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JPG vs PNG vs WebP — Which Image Format Should You Use?

JPG vs PNG vs WebP — three image formats, each designed for a different purpose. Using the wrong one costs you either unnecessary file size or unnecessary quality loss. This guide cuts through the confusion and tells you exactly which format to use in each situation.

A Quick Summary

| Format | Best for | Compression | Transparency | Browser support | |--------|----------|-------------|--------------|-----------------| | JPG | Photos, scans | Lossy | No | Universal | | PNG | Screenshots, logos, text | Lossless | Yes | Universal | | WebP | Web images, modern apps | Lossy + Lossless | Yes | All modern browsers |

JPG (JPEG) — The Photography Format

JPG was created in 1992 and remains the most widely supported image format. It uses lossy compression: it discards image information that human perception is least sensitive to in order to achieve small file sizes.

How lossy compression works: JPG divides the image into 8×8 pixel blocks and discards high-frequency detail (fine textures, sharp edges) more aggressively than low-frequency content (gradients, broad colour areas). At high quality settings, this is imperceptible. At low settings, you see characteristic "JPEG artefacts" — blocky distortions in smooth areas.

When to use JPG:

  • Photographs from a camera or phone
  • Scanned documents with images
  • Any image where file size matters more than pixel-perfect quality
  • Images with complex, varied colour — nature photos, portraits, food photography

When not to use JPG:

  • Screenshots of text — the compression artefacts make text look blurry and illegible
  • Logos and diagrams with flat colours — PNG or SVG gives cleaner results
  • Images where you need transparency (alpha channel) — JPG doesn't support it
  • Anything you'll edit repeatedly — each save re-compresses and compounds quality loss

Typical file size: A 12 megapixel photo is about 4–6 MB as a camera raw, 1–3 MB as a JPG at 85% quality, and 200–400 KB as a JPG at 60–70% quality.

PNG — The Lossless Format

PNG (Portable Network Graphics) was created in 1996 as a lossless alternative to GIF. It uses lossless compression: every pixel is stored exactly, and decompressing a PNG gives you the identical original data.

When to use PNG:

  • Screenshots of any kind — text stays sharp and readable
  • Logos, icons, and diagrams with flat colours and hard edges
  • Images with transparency (logos on different backgrounds, overlays)
  • Artwork where pixel-perfect accuracy is required
  • Images you'll edit and re-save repeatedly — no quality degradation accumulates

When not to use PNG:

  • Photographs — PNG files of photos are typically 5–10× larger than equivalent JPG files for no visible quality gain
  • Any situation where file size is the priority

PNG vs JPG file size example: A 12 megapixel photo saved as PNG might be 10–20 MB. The same photo as a JPG at 85% quality is 1–2 MB — 10× smaller, with no visible quality difference to a human viewer. For photographs, JPG is almost always the right choice.

WebP — The Modern Web Format

WebP was developed by Google and released in 2010. It's now supported by all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and most image processing tools. WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression, as well as transparency (alpha channel).

Why WebP is better than JPG for web use:

  • Lossy WebP images are 25–35% smaller than JPG at equivalent visual quality
  • Lossless WebP images are 26% smaller than PNG
  • Supports transparency like PNG
  • Supports animation like GIF (but usually smaller files)

When to use WebP:

  • Website images — smaller files mean faster page loads
  • Web apps and mobile apps
  • Any image that will be displayed in a browser
  • When you need transparency AND small file size (PNG for transparency, but larger; WebP solves both)

When not to use WebP:

  • When you need universal compatibility — older software (early versions of Photoshop, some desktop apps, email clients) may not support WebP
  • Print production — use TIFF or high-quality JPG for print

How to Convert Between Formats

All three conversions are available for free on this site, running entirely in your browser:

  • JPG to PNG — convert a JPG to lossless PNG (for editing, transparency needs)
  • PNG to JPG — convert a PNG to smaller JPG (for photos, email attachments)
  • Image to WebP — convert any image to WebP for smaller web-ready files
  • Image to AVIF — convert to the next-generation format (even smaller than WebP, newer support)

AVIF — The Next Generation

While outside the main comparison, AVIF is worth mentioning. It's the successor to WebP, achieving another 25–50% reduction in file size over WebP at equivalent quality. Browser support as of 2026 is broad (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) but not universal in older software.

Use the Image to AVIF converter if you're targeting modern browsers and want maximum compression.

The Practical Decision Tree

Use this to make the right choice quickly:

  1. Is it a photograph? → JPG (or WebP for web use)
  2. Is it a screenshot, logo, or diagram? → PNG (or WebP for web use)
  3. Does it need transparency? → PNG or WebP
  4. Is it going on a website? → WebP (fallback to JPG/PNG for old browsers)
  5. Is it for print? → JPG at 95%+ quality, or TIFF
  6. Will you edit it repeatedly? → Work in PNG or TIFF; export to JPG/WebP for final delivery

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