The Pinterest app has its own "Download image" button, and many people use it until they open the file on a big screen: the picture is soft and small text is unreadable. That happens because the app hands you a copy prepared for the feed, not the file the author uploaded. You can download a Pinterest image in full size by pasting the pin link into Skachok: it works on a phone and a computer, with nothing to install.
Why the app's download is compressed
For every uploaded picture Pinterest creates several copies of different widths: small ones for the feed grid, medium ones for the pin page, and the source file, which sits separately in an originals folder. In the feed and in the app you always look at a downscaled version: pages load faster and use less data. The "Download image" button in the app and "Save image as..." in a browser take exactly that version, usually 474 or 736 pixels wide.
The original is still there: a photo uploaded at 4000 pixels on the long side is stored whole, it is just never shown in the interface. From the pin link Skachok finds the address of the source file and delivers it without re-encoding, in the same JPG or PNG format it was uploaded in.
One caveat: you cannot get more than the original. If someone pinned a tiny picture, the "original" is that tiny picture. So downloading Pinterest photos in good quality only works within what the author uploaded, but within those limits you get the maximum.
What you get for each pin type
The output file depends on the pin type, which is detected automatically: paste the link, press "Find", and the card shows the matching option.
| Pin type | What Pinterest shows | What Skachok downloads |
|---|---|---|
| Image | downscaled copy up to 736 px | the original at the uploaded resolution, JPG or PNG |
| Animated pin | a preview in the feed | GIF or a short silent MP4, as the platform stores it |
| Video pin | a player with no save button | MP4 up to 720p free, up to 1080p on Lite |
| Multi-slide Idea Pin | a carousel | not always: it depends on how the platform serves the slides |
| Pin on a secret board | only to its owner | not available |
There is no watermark: Pinterest does not stamp a logo on images, and Skachok draws nothing on them. An author's handle appears only where it was part of the picture.
Which link works
You need a link to a specific pin, not to a board or a profile. On a computer it is the browser address of the form pinterest.com/pin/1234567890/; country subdomains such as ru.pinterest.com work too. In the app tap the pin, then the "Share" icon and "Copy link": you get a short pin.it/... address that needs no expanding.
A whole board cannot be grabbed at once: links are copied pin by pin, though you can paste them in a batch, more on that below.
Step by step: download a Pinterest image in the original size
The order is the same on a phone and a computer; only the link source differs.
- Open the pin and copy its address: on a PC from the address bar, in the app via "Share" then "Copy link".
- Go to the Pinterest page on Skachok in any browser. On a phone that means Safari or Chrome, not the browser built into the Pinterest app.
- Paste the link into the field (on a phone the "Paste" button is quicker) and press "Find".
- The card shows a preview and the file size: one option (the original) for an image, a list of formats and qualities for a GIF or a video.
- Press "Download". On the free plan an 8-second timer runs before the download starts.
On a computer the file lands in the Downloads folder. On Android it goes to the Download folder and the picture appears in the gallery right away. On iPhone Safari offers to save the image to Photos; if it went to Files then Downloads instead, open it there and tap "Share" then "Save Image". That is how you download a Pinterest photo in good quality on a phone: the same file as on a computer, with no re-encoding. A short version of these steps lives on the page how to download Pinterest videos.
GIFs: GIF or MP4
Downloading a GIF from Pinterest uses the same button, but it helps to know what you will get. Older animated pins are stored on the platform as real GIF files. Newer ones Pinterest usually re-encodes into a short silent MP4: it is many times lighter. Skachok shows the format the pin is actually stored in.
Choose by the task. For a website or a presentation you need a real GIF. For Telegram, WhatsApp and social networks MP4 is better: it weighs 5 to 10 times less for the same picture, and messengers play it as an animation. If you need a GIF and the pin is stored as MP4, download the video and convert it with any online converter. Video pins and short links are covered in how to download Pinterest videos and GIFs.
Several images at once
A mood board or a set of references usually means a dozen pins, not one. Paste several links into the field, one per line. Skachok shows a card for each, and the files can be downloaded one by one or all at once. The free plan accepts 3 links at a time, Lite 5, Pro 10, Max 50.
The daily limit counts files: 3 without an account, 5 on a free account, 20 on Lite, 50 on Pro and 100 on Max. Image resolution does not depend on the plan; everyone gets the original. A paid plan matters for images only because of volume: 30 to 40 references in an evening call for Lite at $1.99/mo (99 ₽ in Russia). Registration gives 2 days of Pro, enough for a large collection. The plans are compared on the pricing page.
How you may use the downloaded picture
Pinterest is not the author of the pictures, it is a showcase: almost every pin leads to someone's website, portfolio or stock library. For personal use (wallpaper, a mood board, a sketch for a renovation) downloading a Pinterest image in the original size is fine. If you plan to publish the picture yourself, check where the pin leads: the "Visit site" button under it opens the source. Credit the author and link to them: that is the norm for reposts.
Commercial use (covers, ads, products) requires a license or the author's permission; a stranger's photo from Pinterest does not qualify. The same principle applies to video pins and GIFs.
FAQ
How do I download a Pinterest image in good quality on a phone?
Copy the pin link via "Share" then "Copy link", open Skachok in Safari or Chrome, paste it, press "Find" and then "Download". You get the original the author uploaded, not the app's downscaled copy.
Why is the downloaded file still small?
Because the pin's author uploaded it small, for example a preview from another social network. Skachok delivers the largest file Pinterest has, but no service can enlarge a picture beyond its original.
Can I download a whole board at once?
No, Pinterest does not allow it. Open the pins you need, copy their links and paste them into Skachok one per line: 3 at a time for free, up to 50 on the Max plan.
Downloading a GIF from Pinterest: will I get a GIF or a video?
It depends on how the pin is stored on the platform: older animations sit there as GIF files, newer ones more often as a short silent MP4. Skachok shows the available format; if needed, the MP4 can be converted to GIF.
Is there a watermark on the images?
No. Pinterest does not put a logo on pictures, and Skachok delivers the file as is. An author's signature appears only if they placed it on the picture themselves.
Do I need a paid plan to download the image in the original size?
No. The original resolution for images is available on every plan, including the free one without an account. Paid plans raise the daily limit and the number of links per batch, and for video pins they unlock 1080p.