JPG vs PNG vs WEBP: which image format should you use?
, 4 min read
Picking the right format can make an image ten times smaller with no visible difference.
| Format | Best for | Transparency | Compression |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | Photos | No | Lossy, very efficient for photos |
| PNG | Screenshots, logos, text, diagrams | Yes | Lossless (or palette-reduced) |
| WEBP | Websites — photos and graphics | Yes | Lossy or lossless, typically 25–35% smaller than JPG |
| GIF | Simple animations | 1-bit | 256 colours only |
Rules of thumb
- Photo for a form or email? JPG — accepted everywhere.
- Screenshot with text? PNG keeps letters crisp. Saving it as JPG creates fuzzy halos.
- Logo with a transparent background? PNG (or SVG if you have it).
- Images for your own website? WEBP, supported by all current browsers.
A common mistake
Converting a JPG to PNG doesn't improve quality — the detail lost in JPG compression is gone, and the PNG is just bigger. Convert in the direction that suits the content. Try Image Converter and compare the sizes it reports.