PNG vs JPG – which one should you use?
PNG and JPG are the two most common image formats. This guide explains the differences—compression, file size, transparency, and quality—and when to choose one over the other for photos, graphics, and the web.
Quick comparison: PNG vs JPG
JPG (JPEG) uses lossy compression: it discards some data to achieve smaller file sizes. It does not support transparency. Best for: photographs, complex images, and any use where small file size matters more than pixel-perfect quality.
PNG uses lossless compression: no quality loss when saving, and it supports transparency (alpha channel). Best for: graphics, logos, screenshots, and images where you need sharp edges or a transparent background. PNG files are often much larger than JPG for the same dimensions when the image is a photo.
When to use JPG
Use JPG for photos and images with many colors and gradients. Websites, email, social media, and print often use JPG because the file size is small and the quality is good enough for viewing. Use our compress image tool to reduce JPG size further, or our PNG to JPG converter if you have a PNG that would be better as JPG (e.g. a photo exported as PNG by mistake). All tools run in your browser—we don’t upload or store your images.
When to use PNG
Use PNG when you need transparency (e.g. logos, icons, overlays) or when you need lossless quality (e.g. screenshots, diagrams, text-heavy graphics). PNG is also a good output format after removing the background from an image, since you get a transparent background. If you have a JPG and need PNG (e.g. for a design that requires transparency), use our JPG to PNG converter. Note: converting JPG to PNG does not add real transparency; it only changes the format. For transparency you need an image that already has a transparent area (e.g. from a background removal tool).
File size and quality
For the same photo at similar visual quality, JPG is usually 5–10 times smaller than PNG. So for web performance and storage, JPG wins for photos. PNG’s lossless compression is great for graphics with flat colors and sharp edges; for photos it produces large files without visible benefit over a well-compressed JPG.
What about WebP?
WebP supports both lossy and lossless compression and transparency. It often gives 25–35% smaller files than JPG at similar quality, with wide browser support. If your site or app supports WebP, consider it for photos and graphics. We have convert image and specific converters like WebP to JPG and WebP to PNG if you need to convert to or from WebP. For a fuller comparison including WebP, see our best image formats for web guide.
Summary
Use JPG for photos and complex images when you want small file size and good visual quality. Use PNG when you need transparency or lossless quality (logos, screenshots, graphics). For the web, prefer JPG for photos and PNG for graphics with transparency. Use our free convert image, compress image, PNG to JPG, and JPG to PNG tools to switch formats and reduce file size—all in your browser, no signup required.