PNG8 to QOI Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
QOI is popular with hobbyist engines and emulators; convert to PNG to view it anywhere. If your files are still in PNG8 format, this page is the shortcut: PNG8 is PNG with an 8-bit indexed palette — at most 256 colors, the "GIF-quality" PNG that Fireworks era designers exported for tiny file sizes.
This converter runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly — your files never leave your device, nothing is uploaded, and there are no watermarks, sign-ups or queues. Drop in several files at once to convert them as a batch.
How PNG8 compares to QOI
| PNG8 | QOI | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless (DEFLATE) | Lossless (RLE/delta) |
| Transparency | Full alpha (8/16-bit) | Supported |
| Animation | Only via APNG extension | Not supported |
| Metadata | tEXt chunks, ICC profile | None |
| Best for | Screenshots, logos, sharp graphics | Hobby engines, lossless simplicity |
How to convert PNG8 to QOI
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your PNG8 files onto the area above, or click to browse. You can add multiple files at once for batch conversion.
- 2
Convert instantly
Click "Convert to QOI". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted QOI file individually, or grab everything at once as a ZIP archive.
About the PNG8 format
PNG was created in 1996 as a free, open replacement for the patent-encumbered GIF, and it has been the reference lossless image format ever since. Pixels are compressed with the DEFLATE algorithm (the same one inside ZIP files), which reproduces the original image exactly — bit-for-bit — while supporting full 8-bit or 16-bit alpha transparency. Screenshots, logos, icons, charts and anything with text or sharp edges should live in PNG.
Because it never discards information, PNG files of photographs are several times larger than JPG — that is the price of perfection. Modern PNG encoders add filters per scanline that make screenshots and flat-color graphics compress surprisingly well. PNG also became the base of APNG, the animation extension that browsers play natively.
+ Strengths
- ✓Truly lossless — every pixel survives exactly as it was
- ✓Full alpha transparency with smooth edges, not 1-bit masks
- ✓Open standard, unpatented, with excellent tooling everywhere
- ✓Ideal for text, line art and flat-color graphics — sharp edges stay sharp
! Limitations
- −Photographs become several times larger than JPG
- −Base format has no animation (that is the APNG extension)
- −16-bit or high-resolution PNGs can grow very heavy
About the QOI format
QOI (Quite OK Image, 2021) is a lossless format defined in one short specification document: a stream of simple run-length and delta ops over linear pixels. An encoder fits in 300 lines, decodes faster than PNG, and compresses comparably for photographic content.
It has found a home in emulators, demoscene projects and hobby engines — anywhere people want images without a codec dependency. Viewers rarely support it, so converting QOI to PNG is the way to bring these files into normal tools.
+ Strengths
- ✓Radically simple spec (~200 lines)
- ✓Lossless with fast decode
- ✓No patent or licensing questions
! Limitations
- −Almost no viewer support
- −Larger than modern codecs for many images
Why convert PNG8 to QOI?
Think of it as moving your file to the container that fits the job. Photographs become several times larger than JPG QOI works differently: Radically simple spec (~200 lines) If any of that sounds like your task, run the conversion — it takes seconds and nothing leaves your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this PNG8 to QOI converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Will I lose quality converting PNG8 to QOI?
No — QOI is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original PNG8 file. You can also adjust the quality/size balance before converting when the target format supports compression.
Can I convert several PNG8 files at once?
Yes — drop as many files as you like into the tool and they are converted in one batch. When more than one file comes out, everything is bundled into a ZIP for a single download.
What happens to EXIF data and other metadata?
Conversions here re-encode the image, and re-encoding generally does not carry the original metadata over. If the EXIF data of your PNG8 files matters (camera model, GPS, timestamps), keep the original file as the master and treat the converted copy as the shareable version.