Last updated 23 August 2026
Choosing a format
PNG for anything needing transparency, or sharp text and line art where JPEG's compression would blur edges. JPEG for photos, where a smaller file matters more than perfect pixel-level detail. WebP generally produces smaller files than either at the same visual quality, and is well supported by modern browsers, though occasionally an older tool won't accept it.
Choosing between JPG, PNG and WebP
JPG is built for photographs. It discards detail the eye is poor at noticing, which keeps files small, but it cannot store transparency and it degrades a little every time it is re-saved.
PNG is lossless and does support transparency, so it is the right choice for logos, screenshots and anything with flat colour or sharp edges. The cost is size: a photograph saved as PNG can be several times larger than the same image as JPG, with no visible gain.
WebP is the newer option and generally wins on size — often a quarter to a third smaller than JPG at similar quality — while supporting transparency as well. Every current browser reads it. The catch is outside the browser: some older desktop software and a few printing services still do not accept it, so for a file you are handing to someone else, JPG or PNG remains the safer bet.
One conversion to know about: turning a transparent PNG into a JPG fills the transparent areas, usually with white, and that cannot be undone afterwards.
Related guide: Social media image sizes, and why they keep changing
Common questions
Which format should I choose?
PNG for anything needing transparency or sharp text/line art. JPEG for photos where small file size matters more than perfect detail. WebP usually beats both at the same visual quality, but occasionally isn't accepted by older software.
Will converting to JPEG lose transparency?
Yes — JPEG has no transparency channel, so any transparent areas are filled with white before conversion. PNG and WebP both preserve transparency.
Does converting reduce quality?
Converting to PNG doesn't lose quality — it's lossless. Converting to JPEG or WebP applies compression at the quality level you choose, which is lossy but adjustable.