Last updated: October 15, 2026
The quick answer
- Use JPG for photos.
- Use PNG for screenshots, logos, text and anything that needs a transparent background.
- Use WebP for websites, when you want smaller files and know the place you upload to accepts it.
Side by side
| JPG | PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Photos | Screenshots, logos, text | Web images |
| Compression | Lossy (removes some detail) | Lossless (keeps every pixel) | Lossy or lossless |
| Transparent background | No | Yes | Yes |
| File size for photos | Small | Large | Often smaller than JPG |
| Where it works | Almost everywhere | Almost everywhere | Current major browsers. Some older apps and upload forms reject it |
JPG
JPG is the standard format for photos. It makes small files by removing detail your eye is unlikely to notice. At very low quality, you will see blocky patches and fuzzy edges around text. JPG cannot store transparency, so a transparent area turns into a solid color, usually white.
PNG
PNG keeps every pixel exactly as it is, so edges and text stay crisp, and it can store a transparent background. The cost is size: a photo saved as a PNG is usually much larger than the same photo as a JPG.
WebP
WebP is a newer format that can make files smaller than JPG or PNG at similar quality, and it supports transparency. Many websites use it. The catch is compatibility: current major browsers open it, but some older programs, email tools and upload forms do not accept it. If that happens, convert it with our WebP to JPG converter.
How to choose
- The form says JPG only? Use JPG.
- Need a see-through background? Use PNG or WebP.
- A photo that must be small? Use JPG, or WebP if it is accepted.
- A screenshot with text? Use PNG, so the writing stays sharp.
Convert between formats
Our free converters run in your browser, so your photos are not uploaded.
- PNG to JPG for smaller files
- JPG to PNG when a tool asks for PNG
- WebP to JPG when WebP is not accepted
- Image Converter for any of the three, up to 20 files at once
One thing to know
Converting a JPG to a PNG does not bring back detail that the JPG already removed. It only changes the file type, and the file usually gets larger. Converting to a lossy format such as JPG also removes a little more detail each time you save, so keep your original.