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JPG vs PNG vs WebP: which image format should you use?

Three formats cover almost every image you will meet online. They are not interchangeable: each one is best at something different. This guide explains how they differ and gives you a simple rule for choosing.

Updated 2 min read

The short answer

  • Photos you want to share or upload: JPG.
  • Logos, screenshots, graphics with text, and anything that needs a transparent background: PNG.
  • Images on a website where small files and fast loading matter: WebP.

JPG

JPG (also written JPEG) is the everyday photo format. It uses lossy compression, which throws away detail your eye is unlikely to miss, so files are small. It works in every app and on every device.

The trade-offs: there is no transparency, and each time you edit and re-save a JPG you lose a little more quality. Sharp text and fine lines can look slightly fuzzy at low quality settings.

PNG

PNG is lossless: what you save is exactly what you see, and it supports transparent backgrounds. That makes it ideal for logos, icons, screenshots and diagrams, where crisp edges matter.

The trade-off is size. A photo saved as PNG can be many times larger than the same photo as JPG.

WebP

WebP is a newer format that can be either lossy or lossless, and it supports transparency. For the same visual quality it is usually clearly smaller than JPG or PNG, which is why many websites use it.

All current browsers show WebP. The catch is older software: some editors, printers and upload forms still expect JPG or PNG, so keep a JPG copy when you may need one.

Common mistakes

  • Converting a JPG to PNG to "improve quality". It cannot bring back detail that is already gone, and the file gets much bigger.
  • Saving a logo as JPG. You lose the transparent background and get fuzzy edges. Use PNG or WebP.
  • Re-saving the same JPG many times. Work from the original and save a JPG only at the end.

Converting between formats

You can convert in your browser without uploading anything. When you go to JPG, transparent areas become white, and when you go to WebP or JPG you can choose the quality to balance size against sharpness.

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