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

A practical guide · Updated June 2026

Choosing the right image format is one of the easiest ways to make a website faster and your files smaller. The three formats you'll meet most often on the web are JPG (also written JPEG), PNG, and WebP. Here's how they differ and when to use each.

JPG / JPEG — best for photographs

JPG uses lossy compression: it throws away detail your eye is unlikely to notice in exchange for much smaller files. That makes it perfect for photographs and complex, colourful images. The trade-off is that JPG does not support transparency, and saving the same file over and over can slowly degrade quality. For most photos, a JPG at 75–85% quality looks great while staying small.

• Use it for: photographs, realistic images, email attachments.
• Avoid it for: logos, text, screenshots, or anything needing transparency.

PNG — best for graphics and transparency

PNG uses lossless compression, so no quality is lost — the saved image is pixel-perfect. It also supports transparency (an alpha channel). That makes PNG ideal for logos, icons, illustrations, and screenshots with sharp text and edges. The downside is file size: a photo saved as PNG can be several times larger than the same photo as JPG or WebP.

• Use it for: logos, icons, line art, screenshots, images with transparency.
• Avoid it for: large photographs where file size matters.

WebP — the modern all-rounder

WebP, developed by Google, supports both lossy and lossless compression and transparency. At the same visual quality it is typically 25–35% smaller than JPG and much smaller than PNG. Every modern browser supports it. For most websites, WebP is the best default: smaller pages load faster, which improves both user experience and SEO.

• Use it for: almost anything on a modern website — photos and graphics alike.
• Watch out for: very old software that may not open WebP; keep a JPG/PNG copy if you need maximum compatibility.

Quick comparison

• Smallest files: WebP, then JPG, then PNG.
• Transparency: PNG and WebP yes; JPG no.
• Lossless option: PNG and WebP; JPG is always lossy.
• Compatibility: JPG and PNG everywhere; WebP on all modern browsers.

So which should you pick?

A simple rule of thumb: use WebP for the web, fall back to JPG for photos that need maximum compatibility, and reach for PNG when you need transparency or pixel-perfect graphics.

Try it yourself — free, in your browser

You can switch any image between these formats in seconds with our free, private tools (your images are never uploaded):

• Image Converter — convert JPG, PNG and WebP in any direction.
• Image Compressor — shrink file size while keeping quality.
• Image Resizer — change dimensions to an exact size.