How to Convert PDF to JPG Free Online
(High Quality, No Watermark) – 2026
I converted a PDF to JPG and got a giant watermark across the whole thing
Needed to turn a contract into images for a presentation. Found a "free" converter. Uploaded. Downloaded. Opened the image. Big ugly text right in the middle: "CONVERTED WITH PRO VERSION - REMOVE WATERMARK FOR $9.99". The image was useless. Tried another. Same thing. Another. Watermark AND a daily limit. I spent 20 minutes on this. There has to be a better way. There is. You just need to know where to look and what settings actually matter.
Why Do So Many PDF to JPG Tools Add Watermarks?
It's their business model.
Free version adds watermark → You want it removed → Pay $9.99/month. That's it. Some tools make the watermark so big and ugly that the image is completely useless. Others add it in the corner hoping you won't notice until you've already used the image.
Common watermark tricks:
- Big diagonal text across entire image
- Small logo in corner (still ruins it)
- Limited to first 3 pages only
- Low quality by default, pay for "HD"
Good news: Not all tools do this. Some are genuinely free.
Quality: The Other Thing Free Tools Ruin
What Most Free Tools Give You
Default setting
- Text looks fuzzy when zoomed
- Images get pixelated
- Useless for printing
What You Actually Want
Recommended setting
- Text stays sharp when zoomed
- Images remain clear
- Good enough for printing
The trick: Look for DPI settings before you convert. If a tool doesn't let you choose quality, it's probably using 72 DPI and your images will look bad. PDFSwift lets you pick 72, 150, 300, or 600 DPI.
How to Convert PDF to JPG (The Right Way)
Find a tool that's actually free
No watermarks, no daily limits, no "first 3 pages free" nonsense. PDFSwift, iLovePDF (free version), or Smallpdf (2/day) are options.
Upload your PDF
Drag and drop or click to select. Most tools handle files up to 100MB free.
Choose JPG and quality
Select JPG as output. Set quality to High or choose 300 DPI if available. This is the step most people miss.
Convert
Click convert. Takes a few seconds per page.
Download
If you have multiple pages, download as ZIP. One file, all your images. Don't click download 50 times.
Why ZIP Downloads Are a Big Deal
50-page PDF → 50 separate JPG files.
If a tool makes you download each one individually, you'll be clicking for 5 minutes. Good tools give you a ZIP file. One click downloads everything.
Bad tool: 50 downloads, 50 clicks, 50 save-as dialogs
Good tool: 1 ZIP download, 1 click, done
PDFSwift gives you ZIP. So should every tool.
The Privacy Question
Where does your PDF go when you convert?
Server-based tools
Upload your file → Their server → Convert → Delete after 1 hour (maybe). Your document sat on their computer. If it's sensitive, this is risky.
Browser-based tools
Upload your file → Stays in your browser → Convert locally → Never leaves your device. This is what PDFSwift does. No servers involved.
For bank statements, contracts, personal docs - use browser-based tools. For public stuff, server tools are fine.
Free PDF to JPG Tools Compared
| Tool | Watermark | Quality Options | ZIP Download | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDFSwift | No watermark | 72/150/300/600 DPI | Yes | Browser-based, no upload |
| iLovePDF | No watermark | Limited (image quality only) | Yes | Server upload, deleted after |
| Smallpdf | No watermark | Basic (low/med/high) | Yes | Server upload, 2/day free |
| Adobe Online | No watermark | Fixed (no choice) | Yes | Server upload, account needed |
| Many random sites | Yes, big watermark | 72 DPI only | No, download one by one | Unknown servers |
Table updated February 2026. Features change, always check before using.
When People Actually Need This
The Presentation
Had to turn a 30-page report into images for a slide deck. Used 300 DPI JPGs. Slides looked sharp, text readable when zoomed.
The Website Upload
E-commerce site needed product spec sheets as images. PDF to JPG, 150 DPI (smaller files), uploaded 50 products in 10 minutes.
The Social Media Post
Wanted to share a single page from a magazine on Instagram. Converted just that page at 300 DPI, cropped, posted. No one knew it wasn't original.
The Client Proof
Designer sent PDF proof. Client wanted to mark up in an image editor. Converted to JPG, client marked it up, sent back. Simple.
Questions People Actually Ask
Why do so many PDF to JPG tools add watermarks?
Money. Plain and simple. They give you a free version with a big ugly watermark across your image, then charge you to remove it. It's their business model. Some even watermark free trials so badly the image is useless. The good tools don't do this. They're either completely free (like PDFSwift) or have generous free tiers without watermarks.
What's the best quality setting for PDF to JPG?
300 DPI is the sweet spot. 72 DPI (what many free tools default to) looks fine on screen but pixelates when you zoom or print. 150 DPI is okay for drafts. 300 DPI gives you sharp text, clear images, and files that aren't huge. For professional printing, 600 DPI exists but files get massive. Stick with 300 DPI for 99% of uses.
Will I lose quality converting PDF to JPG?
Yes, technically JPG is lossy compression. But with good settings, you won't notice. At 300 DPI and high quality setting, the difference is invisible to the naked eye. The real quality loss happens when tools use low resolution defaults. Your PDF might have vector text that's infinitely sharp, but if the converter spits out 72 DPI JPGs, it'll look terrible. Always check the DPI setting.
Can I convert all pages at once?
Yes. Good tools convert every page to individual JPGs. A 20-page PDF becomes 20 JPG files. Most tools then let you download them all as a ZIP file so you don't have to click 20 times. One click, one download, all your images. If a tool makes you download pages one by one, find a better tool.
Is it safe to upload sensitive PDFs to online converters?
Depends on the tool. Some upload your file to their servers, convert it there, then delete after an hour. That's okay for non-sensitive stuff. For private documents, use tools that work entirely in your browser (client-side). PDFSwift processes everything locally - your file never leaves your computer. No upload means no one else can access it.
What Actually Matters
- No watermark: If a tool adds watermarks, skip it. There are plenty that don't.
- 300 DPI: This is the quality setting that matters. 72 DPI is too low.
- ZIP download: Don't download 50 files one by one. Use tools that give you ZIP.
- Privacy: Browser-based tools keep your files on your device. Server tools upload them.
That's it. Find a tool that checks these boxes and you're good.
Try PDFSwift PDF to JPG Converter
No watermarks. Choose your DPI. ZIP download. Files stay in your browser. Actually free, not "free with watermark" free.
Works on phone and computer • No signup • No watermarks • Forever free