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

JPG, PNG, WebP - if you have ever saved an image and wondered which one to pick, you are not alone. Each format has a job it does best. Choose well and your images look great and load fast; choose badly and you get bloated files or fuzzy graphics. Here is how to decide.

JPG (JPEG): best for photographs

JPG uses lossy compression that is superb at squeezing down photos - images with lots of colours and gradients. It produces small files that look great, which is why nearly every camera and phone saves photos as JPG.

• Use it for: photographs and realistic images.
• Avoid it for: logos, text, or anything needing transparency (JPG can't do transparent backgrounds), and don't re-save it repeatedly, as quality degrades each time.

PNG: best for graphics and transparency

PNG uses lossless compression, so it keeps every pixel exact - perfect for sharp edges, text, and screenshots. Crucially, it supports transparency, which JPG cannot.

• Use it for: logos, icons, illustrations, screenshots, and any image that needs a transparent background.
• Avoid it for: large photographs, where PNG files become much bigger than the JPG equivalent for no visible benefit.

WebP: the modern all-rounder

WebP is a newer format designed for the web. It supports both lossy and lossless compression and transparency, and it produces files roughly 25-35% smaller than JPG or PNG at similar quality. It is supported by every current browser.

• Use it for: almost anything on a website, to cut page weight and speed up loading.
• Watch out for: some older desktop programs and platforms that still can't open WebP - keep a JPG or PNG copy if you need universal compatibility.

Quick decision guide

• Photograph for a website → WebP (or JPG for maximum compatibility).
• Logo, icon, or image with transparency → PNG (or WebP).
• Photo to email or print → JPG.
• Sharing where the recipient's software matters → JPG or PNG.

Convert between them freely

You can switch formats in seconds without any software. Try PNG to JPG to shrink a photo, JPG to PNG for transparency and editing, JPG to WebP for smaller web files, or WebP to JPG for compatibility. All conversions run privately in your browser. Once you've picked the format, run the file through our Image Compressor to shave off any remaining excess.