JPG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use? (Complete Guide)

Technical overview:

JPG uses "lossy" compression—it permanently discards data to reduce file size. The algorithm identifies and removes information human eyes can't easily detect.

Compression process:

1. Divides image into 8×8 pixel blocks

2. Converts colors to mathematical frequencies

3. Discards high-frequency details (fine textures)

4. Stores only essential information

5. Results in much smaller files

Quality control:

You choose compression level (0-100%):

• 100%: Minimal compression, largest file, best quality

• 85%: Moderate compression, excellent quality, good file size

• 70%: Heavy compression, acceptable quality, small file

• 50%: Extreme compression, visible degradation, tiny file

Sweet spot:

80-85% quality = indistinguishable from original on screens, but 60-75% smaller files.

Perfect for:

✓ Photographs (portraits, landscapes, products)

✓ Complex images with gradients

✓ Natural scenes with many colors

✓ Images where small quality loss is acceptable

✓ Hero/banner images

✓ Blog featured images

✓ Social media graphics

File size examples:

Photo (1200×800px):

• PNG: 2.8MB

• JPG 100%: 850KB

• JPG 85%: 320KB (same visual quality)

• JPG 70%: 180KB (slight degradation)

Advantages:

✓ Excellent compression (small files)

✓ Universal browser support

✓ Billions of colors (16.7 million)

✓ Best for photographic content

Disadvantages:

✗ Lossy (permanent quality loss)

✗ No transparency support

✗ Degrades with repeated edits/saves

✗ Poor for text, logos, graphics

Visual comparison:

Quality 100% (2MB):

• Pixel-perfect detail

• Overkill for web use

• No visible benefit over 90%

Quality 90% (750KB):

• Excellent quality

• Recommended for professional photography

• Indistinguishable from 100% on screens

Quality 80-85% (300-400KB):

• Recommended for most web use

• Excellent perceived quality

• 70% smaller than original

• Perfect balance

Quality 70% (180KB):

• Acceptable for thumbnails

• Visible compression artifacts on close inspection

• Good for bandwidth-constrained situations

Quality 50% (100KB):

• Noticeable degradation

• Blocky artifacts

• Only for extreme file size requirements

Pro tip:

Start at 80%, decrease until you notice degradation, then go back up 5%.

Technical overview:

PNG uses "lossless" compression—no data is discarded. The original image can be perfectly reconstructed.

Compression method:

1. Identifies repeated patterns

2. Uses efficient encoding schemes

3. Compresses without data loss

4. Decompresses to exact original

PNG variants:

PNG-8 (8-bit):

• 256 colors maximum

• Tiny files

• Good for simple graphics

• Supports transparency

PNG-24 (24-bit):

• 16.7 million colors

• Larger files

• Full color photos

• Supports transparency

PNG-32:

• PNG-24 + alpha channel (transparency)

• Full color + variable transparency

• Largest file size

Perfect for:

✓ Logos with transparency

✓ Icons and UI elements

✓ Graphics with text

✓ Images requiring transparency

✓ Screenshots with sharp edges

✓ Diagrams and charts

✓ Images you'll edit repeatedly

File size examples:

Logo (500×500px with transparency):

• JPG: Can't do transparency

• PNG-8: 45KB (if <256 colors)

• PNG-24: 180KB

Advantages:

✓ Lossless (perfect quality)

✓ Supports transparency

✓ Sharp edges and text

✓ No degradation from repeated saves

✓ Great for graphics

Disadvantages:

✗ Large file sizes for photos

✗ No quality control (can't compress like JPG)

✗ Overkill for most photographs

✗ Slower processing than JPG

Same photo saved as PNG vs JPG:

Landscape photo (1200×800px):

• PNG-24: 2.8MB (lossless)

• JPG 100%: 850KB (visually identical)

• JPG 85%: 320KB (indistinguishable on screen)

• JPG 70%: 180KB (acceptable quality)

The verdict:

For photos, PNG is 9-15x larger than JPG with no visible benefit on screens.

When PNG for photos makes sense:

• Source file for editing (keep lossless original)

• Will composite with other images (need alpha channel)

• Archival purposes (preserve perfect quality)

For web display:

Always JPG for photos. PNG wastes bandwidth with no visual benefit.

Exception:

Photo with transparency (cutout product) → PNG

But consider WebP instead (better compression + transparency)

What it is:

Modern image format developed by Google combining benefits of JPG and PNG.

Compression modes:

Lossy WebP (JPG alternative):

• 25-35% smaller than equivalent JPG

• Adjustable quality (like JPG)

• Excellent for photos

Lossless WebP (PNG alternative):

• 25-30% smaller than PNG

• Perfect quality preservation

• Good for graphics

Alpha transparency:

• Supports transparency like PNG

• But with superior compression

• Best of both worlds

File size comparison:

Photo (1200×800px):

• PNG: 2.8MB

• JPG 85%: 320KB

• WebP 85%: 210KB (35% smaller than JPG!)

