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

Picking an image format gets easier once you know what each one is for. Mostly it depends on one choice: whether the format throws away detail to save space (lossy) or keeps every pixel (lossless).

Lossy and lossless in one minute

A lossless format keeps every pixel exactly as it was. A lossy format throws away detail that is hard to see in order to make the file much smaller. Lossy is good for photos, because they are full of gradual color changes. It is poor for text and sharp lines, where the damage shows.

JPG (or JPEG)

• Lossy. Small files for photographs.
• No transparency. Transparent areas turn solid, usually white.
• Works everywhere, including old software and email programs.

PNG

• Lossless. Perfect for logos, icons, diagrams and screenshots.
• Supports transparency, including soft shadows.
• Photos saved as PNG are often several times larger than the same photo as JPG.

WebP

• Can be lossy or lossless, and supports transparency in both modes.
• Usually smaller than JPG or PNG at a similar look.
• Supported by all current browsers, though some older desktop programs can't open it.

How to decide

1. Is it a photo? Use WebP, or JPG if you need maximum compatibility.
2. Does it need a transparent background? Use PNG or WebP.
3. Is it a screenshot, logo or text? Use PNG, or lossless WebP.
4. Is it for a website? Prefer WebP and keep a JPG or PNG copy as a fallback if you need one.

Converting between them

If you already know the pair you need, use a focused page: PNG to JPG, JPG to PNG, WebP to JPG, WebP to PNG or JPG to WebP. Each one fixes the output format and takes many files at once.

Convert any other combination with the Image Converter and then check the size with the Image Compressor. Turning a JPG into a PNG won't bring back detail that is already lost. It only makes the file bigger. If you need to embed a small image directly in code, the Image to Base64 tool turns it into a data URI.