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

Choosing the wrong image format costs you either quality or file size — sometimes both. Here is a practical comparison of JPG, PNG, and WebP so you can always choose correctly.

JPG (JPEG) — Best for Photos

• JPG uses lossy compression, meaning it permanently removes some image data to achieve small file sizes. For photographs with millions of colours and natural gradients, this loss is nearly invisible. JPG is the standard format for:
• Digital camera photos
• Product images on e-commerce sites
• Blog post images
• Social media photos
• Drawback: JPG does not support transparency. Each time you save a JPG, it re-compresses and loses quality (generation loss).

PNG — Best for Graphics and Transparency

• PNG uses lossless compression — no data is ever discarded. This makes PNG ideal for:
• Logos and icons
• Screenshots
• Images with text overlays
• Any image requiring a transparent background
• Drawback: PNG files are much larger than JPG for photographs. A photo saved as PNG can be 5–10× the size of the same photo as JPG. Convert PNG to JPG when you need a smaller file.

WebP — Best for Web Performance

• WebP is Google's modern format designed specifically for the web. It supports both lossy and lossless compression, plus transparency. WebP files are:
• 25–34% smaller than equivalent JPG
• 26% smaller than equivalent PNG
• Supported by all major browsers since 2022
• Convert JPG to WebP or convert PNG to WebP for the best web performance. To go the other way, convert WebP to JPG for maximum compatibility.

HEIC and AVIF

iPhone photos are saved as HEIC by default — a format with excellent quality at small sizes, but poor compatibility outside Apple devices. Convert HEIC to JPG for universal sharing. AVIF is even more efficient than WebP but has slightly lower browser support. Convert AVIF to JPG when compatibility matters most.

Quick Decision Guide