QOI to PNG8 Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Quite OK Image and PNG (8-bit Indexed) exist for different jobs: QOI (Quite OK Image) is a 2022 lossless format with a ~200-line spec — PNG-class simplicity that compresses similarly fast. Convert PNG8 files like any PNG — to JPG, WebP or full-color formats.
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 QOI compares to PNG8
| QOI | PNG8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless (RLE/delta) | Lossless (DEFLATE) |
| Transparency | Supported | Full alpha (8/16-bit) |
| Animation | Not supported | Only via APNG extension |
| Metadata | None | tEXt chunks, ICC profile |
| Best for | Hobby engines, lossless simplicity | Screenshots, logos, sharp graphics |
How to convert QOI to PNG8
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your QOI 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 PNG8". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted PNG8 file individually, or grab everything at once as a ZIP archive.
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
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
Why convert QOI to PNG8?
Think of it as moving your file to the container that fits the job. Almost no viewer support PNG8 works differently: Truly lossless — every pixel survives exactly as it was If any of that sounds like your task, run the conversion — it takes seconds and nothing leaves your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this QOI to PNG8 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 QOI to PNG8?
No — PNG8 is a lossless format, so every pixel of the converted image matches your original QOI file. You can also adjust the quality/size balance before converting when the target format supports compression.
Will transparent areas survive the conversion to PNG8?
Transparency is kept whenever PNG8 actually supports an alpha channel. If the target format has none (like JPG), transparent areas are flattened onto a white background — that is a property of the format, not of this tool.
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 QOI files matters (camera model, GPS, timestamps), keep the original file as the master and treat the converted copy as the shareable version.