JPG vs PNG vs WebP — Which Image Format Should You Use?
JPG, PNG and WebP are the three most common image formats on the web. Each has its own strengths — this comparison helps you pick the right one for every use case.
Last updated: July 2026
JPG is best for photographs (small files, no transparency), PNG is best for graphics with text or sharp edges (lossless, transparency), and WebP combines the strengths of both with 25–35% smaller files. For broadest compatibility use JPG; for web performance use WebP with a JPG fallback.
| JPG / JPEG | PNG | WebP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless | Lossy & lossless Best |
| Transparency | No | Yes | Yes Best |
| Animation | No | No | Yes Best |
| File size (photo) | Baseline | 2–5× larger | 25–35% smaller than JPG Best |
| File size (graphic) | Poor (artifacts) | Baseline | 60–80% smaller than PNG Best |
| Colour depth | 24-bit | 24/32-bit Best | 24/32-bit |
| Browser support | Universal Best | Universal | 97% of browsers |
| Best for | Photos, camera images | Logos, screenshots, text | Web images, performance-critical sites Best |
| Metadata (EXIF) | Yes Best | Yes | No native EXIF |
Which one wins?
For maximum quality and compatibility, JPG remains the safest choice for photos and PNG for graphics. But if your audience uses modern browsers — and the 97%+ support rate suggests they do — WebP delivers significantly smaller files with the same quality, making pages load faster. The ideal setup: use WebP with a JPG or PNG fallback via the <picture> element.
Related tools
Image Converter (JPG / PNG / WebP)
Convert images between JPG, PNG and WebP for free, instantly, in your browser. No uploads — pick a format and download.
JPG to WebP
Convert JPG images to WebP for smaller, faster-loading files — free and in your browser. No upload required.
PNG to WebP
Convert PNG images to WebP for much smaller files that keep transparency — free and in your browser. No upload.
WebP to JPG
Convert WebP images to JPG for free, instantly, in your browser. No upload — pick JPG and download.
Compress Image
Compress JPG and PNG images to reduce file size with a quality slider — free, private, in-browser. Compress one or many images at once and see the saving instantly.