Images 6 min read
JPEG, PNG or WebP? A practical guide to choosing an image format
The format matters less than the dimensions and the content. A 4000-pixel photo saved as PNG is large no matter what you do next. Resize first, then choose a format, then tune quality.
JPEG, PNG and WebP each optimise for different material. Using the wrong one usually costs bandwidth rather than causing a visible failure, which is why the mistake survives for years.
JPEG: photographs and gradients
JPEG uses lossy compression that suits continuous-tone images: photographs, renders and backgrounds. It is bad at sharp text and flat colour edges, where it produces ringing and blockiness.
A quality setting around 80 is a common starting point for web photographs. The exact number is less important than checking the result at the size it will be displayed.
PNG: precision and transparency
PNG is lossless and supports transparency. It is the right choice for screenshots, diagrams, logos and images with text. For a photograph, PNG can be several times larger than JPEG with no visible benefit.
PNG is not automatically “higher quality” in a way that matters for a photo. It preserves exactly what was encoded, including sensor noise that a JPEG would discard.
WebP: a modern default
WebP supports both lossy and lossless modes, plus transparency. In many cases it produces a smaller file than JPEG or PNG at comparable quality. Browser support is broad, but older software and some email clients still handle it poorly.
If a downstream system cannot accept WebP, keep a JPEG or PNG fallback. Format conversion is cheap; broken uploads are not.
A simple workflow
Crop to the aspect ratio you need, resize to the largest dimensions actually displayed, strip unnecessary metadata by re-encoding, and then compare the output size at a sensible quality. Do not upscale a small image to “improve” it — interpolation cannot invent detail.
- Product photo → JPEG at quality 80 or WebP
- Transparent logo → PNG or WebP with alpha
- Screenshot with text → PNG
- Blog hero → WebP with a JPEG fallback if required
Frequently asked questions
Does converting PNG to JPG improve quality?
Should I keep the original image?
Put it into practice
Image Compressor
Shrink JPG, PNG and WebP with a live size comparison.
Image Resizer
Resize to exact pixels or percentage with aspect control.
WebP Converter
Convert WebP ↔ JPG/PNG with quality control.
PNG to JPG
Convert PNG to JPEG with quality control.
JPG to PNG
Convert JPEG photos to PNG for lossless editing.