PNG vs JPG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?

# PNG vs JPG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?

Choosing the right image format is critical for web performance, digital storage, and visual presentation. Selecting PNG when JPG is appropriate can cause your webpage to load 5x slower, while saving graphics as JPG can blur sharp logo text.

Here is a definitive breakdown of PNG, JPG, and WebP formats to help you pick the best file type every time.

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1. JPG (JPEG) — Best for Photographs and Complex Scenery

Key Characteristics:

• Lossy Compression: High compression efficiency with tiny file sizes.
• No Transparency: Backgrounds are always solid opaque white or color.
• Ideal Use Cases: E-commerce product photos, camera photography, social media uploads.

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2. PNG — Best for Logos, Transparency, and Line Art

Key Characteristics:

• Lossless Compression: Retains 100% original image data without compression artifacts.
• Alpha Transparency: Supports transparent backgrounds for overlaying logos on colored pages.
• Ideal Use Cases: Brand logos, website UI icons, screenshots with text, transparent cutouts.

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3. WebP — The Next-Gen Standard for Modern Websites

Key Characteristics:

• Superior Compression: 26% smaller than PNG and 34% smaller than JPG at equivalent quality.
• Supports Transparency & Animation: Combines PNG transparency with GIF animation capabilities.
• Universal Browser Support: Fully supported across Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, and iOS/Android.

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Quick Comparison Summary Table

| Feature | JPG | PNG | WebP | |---|---|---|---| | Compression Type | Lossy | Lossless | Lossy & Lossless | | Transparent Background | No | Yes | Yes | | Animated Support | No | No | Yes | | Best For | Photos | Logos / Text | Web Performance |

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How to Convert Between Formats

Need to change image formats? Use our suite of free image tools:

• Convert photos to WebP for faster sites with our Image Converter.
• Remove backgrounds and output transparent PNG cutouts using our AI Background Remover.
• Combine multiple images into a single document with our JPG to PDF Tool.