Logo with transparency (500×500px):

• PNG: 180KB

• WebP lossless: 125KB (30% smaller)

Perfect for:

✓ Modern websites (95%+ browser support)

✓ Photos (smaller than JPG)

✓ Graphics with transparency (smaller than PNG)

✓ Any image where file size matters

✓ Mobile-first sites

Advantages:

✓ 25-35% smaller than JPG/PNG

✓ Supports both lossy and lossless

✓ Supports transparency

✓ Supports animation (like GIF)

✓ Excellent compression

Disadvantages:

✗ Limited support in old browsers (IE, old Safari)

✗ Not all image editors support it natively

✗ Requires fallback for full compatibility

Browser support (2026):

✓ Chrome/Edge: Full support

✓ Firefox: Full support

✓ Safari 14+: Supported

✓ iOS 14+: Supported

✗ IE11: Not supported (but IE is dead)

✗ Old Android (<4.0): Not supported

Coverage: ~95% of global users

Best practice: Serve WebP with JPG/PNG fallback

HTML picture element:

```html

<picture>

<source srcset="image.webp" type="image/webp">

<source srcset="image.jpg" type="image/jpeg">

<img src="image.jpg" alt="Description">

</picture>

```

What this does:

• Modern browsers load WebP (35% smaller)

• Old browsers fall back to JPG

• Everyone sees the image correctly

Conversion:

Use our Image Format Converter:

1. Upload JPG/PNG

2. Convert to WebP

3. Download both versions

4. Use picture element as shown above

Savings:

100 images on a page:

• JPG version: 30MB total

• WebP version: 20MB total (33% bandwidth saved)

Mobile users especially benefit from reduced data usage.

Step 1: Is it a photograph or complex image?

→ YES: Use JPG (or WebP if supported)

→ NO: Go to Step 2

Step 2: Does it need transparency?

→ YES: Use PNG (or WebP if supported)

→ NO: Go to Step 3

Step 3: Is it a logo, icon, or graphic with text?

→ YES: Use PNG (or WebP lossless)

→ NO: Go to Step 4

Step 4: Is it a simple graphic with <256 colors?

→ YES: Use PNG-8

→ NO: Use JPG

Modern upgrade:

For any scenario, consider using WebP with JPG/PNG fallback:

• Convert to WebP

• Keep original JPG/PNG as fallback

• Implement with picture element

• Get 25-35% file size reduction

Quick reference:

Photos:

• Best: WebP lossy

• Good: JPG (80-85% quality)

• Avoid: PNG (10x larger)

Logos:

• Best: WebP lossless or SVG

• Good: PNG

• Avoid: JPG (artifacts around text)

Graphics with text:

• Best: WebP lossless

• Good: PNG

• Avoid: JPG (text becomes blurry)

Icons:

• Best: SVG (vector, scales perfectly)

• Good: PNG or WebP

• Okay: JPG only if photographic icon

Screenshots:

• Best: WebP lossless

• Good: PNG

• Okay: JPG (80%+) if file size critical

Product photos (with transparency):

• Best: WebP with alpha

• Good: PNG

• Can't: JPG (no transparency)

Social media:

• Best: JPG (80-85%)

• Okay: PNG for graphics

• Note: Most platforms re-compress anyway

1. Visit Image Format Converter

2. Upload image (JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP, etc.)

3. Choose output format

4. Optional settings:

• Quality (for lossy formats)

• Resize dimensions

• Strip metadata

5. Convert

6. Download result

Common conversions:

PNG → JPG (for photos):

• Reduces file size 80-90%

• Choose 80-85% quality

• Acceptable for web display

• Loses transparency if present

JPG → PNG (rarely needed):

• Increases file size significantly

• Doesn't improve quality (damage is permanent)

• Only if you need to add transparency layer

JPG/PNG → WebP:

• Reduces file size 25-35%

• Maintains comparable quality

• Best for modern web

WebP → JPG/PNG (for compatibility):

• Slight quality loss (WebP → lossy JPG)

• Use for fallback images

Convert multiple images at once:

Our converter supports batch uploads:

1. Select multiple files

2. Choose output format

3. Set quality/options

4. Convert all

5. Download as ZIP

Use cases:

• Converting entire photo gallery (PNG → JPG)

• Modernizing site (JPG → WebP)

• Creating fallbacks (WebP → JPG backup)

• Optimizing product images

Time savings:

Manual (one at a time): 100 images × 30 sec = 50 minutes

Batch conversion: 100 images = 2 minutes