Images guide
JPG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?
A plain-English comparison of JPG, PNG, WebP (and AVIF) with real file sizes, so you can pick the right format for photos, logos, screenshots and websites.
By M2Toolkit Editorial TeamPublished 7 min read
Quick answer
- JPG — photos, when you need maximum compatibility.
- PNG — logos, screenshots, graphics with text, and anything that needs a transparent background.
- WebP — almost everything on websites: 25–35% smaller than JPG, supports transparency, works in all modern browsers.
The format you save an image in can make it five times bigger or smaller with no visible difference — or ruin crisp text with fuzzy artifacts. The choice comes down to two questions: is it a photo or a graphic, and where will it be used?
How each format stores an image
JPG (JPEG) uses lossy compression: it throws away detail your eyes are least likely to notice, especially fine color variation. That works brilliantly for photos and badly for sharp edges, where it creates a halo of blocky “artifacts” around text.
PNG is lossless: every pixel is preserved exactly. Great for graphics with flat colors and sharp lines, but photos become very large because their natural noise can't be compressed well.
WebP, created by Google, can work either way — lossy for photos, lossless for graphics — and supports transparency. Its compression is more modern than JPG's, so files are smaller at the same quality.
AVIF is newer still, often smaller than WebP, but slower to encode and not yet accepted everywhere.
Side by side
| Format | Photo | Screenshot | Transparency | Works everywhere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPG (quality 80) | ~260 KB | ~180 KB, blurry text | No | Yes |
| PNG | ~2.4 MB | ~120 KB, crisp | Yes | Yes |
| WebP (quality 80) | ~180 KB | ~70 KB | Yes | All modern browsers |
| AVIF | ~120 KB | ~60 KB | Yes | Most modern browsers |
Exact numbers depend on the image, but the pattern is consistent: PNG is a poor choice for photos, and JPG is a poor choice for screenshots.
Which format for which job
| Use | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Website photos | WebP (with JPG fallback if needed) | Smallest file, fastest page |
| Email attachments | JPG | Opens in every email app |
| Logos and icons | SVG, or PNG/WebP | Sharp edges, transparency |
| Screenshots | PNG or lossless WebP | Crisp text |
| Printing | High-quality JPG or PNG | Universal support at print shops |
| Government and exam forms | JPG | Often the only accepted format |
Common mistakes
- Saving photos as PNG “for quality.” A high-quality JPG or WebP looks the same and is a fraction of the size.
- Converting a JPG to PNG to “fix” quality. PNG can't restore detail JPG already removed; it just makes the file bigger.
- Using JPG for transparent logos. Transparency becomes a white (or black) box.
Frequently asked questions
Is WebP supported everywhere now?
All current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari display WebP. Some older software, email apps and upload forms still don't accept it, so keep a JPG version for those.
Does WebP lose quality?
Lossy WebP does, like JPG, but less noticeably at the same file size. Lossless WebP keeps every pixel, like PNG.
What about GIF?
GIF is limited to 256 colors and is mostly used for simple animations. For still images, PNG or WebP is better in every way.