Updated October 2026
The format dropdown on this tool offers two options — PNG (lossless) and JPG (smaller file) — and the right choice depends on what you're using the still for, not on which format is universally "better." Here's what the difference actually means for a frame pulled out of a video specifically, which is a slightly different situation than photographing something directly.
Almost every video file, regardless of source, is already run through lossy video compression (H.264, H.265, VP9, or similar) — that's what makes video files a manageable size at all. Exporting a frame as PNG doesn't recover detail the codec already discarded; it just means the export step itself adds zero additional compression loss on top of what's already there. PNG gives you an exact, lossless copy of that specific already-compressed frame's pixel data — not a "cleaner" or higher-quality version of it than what the video actually contains.
Choosing JPG instead applies a second, separate round of lossy compression specifically to the exported still image, on top of whatever the video codec already did. That produces a smaller file — often meaningfully smaller — at the cost of some additional quality loss, most visible as soft blocky artifacts around sharp edges, fine text, or high-contrast detail. For most ordinary video content the difference is subtle at reasonable JPG quality settings; it becomes more obvious on frames with sharp graphic elements like on-screen text or hard geometric edges.
PNG isn't inherently sharper or more detailed than JPG when the underlying source is identical — PNG just refuses to add its own additional compression loss, while JPG trades a controlled amount of extra loss for a smaller file. For a frame already limited by the source video's own codec compression and resolution, the practical difference between the two formats is usually smaller than the difference between a good source video and a heavily compressed one in the first place.
Both format options are subject to the same free-tier limits — capped at 960px on the long edge with a small watermark, regardless of which format you pick. Format choice affects compression and file size, not resolution or the watermark; those are separate, tier-based limits.
Which format should I use if I'm not sure? PNG is the safer default if file size isn't a concern — it never adds extra compression artifacts on top of whatever the source video already has.
Does PNG make a low-quality video frame look better? No — it preserves exactly what's there, for better or worse. A frame from a heavily compressed or low-resolution source video will look the same underlying quality in either format; PNG just doesn't make it worse.
Can I convert a JPG export back to PNG later for a lossless copy? No — once JPG compression has been applied, that loss is permanent. Re-export as PNG directly from this tool if you decide later you want a lossless copy of the same frame.