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

Choosing the right image format can significantly impact your website's performance and image quality. In this guide, we'll compare the three most popular web image formats and help you decide which one to use.

Quick Comparison

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

Pros

• Lossless compression — no quality loss
• Supports transparency (alpha channel)
• Perfect for sharp edges, text, and graphics
• Universal browser support

Cons

• Larger file sizes than JPG or WebP
• Not ideal for photographs

Best For

• Logos and icons
• Screenshots
• Graphics with text
• Images requiring transparency
• Images that will be edited further

JPG/JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

Pros

• Excellent for photographs
• Small file sizes with adjustable quality
• Universal support across all devices and browsers
• Good color reproduction

Cons

• Lossy compression — some quality loss
• No transparency support
• Artifacts visible at low quality settings
• Quality degrades with re-saving

Best For

• Photographs and realistic images
• Email attachments
• Social media uploads
• When maximum compatibility is needed

WebP

Pros

• 25-34% smaller than JPEG at similar quality
• Supports both lossy and lossless compression
• Supports transparency
• Supports animation
• Excellent for web performance

Cons

• Not supported in very old browsers
• Some image editors don't support it
• May require fallback images for compatibility

Best For

• Modern websites prioritizing performance
• Any image type (photos, graphics, icons)
• When you need both quality and small files

AVIF: The New Contender

AVIF is the newest format, offering even better compression than WebP (about 50% smaller than JPEG). However, browser support is still growing. Consider AVIF if you can provide fallbacks.

Decision Flowchart

1. Need transparency? → PNG or WebP
2. Is it a photograph? → WebP (or JPEG for maximum compatibility)
3. Is it a logo/graphic/screenshot? → PNG (or WebP for smaller size)
4. Need maximum browser compatibility? → JPEG or PNG
5. Optimizing for web performance? → WebP with JPEG/PNG fallback

File Size Comparison

Here's a typical comparison for a 1920x1080 photograph:

• PNG: ~3-5 MB
• JPEG (80% quality): ~200-400 KB
• WebP (80% quality): ~150-300 KB
• AVIF (80% quality): ~100-200 KB

Convert Your Images

Ready to convert your images to the optimal format? Try our free Image Format Converter — convert between PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF, and ICO instantly in your browser.

Conclusion

For most modern websites, WebP is the best choice due to its excellent balance of quality and file size. Use PNG for graphics that need transparency or pixel-perfect quality, and JPEG when you need maximum compatibility with older systems.