JPG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?
Updated · 4 min read
JPG, PNG and WebP are the three image formats you’ll meet most often. Choosing the right one can make an image several times smaller, or keep text and logos crisp. Here’s how they differ and when to use each.
At a glance
| JPG | PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless | Lossy or lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Photos | Graphics, screenshots, logos | Almost everything on the web |
| File size (photo) | Small | Very large | Smallest |
| Compatibility | Universal | Universal | All modern browsers; some older apps and forms don’t accept it |
JPG (JPEG)
JPG was designed for photographs. It discards fine detail that the eye barely notices, which makes photos small. The downside shows on sharp edges: text, lines and flat colours get blurry halos, called artefacts. JPG also has no transparency, and each re-save loses a little more quality.
Use it for: photos, especially when a form or older system requires JPG.
PNG
PNG is lossless: every pixel is stored exactly. It’s perfect for screenshots, diagrams, logos and anything with text, and it supports transparency. For photos, though, PNG files are huge, often 5–10 times larger than a good JPG.
Use it for: graphics, screenshots, images with transparency, and files you’ll edit repeatedly.
WebP
WebP, developed by Google, does both: lossy compression that beats JPG by roughly 25–35% at the same quality, and lossless compression with transparency that’s usually smaller than PNG. Every modern browser supports it.
Use it for: images on your own website. Keep a JPG or PNG copy for places that don’t accept WebP, such as some upload forms and older software.
Which should you choose?
- Photo for a website: WebP, or JPG at 75–85% quality
- Photo for an upload form or email: JPG
- Logo, icon or screenshot: PNG, or lossless WebP
- Image needing a transparent background: PNG or WebP
Converting between formats
Use PNG to JPG to shrink photos saved as PNG, and JPG to PNG when you need a lossless copy for editing. The image compressor can also save any image as WebP.
Remember that converting a JPG to PNG doesn’t bring back lost detail. It only stops further loss.