JPG vs. PNG vs. WebP: Which Format Should You Use?

A quick summary of each

• JPG (or JPEG): The go-to format for photos. Files are small and open anywhere, but each time you compress them, they lose a little quality. JPG doesn’t support transparency.
• PNG: A good choice for screenshots, logos, and illustrations. It keeps its quality and supports transparent backgrounds, but photo files can be large.
• WebP: A newer format designed for the web. It can do what both JPG and PNG do—with or without quality loss, and with transparency—in smaller files. However, not every app and form supports it yet.

Lossy vs. lossless

The main difference is how each format stores the image:

• JPG uses lossy compression: it discards details the eye can barely notice, such as slight color variations. In a landscape photo, this is imperceptible and shrinks the file to a fraction of its size. In a screenshot with text, you may see blur and "artifacts" around the letters.
• PNG is lossless: it preserves every pixel exactly. It's great for solid colors and sharp edges (interfaces, text, and charts). Photos have millions of subtle variations, so PNG files can be several times larger than equivalent JPGs.
• WEBP supports both modes. Lossy WEBP files are usually smaller than JPGs with a similar appearance; lossless WEBP files are smaller than PNGs.

Which format to use and when

• Photos to send, print, or attach to a form: JPG. It's the most widely supported format.
• Screenshots, especially those with text: PNG keeps letters sharp. If the file is too large, Compress PNG can shrink it without blurring the image.
• Logos, icons, or images with transparent backgrounds: PNG (or WEBP, if the destination supports it). JPG doesn't support transparency, so the background turns white or black.
• Images for a website or online store: WEBP helps pages load faster. Current browsers display WEBP without any issues.
• Files you'll edit multiple times: PNG or your editor's native format. Saving a JPG repeatedly adds up the quality loss.

Compatibility: where each format can cause problems

• JPG works almost everywhere: older phones, printers, government systems, and editing programs.
• PNG is also widely supported. Its main drawback is file size, which can exceed upload limits on forms.
• WEBP works in all modern browsers, but many upload forms, older programs, and some apps still don't accept it. So if an image you download from the internet "won't open," it's often a WEBP file. Convert it with WEBP to JPG.

Need to make a PNG screenshot smaller so you can send it? PNG to JPG converts it, but the transparent background will become a solid color.

Other image formats you might come across

• HEIC/HEIF: The default format for iPhone photos. Files are smaller than JPGs at similar quality, but support is limited outside Apple's ecosystem. See how to convert HEIC to JPG.
• AVIF: A newer format with even smaller files than WEBP, used by some websites. Its compatibility is similar to or more limited than WEBP's.
• GIF: An older format limited to 256 colors, still popular for animations.
• SVG: Made of mathematical shapes, not pixels. Ideal for logos and icons that need to stay sharp at any size.

Does converting change image quality?

Converting PNG to JPG applies lossy compression once. This works well for photos but can slightly blur text. Converting JPG to PNG won't restore lost quality; it only makes the file larger. Always keep the original and convert copies as needed.

Frequently asked questions