JPG vs PNG vs WebP: which image format should you use?
Picking an image format comes down to what is in the picture and where it will be used.
The short answer
- Photos → WebP or JPG
- Screenshots, diagrams, text, logos → PNG (or WebP lossless)
- Anything needing transparency → PNG or WebP
- Maximum compatibility (email, old software, print shops) → JPG
How they differ
JPG
JPG uses lossy compression tuned for photographs: smooth gradients and natural detail compress very well. It has no transparency. Sharp edges and text produce visible fuzz (“ringing”) around them, and every re-save loses a little more quality.
PNG
PNG is lossless. Every pixel is preserved exactly, and it supports full transparency. That makes it ideal for screenshots, UI, line art and logos, but photos saved as PNG are often many times larger than the equivalent JPG.
WebP
WebP can be lossy or lossless and supports transparency in both modes. At comparable visual quality, lossy WebP files are typically noticeably smaller than JPG. All current major browsers support it. Some older desktop software, email clients and print workflows still do not, which is where JPG remains the safe choice.
Quality settings that work
For lossy formats, quality is a slider from 0 to 100, and returns diminish quickly:
| Quality | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 90–100 | Visually identical, large files |
| 75–85 | The sweet spot for most photos on the web |
| 60–70 | Smaller, artefacts visible if you look closely |
| Below 50 | Obvious degradation |
Start at about 78 and compare. If you cannot tell the difference at normal viewing size, you are done.
Practical workflow
- Resize first. A 6000-pixel-wide photo displayed at 1200 pixels wastes most of its data. Use Resize Images.
- Then compress with Compress Images, choosing WebP for the web.
- Convert only when needed using Convert Image Format, for example PNG screenshots into WebP, or WebP into JPG for an old system.
- Keep the original. Lossy formats cannot be restored once saved.
Transparent backgrounds
Converting a transparent PNG to JPG replaces transparent areas with a solid colour, because JPG has none. The convert tool lets you choose that colour, white by default.