use the tool directory to see only conversions currently implemented and published.