JPG vs PNG vs WebP: choosing the right image format
When to use each image format for the best quality and smallest size — and how to convert between them for free.
The format you save an image in decides its size, quality and whether it supports transparency. Pick wrong and you get bloated files or ugly artifacts. Here's the simple version.
JPG — photos
JPG uses lossy compression that's excellent for photographs with lots of colours and gradients. It's small and universal, but it has no transparency and re-saving repeatedly degrades quality. Use it for photos.
PNG — graphics and transparency
PNG is lossless and supports transparency, which makes it perfect for logos, icons, screenshots and anything with sharp edges or text. The catch: photos saved as PNG are much larger than JPG.
WebP — the modern all-rounder
WebP does both jobs — lossy like JPG or lossless like PNG — at noticeably smaller sizes, and it supports transparency. Every current browser supports it. For the web, WebP is usually the best choice.
Quick guide
- Photo for the web: WebP (or JPG for maximum compatibility)
- Logo, icon or screenshot: PNG (or WebP)
- Needs transparency: PNG or WebP, never JPG
- Smallest possible file: WebP
How to convert
The Convert Format tool switches between JPG, PNG and WebP in your browser, and handles transparency when you move to JPG.
Convert FormatConvert between JPG, PNG and WebP right on your device.Just want a smaller file? Compress Image reduces size with a quality slider and an option to convert to WebP for extra savings.