JPG vs PNG vs WebP: which image format should you use?
JPG, PNG, WebP — three formats, three jobs. Pick the wrong one and you either lose quality or ship files that are needlessly huge. Here's how to choose in one glance.
JPG (JPEG) — photos
JPG uses lossy compression: it throws away detail your eye barely notices to make files small. That's perfect for photographs and complex, colorful images. The catch: it can't store transparency, and every time you re-save a JPG it loses a little more quality. Use it for photos where small size matters.
PNG — graphics and transparency
PNG is lossless — it keeps every pixel exactly. That makes it ideal for logos, icons, screenshots, and anything with sharp edges or text. Crucially, PNG supports transparency, so it's the go-to when you need a see-through background. The trade-off is larger files, especially for photos.
WebP — the modern all-rounder
WebP is Google's format that does both lossy and lossless, supports transparency, and typically produces files 25–35% smaller than the equivalent JPG or PNG at similar quality. Every modern browser supports it. For the web in 2026, WebP is usually the best default — smaller pages, faster loads.
Quick decision guide
- A photo for the web? → WebP (or JPG for maximum compatibility).
- A logo, icon, or anything needing transparency? → PNG (or lossless WebP).
- Optimizing an existing site for speed? → convert JPG/PNG to WebP.
- Sending to a printer or older software? → JPG or PNG; some tools still don't accept WebP.
A word on converting
Converting to a smaller format (JPG/PNG → WebP) is a great optimization. Converting a JPG to PNG will not restore quality that JPG already discarded — it just makes a bigger file. And all of this can be done in your browser without uploading the image anywhere.