Quick comparison
| JPG | PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless | Lossy or lossless |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Photos | Logos, screenshots, graphics | Website images |
| File size | Small for photos | Larger for photos | Often smaller than JPG or PNG |
| Support | Almost everywhere | Almost everywhere | Modern browsers; some older apps |
When to use JPG
JPG is the safe default for photos and for uploads to forms and portals. It works nearly everywhere and keeps files small. The trade-off is that it is lossy and has no transparency.
When to use PNG
PNG keeps every pixel and supports transparent areas, so it suits logos, icons, screenshots and anything with sharp text or edges. Photos saved as PNG are usually much larger.
When to use WebP
WebP can be smaller than both while supporting transparency, which is why many websites serve it. If an app or form refuses a WebP, convert it to JPG or PNG.
A note on converting
Converting a JPG to PNG does not bring back detail that was already lost. It only stops more loss when you edit and save again.