JPEG vs PNG vs WebP: image formats explained

Image formats are confusing because they're optimized for different jobs. Here's the cheat sheet.

JPEG — photos and anything complex

JPEG compresses photographic images brilliantly by discarding detail humans barely notice. It's the default for camera photos and web images. Don't use it for text, logos, or anything with sharp edges — it smears them.

PNG — graphics, text, transparency

PNG is lossless: every pixel comes back exactly. Perfect for logos, screenshots, diagrams, and images with transparency. The price is file size — a photo saved as PNG can be 5–10× bigger than JPEG.

WebP — the modern web default

WebP combines both worlds: lossy compression nearly as good as JPEG, lossless mode, and alpha transparency. Supported by every modern browser. For most web use, WebP at quality 80 is the best size-to-quality ratio available.

Quick decision table

• Photo for print — JPEG (or TIFF from your camera)
• Photo for web — WebP (or JPEG for max compatibility)
• Logo / icon / text — PNG (or SVG if it's vector)
• Screenshot — PNG or WebP lossless
• Favicon / Windows icon — ICO (WebP PNG source works)

Use our Image Converter to switch between formats, and Image Compressor to shrink the result — both run entirely in your browser.