Images
JPG vs PNG vs WEBP: which image format should you use?
The same picture can be 300 KB as a JPG and 2 MB as a PNG. Each format is good at different things — here's how to choose.
At a glance
| Format | Compression | Transparency | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPG | Lossy | No | Photos, uploads, email |
| PNG | Lossless | Yes | Logos, icons, screenshots |
| WEBP | Lossy or lossless | Yes | Websites and blogs |
| GIF | 256 colors | On/off only | Tiny animations |
| SVG | Vector | Yes | Logos and icons |
Lossy vs lossless
JPG throws away detail your eyes barely notice — that's lossy compression. Photos shrink dramatically, but every re-save loses a little more. PNG keeps every pixel exactly (lossless), so flat-color graphics and screenshots compress well, while photos stay large.
That's why a text screenshot saved as JPG gets smudgy halos around the letters, and a phone photo saved as PNG balloons in size — the formats are swapped.
What to pick
Photos on a website → WEBP (25–35% smaller than JPG), or JPG where WEBP isn't accepted.
Logos on a website → SVG if you have it, otherwise PNG with a transparent background.
Screenshots → PNG.
Forms and uploads → JPG — practically everything accepts it.
Print → full-resolution JPG or PNG; vectors for logos.
Switch formats in bulk with the image converter.
Two common myths
"Converting to PNG improves quality." No — detail lost in a JPG doesn't come back. PNG just stops it getting worse.
"Setting 300 DPI makes it print sharper." DPI is only a label. Print sharpness depends on the pixel count: an 8×10 inch print at 300 DPI needs 2400×3000 pixels.